{"id":24106,"date":"2023-11-07T14:51:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T14:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?p=24106&post_type=story"},"modified":"2025-04-18T02:13:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T02:13:48","slug":"degrees-of-success","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/degrees-of-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Degrees of Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recent years more than ever \u2014 among high schoolers and parents most of all \u2014 there\u2019s been a national debate: Is college really<\/em> worth it<\/a>?<\/p>\n

As young people across the country contemplate their futures, and you think back on becoming a Knight, you can confidently answer \u201cabsolutely!\u201d Because on top of aiding your individual growth, a UCF degree<\/a> is valuable for so many reasons. And that value continues to rise.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that securing a degree means higher earnings over your career. It also contributes to upward mobility<\/a> \u2014 socially, economically and professionally. It leads to more opportunities, a better quality of life, and a stronger sense of fulfillment and personal success.<\/p>\n

Your achievements impact your family and<\/i> fellow Knights, too. Here are some of our many alumni whose positive recognition and powerful trajectories are steadily increasing the value of your own UCF degree.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Tiffaney Miller Alexander \u201999 \u201905MS \u201916PHD<\/h2>\n

With a bachelor\u2019s in electrical engineering<\/a> and a master\u2019s and doctorate in industrial engineering<\/a> from UCF, Alexander realized her childhood dream of working for NASA by landing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) 24 years ago \u2014 first as a contractor, then a NASA civil servant.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the Medical and Environmental Services Division chief, I lead an amazing team of medical and environmental professionals ensuring the protection and wellness of our KSC workforce, workplace and environment, which are essential to the Artemis missions<\/a>,\u201d she says. \u201cMy hope is that our younger generation, especially young women, are encouraged and inspired to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering or math, and perhaps, even desire to work for NASA someday.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

George Tunaya \u201903<\/h2>\n

After serving 26 years in the U.S. Navy, Tunaya started a new chapter at age 47: pursuing a degree alongside his sons at UCF. He already had real-life industry experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I wanted to make sure my sons would know that this is how they should do it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Tunaya\u2019s extra work paid off. He earned a bachelor\u2019s in electrical engineering with a computer systems track, then continued working as a defense contractor supporting the Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division and later started his own company.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\n

75% higher earnings (Median)
\nFor bachelor’s degree-holders during their lifetime, compared to workers with only a high school diploma<\/blockquote>

\n

\u2014 Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Jacyln Fraser \u201909<\/h2>\n

A bachelor\u2019s in event management<\/a> launched a dream business for Fraser: making others\u2019 dreams come true.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn high school, I knew I wanted to eventually run my own wedding planning company and, being in Orlando, it was important to me that I attend UCF\u2019s Rosen College of Hospitality Management<\/a> to get my education and kick that dream into action,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile in school, I worked for various wedding venues and a wedding planning company. Upon graduation, I created At Last Wedding + Event Design and we\u2019ve been in business for over 13 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Veronica Sampayo \u201913<\/h2>\n

A transfer student, Sampayo earned her bachelor\u2019s in nursing<\/a> (BSN) through UCF\u2019s online RN to BSN program before going on to get a master\u2019s and Doctor of Nursing Practice<\/a>. She created a career-coaching business, The Clinician Life, and credential-tracking software, NurseRep \u2014 as well as a scholarship for UCF College of Nursing<\/a> students.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe scholarship support I received was invaluable, and I\u2019m excited to be able to pay it forward to help make the journey easier for other … nurses seeking to advance their career and become the leaders our patients need,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\n

98% employment rate
\nFor bachelor’s degree-holders, which signals those with at least a four-year degree are in demand with employers<\/blockquote>

\n

\u2014 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Teresa Falcone \u201914 and Christopher Sanchez \u201914<\/h2>\n

From Sony Pictures Imageworks\u2019 Smallfoot <\/i>and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse <\/i>to Pixar\u2019s Toy Story 4 <\/i>and Turning Red<\/i>, the collective work of Falcone and Sanchez is awe-inspiring and award-winning. Both alumni got their start by earning their bachelor\u2019s in emerging media with a character animation track<\/a> from UCF\u2019s School of Visual Arts and Design.<\/p>\n

\u201cUCF gave me a really solid foundation for my career,\u201d Falcone says. \u201cIt was great getting to learn different aspects of the pipeline like modeling and texturing as well because those skills have been helpful in getting jobs after school. Studios always like to see that you\u2019re a team player and work well with others, and [UCF\u2019s] program definitely prepares you for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Matthew St. Hubin \u201919<\/h2>\n

As team captain of the world-renowned UCF Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition Team and vice president of the Hack@UCF club, St. Hubin had standout skills from the beginning. He and his teams often bested students \u2014 even professionals from leading tech companies \u2014 in competitions across the country and around the globe.<\/p>\n

St. Hubin has continued to make a name for himself and the level of cyber defense talent coming from UCF since graduating with his bachelor\u2019s in information technology<\/a>. After a couple impressive internships, he became a security engineer tackling incident response at Amazon.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":24344,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[1642,341,148,405,297,285,1641,1637,1452,1640],"class_list":["post-24106","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-christopher-sanchez","tag-college-of-arts-and-humanities","tag-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","tag-college-of-nursing","tag-rosen-college-of-hospitality-management","tag-school-of-visual-arts-and-design","tag-teresa-falcone","tag-tiffaney-miller-alexander","tag-ucf-alumni","tag-veronica-sampayo","issues-fall-2023"],"yoast_head":"\nUCF Alums Success Stories Highlight Value of a College Degree<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here are some of UCF alumni whose positive recognition and powerful trajectories are steadily increasing the value of your own UCF degree.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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