Miller was impressed by our reputation as an early leader in technology and STEM fields, our connection to the space program and our success expanding into other areas. In fact, UCF boasted one of the highest certified public accountant (CPA) pass rates of any public university — impressive to an aspiring accountant.

So Miller applied, was accepted and committed to UCF sight unseen. It was the beginning of a journey that would change his family’s trajectory, along with the university’s.

Today, he committed a transformational $50 million gift — the largest single philanthropic investment in the university’s history — to position UCF as a global leader in fintech, artificial intelligence (AI) and business innovation by establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

First-Generation Student

Miller is president and co-founder of both Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health. He also founded and sold another successful business in his entrepreneurial career.

But back when Miller was attending UCF, he was paving the way as the first in his family to go to college. His dad, a self-taught contractor and developer and a single father, saw the value of higher education for his son.

“My father had a deeply ingrained work ethic that he passed on to me,” Miller says. “In the summer, he would get me out of bed early and have me carrying lumber and working on roofs. I learned to work hard, but I also learned that [it] was a tough job to do for 50 years. I wanted to try a different path.”

Once he started on that path, there was no stopping him.

Building Foundations

At UCF, Miller became a star student. He excelled in accounting, learned numerical analysis and had a knack for understanding financial markets. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance.

“I learned how to really study and apply myself academically at UCF. Essentially, I was learning strategy and project management as I made my way through school,” Miller says. “I didn’t know how impactful those habits would be until later in life. I realize now that everything I learned at UCF has been foundational to my success.”

“I realize now that everything I learned at UCF has been foundational to my success.”

Outside of class, Miller became a student-athlete, playing football when he initially came to UCF. That’s where he met then-quarterback Darin Hinshaw ’90 ’94MBA, who encouraged him to join his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), and became his big brother.

“Initially, I wasn’t interested in joining a fraternity. I had this idea that fraternities weren’t serious about school or life, and I was,” Miller says. “But my experience in PIKE ended up being formative. It’s where I learned about being a gentleman, dressing for success, networking and more.”

“To this day, so many of my friends are former fraternity brothers, including one of my best friends, Sean Hayes ’95, who has also been my business partner for nearly 30 years,” Miller continues. “As I look back, everything in my life has a connection to UCF — my friends, my business partners, my career and even my wife Rosie ’95, since we met in college.”

Leaving a Legacy

As he built his career and found success in the business and financial world, Miller wanted to give back to UCF. Over time, he has invested in first-generation and STEM student scholarships, UCF Athletics’ Knights Leadership Academy, the John T. Washington Center mural and more.

Each gift has been based on a personal connection or conviction.

“Being a first-generation student myself, having that opportunity to support students who are the first in their families to go to college is personal to me,” Miller says.

As his capacity to give grew, Miller wanted to make a transformative gift that would have an impact today and for generations to come. That led to conversations with university leaders about the opportunity to establish as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

To help bring that vision to life — and to build early momentum for , UCF’s comprehensive campaign to fuel bold ideas and build its future — Miller has committed to a $50 million gift, establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

The investment will accelerate an innovative new model of business education��designed for a world��where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will prepare��students with the skills the marketplace demands.

“We are at a seminal moment in business, and AI and new technologies are creating fundamental shifts at a dramatically faster speed than ever before,” says Miller, who was inducted into the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame in 2022. “I want UCF to become the leader in business education, paving the way for everyone else.”

Inspiring Others

“Finding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.”

Until recently, Miller has made most of his gifts to UCF anonymously. But as UCF unveiled Go For Launch, he saw a powerful opportunity to step forward and encourage others to do the same. By sharing his commitment more openly, Miller hopes to help build momentum and invite broader participation in UCF’s vision.

“I hope this gift inspires people to be part of UCF’s mission to create a bold new future and give at whatever level they can. Maybe it’s $10, $100 or $1,000 — it all makes a difference,” Miller says.

“I want to tell people this: If it’s not your time to make a gift today, maybe it will be a year from now, or five years from now,” he continues. “Finding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.”

“Ů��AV is being trusted to lead, and Barry’s investment reinforces that Ů��AV is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don’t just succeed in the world — they come back to help build what’s next.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF President

The investment will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will position UCF as a national leader in emerging fields that prepare students to lead with the skills the marketplace demands.

“This is a defining moment for UCF and for the College of Business,” says Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins ’01MBA. “As an alumnus, I have seen firsthand how UCF transforms lives by opening doors to opportunity, and this extraordinary gift takes that mission to an entirely new level, giving future generations of Knights access to a world-class business education and an opportunity to achieve their full potential.”

“We are deeply grateful to Barry for his extraordinary belief in this university and in the impact our students make. This is a defining moment for UCF and a powerful signal of who we are and where we are going,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Ů��AV is being trusted to lead, and Barry’s investment reinforces that Ů��AV is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don’t just succeed in the world — they come back to help build what’s next.”

“UCF gave me the opportunity to build my future,” Miller says. “This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others — and ensuring students are prepared for a world where technology and business are constantly evolving.”

A Defining Moment for UCF

Few universities of UCF’s��young��age��have alumni giving back at this level.

At the center of this��milestone��is longtime��supporter and entrepreneur Barry S. Miller,��president of��the Florida-based����and��Voloridge��Health.��Miller is��a first-generation��college��graduate whose early partnership and belief in the university helped accelerate UCF’s trajectory.

His leadership and commitment to widening��opportunity helped lay the groundwork for a future-focused strategy that will transform how students learn, innovate and launch their careers. Miller’s��latest��investment reflects UCF’s ability to��produce��talent that succeeds at the highest levels and inspires��that talent to return��not just with pride, but with capacity and conviction to shape��what’s��next.

Building the Future of Business Education

“UCF gave me the opportunity to build my future. This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others.” — Barry Miller ’95, ��Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health president

will��operate��as a hub for technology-driven business leadership where students, faculty and industry collaborate in real time to solve complex challenges��in emerging fields like artificial intelligence,��fintech��and digital risk.

The focus is not simply on technical skills, but on empowering graduates to take action to address organizational obstacles and lead in fields fueled by rapid technological change.

This vision is grounded in the region UCF calls home.

Orlando has rapidly��emerged��as one of the nation’s fastest-growing technology hubs,��with��demand for talent in fintech and��AI continuing��to��evolve.��Across Florida, one of the largest clusters of banking and insurance firms in the country is fueling new opportunities in financial technology,��risk��and data-driven decision-making.

UCF sits at the center of this momentum,��uniquely positioned to develop the talent and ideas that will power��the future.

The investment will support��a multi-phase strategy designed to position UCF as��the��destination for business and technology education, including:

• Five endowed faculty chairs in fintech, AI strategy, cyber risk,��trust��and disinformation
• A new��master’s��in��technology��leadership and��innovation
• Expanded access to applied learning, including internships, simulations, Bloomberg��training��and industry-led projects
• Growth of UCF’s corporate partnership ecosystem.

Together, these investments will create a learning environment that mirrors modern workplaces — fast��moving, data��driven and deeply connected to industry.

“Technology is advancing rapidly, and the real opportunity is in how organizations use it to perform,” says��College of Business Dean��Paul��Jarley. “This investment allows us to build a business school focused on how the work actually gets done��—–��where students learn to apply judgment, navigate ambiguity, and lead in environments shaped by technology, data, and organizational complexity.”

Accelerating Momentum

Miller’s leadership gift��marks a milestone in����— a��$3.5 billion��campaign to��expand��opportunity,��advance��discovery,��and drive impact across the university.

It sets the tone��for what comes next,��accelerating the pride and vision that will inspire others to invest in UCF’s future.

“This is what momentum looks like,” says��Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. “It reflects confidence in UCF’s vision and signals to partners, alumni and investors that this university is building something meaningful and worth being part of.”

Together, talent, opportunity and partnership are converging,��positioning��UCF��to��be a leading force in shaping��what’s��next in business,��technology��and innovation.

“Ů��AV is not waiting to be recognized. We are being chosen, invested in and trusted to lead,” Cartwright says. “This milestone gift reflects a growing sense of pride across the university and signals the momentum others will want to help build — and it is only the beginning.”

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) selected the Florida Small Business Development Center at UCF (FSBDC at UCF) as the National Small Business Development Center of the Year – recognizing its outstanding performance, innovative programming, and leadership in supporting Central Florida’s entrepreneurs and small businesses. The UCF center was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants nationwide.

“This award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network.” — Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at UCF

“We are humbled yet immensely gratified to be honored as the SBDC of the Year by the SBA,” says Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at UCF. “Our team takes great pride in its unwavering commitment to serving the small business community and advancing SBA’s mission. This award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network.”

The FSBDC at ��AV is located in the National Entrepreneur Center inside the Orlando Fashion Square Mall near downtown. It serves serves eight counties including Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia. At the Orlando main office, as well as six service center offices, small business owners have access to seminars and no-cost one-on-one consulting with experts who can assist across the following areas:

• Accounting: asset management, record keeping systems and procedures
• Finance: ratio analysis, breakeven analysis, financial projections and business valuation
• Marketing: pricing, advertising and promotion, marketing planning, market research and exporting
• Operations: production and inventory control, project management, risk management and energy conservation
• New Venture Planning: start-up information, feasibility analysis, business planning and general business consulting
• Technical Assistance: preliminary patent searches, patent, copyright and trademark, and technology transfer and SBIR/STTR

Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week (May 3-9 this year) by recognizing exceptional small business owners, entrepreneurs and resource partners from across the country. This year’s winners have been invited to Washington, D.C., May 3–4, where they will be honored during national ceremonies.

“This year’s NSBW celebration is particularly historic as our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when our Founding Fathers laid the groundwork for the liberty that powers the engine of free enterprise. The result is our nation’s prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit — the very spirit your leadership exemplifies,” SBA Administrator Kelley Loeffler stated in a letter congratulating to the FSBDC at UCF.

With its numerous industries to sustain a career and vibrant culture to build a life, Orlando isn’t a hard sell. Still, when it comes to promoting all this city has to offer, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who loves it more than Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage ’12.

The advertising-public relations grad spent the last decade in various sales-related positions with the Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando Magic and insulated beverageware company Corkcicle (headquartered in Orlando).

That experience along with the leadership and life skills she developed at UCF and her beloved hobby as the mastermind behind — an immensely popular social media account that explores new activities, restaurants and happenings in Central Florida — gave her what she needed to land her dream gig as marketing manager for Visit Orlando.

“I get to marry my love for this community and something I’m passionate about doing — marketing this city. It’s perfect for me,” Sage says. “To find this opportunity with Visit Orlando, it truly has been a dream come true.”

Tourism Shapes Orlando

Sage’s mission in her role at Visit Orlando as a marketing manager, specializing in domestic tourism, is to bring visitation to the destination, period.

Orlando is the most visited destination in the U.S. bringing more than 75 million visitors. According to Visit Orlando, tourism supports 37% of all jobs in the region.

Central Florida’s tourism industry generated an economic impact of $94.5 billion in 2024, a 2.2% increase over the previous year, according to a study by Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics and a leader in industry research.

As 2025 numbers work on being finalized, all signs point to the continued momentum of the region’s tourism.

It’s not hard to see why Orlando is in demand:

• Standard-setting theme parks
• Marquee sporting events — earning Orlando the No. 1 spot for Sports Event Cities in the U.S., according to Sport Business Journal
• Vibrant arts scene
• Top-of-the-line hotels and resorts
• 58 Michelin-recognized restaurants
• Proximity to beautiful beaches and Port Canaveral’s cruise ships

Sage gives a glimpse into what goes into helping shape Orlando’s reputation as one of the world’s most desirable destinations.

Advertising All of Orlando

Sage’s role with Visit Orlando oversees many facets. She might be placing a billboard in Baltimore, a well-timed ad on a streaming platform, or organize a tropical oasis in the middle of New York City on a 30-degree Fahrenheit day, enticing winter-weary New Yorkers to plan their next vacation.

She recently spent a week overseeing the production of an eco-tourism campaign video shoot at several locations to highlight the area’s natural beauty, hiking and springs.

“Culinary, arts, theme parks, nature, cultural experiences, whatever your travel bug is, this destination brings it all.” — Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage ’12

“Adults with kids, adults without kids, this vacation has all your needs — culinary, arts, theme parks, nature, cultural experiences, whatever your travel bug is, this destination brings it all,” Sage says.

Competing on the Global Stage

Orlando’s prime competitors in the tourism market depends on who you’re talking to.

It could be California (theme parks), Las Vegas (conferences), or Spain and Italy (international visitation). As cruise lines have come roaring back after the pandemic, the Caribbean is now in the mix, too. Orlando doesn’t just compete with other cities for tourists, but entire states and countries.

“Our destination is amazing, but every Jan. 1 the visitor tally resets, and there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes to make sure we remain top of mind,” Sage says.

Success Fueled by UCF

A St. Petersburg, Florida, native, Rodrigues was recruited to UCF to play for the women’s soccer team. From 2008-12, she helped lead the Knights to five NCAA postseason appearances, including the 2011 Elite 8, three conference championships and one of the program’s highest national rankings (No. 6) in school history.

During her collegiate career, she also joined the Portuguese National Team, which exposed her to places and cultures that would ultimately spark her interests in travel and exploration today.

As an elite scholar-athlete, she points to the intangible soft skills she gained — work ethic, goal-setting, communication, collaboration and time management all at an elevated standard of excellence — as formative to her life as a working parent.

“Being a UCF student-athlete has made who I am.”

“Being a UCF student-athlete has made who I am,” Sage says. “I take interviews today as a 36-year-old and still talk about how it has positively shaped me. I would go from a 6 a.m. strength training to study hall to three classes to practice to a night class, still have homework and study and then travel to a road game the next day.

“The controlled chaos I lived in then, it is innate in me and still my normal today. I have two little kids, I’m married, I have a full-time job, I work out every day, I have a hobby. It just feels right. It is a controlled chaotic environment that I love.”

Living Where the World Vacations

Rodrigues says what she appreciates most about living in Orlando is getting to explore new places in her own backyard. She started @cheatdayorlando in 2021 after becoming a mother. Since then, she has grown the account to nearly 100,000 followers and landed a regular gig on the 106.7 FM morning show Johnny’s House spreading the word about new experiences in the area.

“It doesn’t feel like you’re stagnant in Orlando — you can have a different experience just 10 minutes away,” she says. “I love that there’s something for everyone to feel like home because we have a melting pot of culture.”

Spring Break Scene

Whether you’re a local enjoying a staycation or coming to Orlando for your Spring Break, Rodrigues shares her pro tips on some new experiences worth checking out:

• ICON Park will soon feature Ripley’s Crazy Golf, a glow-in-the-dark immersive indoor miniature golf course with many unconventional ways to putt.
• Harlow Grove Restaurant and Lounge, a new trendy restaurant in Winter Garden, opened this month and features a rooftop terrace and elevated menu.
• Maitland’s Enzian Theater is a single-screen independent cinema cafe that offers cozy, vintage decor and seating, with a full kitchen menu. For the parents out there with little Spring Breakers, consider the theater’s Peanut Butter Matinee Family Film Series, which offers free admission to kids 12 and under. Cars 2 will be featured at noon on March 22.

Laura Bollier ’99, former CEO of VENUS Fashion Inc.;��Taylor Gerring ’05, co-founder of Ethereum; and��Serguei Melnik ’98MS, president and chairman of the board of directors of Nutriband Inc., will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Longtime FAIRWINDS Credit Union CEO and 2016 Hall of Fame inductee Larry Tobin ’83��will receive the Legendary Knight Award, and��Sherwin-Williams��will be named Corporate Partner of the Year. The college will also celebrate a group of accomplished alumni, rising stars and entrepreneurs.

The UCF College of Business Hall of Fame recognizes alumni who have achieved exceptional success in their field and brought recognition to the university through their professional achievements. This is the highest honor awarded to College of Business graduates and is typically presented to alumni who have spent 15-20 years making a significant impact in their industries.

This year’s celebration will feature a Harry Potter-inspired theme, highlighting the college and university as magical places of transformation and discovery.

2026 UCF Business Hall of Fame Inductees

Laura Bollier ’99

Bollier served as the CEO of VENUS Fashion Inc., where she led a full-scale modernization and reimagination of the brand, culminating in its successful acquisition by American Exchange Group last summer. As CEO, she transformed the direct-to-consumer company into a multichannel enterprise that expanded into travel retail and online marketplaces including Amazon, Target and Walmart.

After supporting the company’s transition through September 2025, Bollier is now exploring new CEO opportunities while founding a venture where she can continue driving growth, transformation and value creation.

Earlier in her career, Bollier spent a decade as vice president of global merchandising at pioneering shapewear company SPANX, where she worked closely with founder Sara Blakely to help scale the business into a global category leader and contribute to its $1 billion valuation and majority investment by Blackstone. She also held leadership roles at VF Corporation (Nautica and Kipling), Coach, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s. after earning her finance degree at UCF.

A finance graduate of UCF, Bollier returned to campus last spring to share her career journey with more than 1,200 incoming business students during the college’s Welcome to the Majors event held each semester at Addition Financial Arena.

Taylor Gerring ’05

Gerring is a co-founder of Ethereum, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency companies. A pioneering entrepreneur and blockchain innovator, Gerring played a key role in Ethereum’s evolution from a scrappy underdog to a cornerstone of the blockchain ecosystem with applications that power billions in value today.

Now Gerring spends time as a public speaker, appearing at speaking engagements around the country, including back on UCF’s campus at the Blackstone LaunchPad.

Before co-founding Ethereum, Gerring honed his technical expertise and spearheaded projects across a variety of disciplines and companies, strengthening security, scalability and innovation. As a co-founding member of the Ethereum Foundation, he helped develop the world’s leading smart contract platform, serving on its board and presenting around the world.

After earning his management information systems degree from ��AV in 2005, Gerring has remained a strong supporter of the university. In 2024, he made the largest single cash pledge commitment to UCF Athletics.

Serguei Melnik ’98MS

Melnik is the president and chairman of the board of directors of Nutriband Inc., an innovative science company focused on providing safer products for patients.

A Moldovan native, Melnik led Nutriband to a successful initial public offering and a spot on the NASDAQ in 2021. He also provides legal and financial advice based on U.S. financial markets, drawing on his law degree from Moldova State University.

After practicing law in his home country, Melnik moved to Orlando through a foreign exchange program to earn a from UCF. He later worked with several Central Florida companies, including Market Management International Inc. and Asconi Corporation Inc., before serving as vice president and director of U.S. operations for UNR Holdings Inc.

In addition to his work with Nutriband UNR Holdings, Melnik is president of consulting company Wolf Blitz Corporation. As a proud UCF alum, he also frequently returns to campus to share his career story with Business Knights as a presenter at in the College of Business.

Alumni Awards

Along with the Hall of Fame inductees, the college will recognize several alumni for their professional achievements.

Legendary Knight Award recipient:

• Larry Tobin ’83, CEO of FAIRWINDS Credit Union

The Legendary Knight Award recognizes outstanding contributions that will transform teaching, research and learning through extraordinary philanthropy and commitment to the College of Business.

Notable Knight Awards recipients:

• Kala Bryant ’18 ’19MS, vice president, data manager at Bank of America
• Ryan Williams ’19PMBA, contracts manager for Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems division

The Notable Knight Awards recognize alumni who have displayed promise and excellence early in their career paths and have less than 10 years of experience.

Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards recipients:

• Anthony “Biggie” Bencomo ’98, owner and chief sandwich officer of Deli Fresh Threads
• Alfredo Dooley ’23EMBA��and��Tom Hines ’23EMBA, co-founders of FDTH Imports
• Laine Powell ’07MSM, founder and CEO of Tech Sassy Girlz
• Natalie Rogers Soto ’16, co-founder of e-commerce fashion brand Klassy

The Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards honor UCF business alumni from any discipline who exemplify commitment, vision, calculated risk-taking and growth potential. These Knights demonstrate perseverance in the face of adversity and overcome obstacles in their professional careers.

Honorable Knight Awards recipients:

• Antonetta “Toni” Caracciolo ’90 ’14MBA, executive vice president of marketing and branding at Falcon’s Beyond
• Elizabeth Ellis ’02, senior program manager at Blue Origin
• Thomas Hall ’25EMBA, president of Chuy’s Tex-Mex at Darden Restaurants
• Charles “Charlie” Ritter ’95 ’98, partner in charge of Audit Southeast for KPMG LLP
• Michelle Katz Segal ’10 ’12MBA, corporate director of strategy for AdventHealth’s Multi-State Division

The Honorable Knight Awards recognize alumni with more than 10 years of professional experience who have displayed excellence in their respective fields.

2026 Partnership Award Recipient

The Partnership Award recognizes organizations that have built successful partnerships with, or on behalf of, the College of Business, advancing the college’s academic offerings and public outreach. These organizations embody the spirit of collaboration and are recognized for their initiative, leadership and involvement in the betterment of business education.

This year’s recipient, Sherwin-Williams, has become an active corporate partner of the college through its engagement with students and recruiting efforts.

From speaking in The EXCHANGE and connecting with more than 1,200 incoming business majors at Welcome to the Majors to recruiting Business Knights at the college’s Invitational Career Fair, the��Sherwin-Williams��Orlando District team has embraced the college’s mission of engagement and invested in students throughout its two years as a corporate partner.

Sherwin-Williams is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of paints, coatings and related products, operating more than 5,000 company-owned stores and branches worldwide.

“There’s a lot of places that say, ‘Hey, look at all the things we’ve done.’ And then there’s UCF that says, ‘Look at all the things we’re doing,’ ” Sleppy says. “I wanted to be part of building the future.”

“I wanted to be part of building the future.” — Joe Sleppy

In his first year, he landed undergraduate research opportunities thanks to UCF’s , which offers students opportunities for career exploration and experiential learning in STEM the first two years of their college career.

In UCF Professor of Nanotechnology Jayan Thomas’ lab, the two partnered on the idea that would eventually become Capacitech Energy, where Sleppy has served as CEO since its inception in 2016 during his sophomore year.

Future-Proofing the Power Grid

Capacitech is a rapid response energy storage leader building high-power and space-conscious energy storage systems for an increasingly complex grid. Essentially, Sleppy and his team turn supercapacitor components into modular, plug-and-play systems that harden power infrastructure against power demand spikes, outages and equipment damage.

Sleppy explains traditional power infrastructure, such as generators and batteries, are like a marathon runner whereas supercapacitors are more like a sprinter. Modern facilities — like data centers that power AI — demand power 24/7 but also demand even more power than normal for just a few seconds. Ideally, both a sprinter and marathon runner are required. So, Capacitech’s products make it practical to form relay teams between the traditional infrastructure (marathon runners) and supercapacitors (sprinters).

“If we can use supercapacitors to complement batteries, generators, fuel cells and the broader grid to serve this demand profile that’s coming from manufacturing facilities and data centers, then we’re making the world a better place — economically, but also in terms of power sustainability and security. And I think that that’s very important,” Sleppy says.

They made their first commercial sale in 2022 to Red Bull and have been running full force ever since.

Built by UCF

The company was bolstered by many resources at UCF on its way to raising the $2.5 million it has so far through investors and federal research and development programs. To this day, UCF’s continues to house Capacitech’s operations with adaptable leasing structures, physical space, mentoring programs and community that have adapted to their needs as they’ve grown. This year, they’ll expand into new warehouse in research park, adjacent to UCF’s campus.

“The world is watching. Let’s use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better.” — Joe Sleppy

“UCF encouraged me to think outside of the box,” he says. “Ů��AV is an innovative university because they’ll ask, ‘Why not?’ I think I share the same philosophy with running Capacitech. Let’s try it. The world is watching. Let’s use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better.”

In 2026 Sleppy expects Capacitech to announce new partnerships and pilot programs in industry. And they’re already engaged in mentoring the next generation of Knights with internship opportunities for students.

“Entrepreneurship is how the world gets better — whether it’s a nonprofit or a tech startup like ours,” Sleppy says. “By reducing strain on the grid and extending the life of critical infrastructure like batteries and microgrids, we’re making energy systems more resilient and accessible. That means fewer vulnerable communities at risk and more room for innovation to grow. It’s hard not to get excited when your work genuinely makes the world better.”

Joe Sleppy was recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Energy & Green Tech list in 2026.

Emboldened by a campus culture of exploring “what if?” and the university’s support system of expertise and resources to back them, five Knights who started their companies while they were still students are making undeniable noise in their respective industries — so much so that Forbes just honored them on its annual 30 Under 30 list.

The UCF engineering grads are recognized among peers from the likes of Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT, Yale, Princeton and Columbia.

Joe Sleppy ’18 serves as CEO of Capacitech Energy, which is making supercapacitor technology practical by delivering plug-and-play, modular systems that eliminate power quality issues in data centers and microgrids responsible for downtime and equipment damage.

“UCF encouraged me to think outside of the box,” he says. “Ů��AV is an innovative university because they’ll ask, ‘Why not?’ I think I share the same philosophy with running Capacitech. Let’s try it. The world is watching. Let’s use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better.”

Mason Mincey ’23, Derek Saltzman ’23, Matthew Jaeger ’22 and Patrick Michel are co-founders of Soarce, which takes underutilized plant resources like hemp, seaweed and grass and transforms them into nanomaterials eight times stronger than steel.“We’re on pace to build what we feel is going to be the largest global nanocellulose production facility in the world,” Saltzman says. “And we are not afraid to say that and stand behind it. That’s a big dream, but that’s kind of what we’re here to do — make big changes.”

These grads all credit their rise in large part to the immense support and knowledge they gained from UCF’s and . Ů��AV invested $10-20,000 of alumni-funded awards from the annual competition and UpStarts program to support their venture development.

“Capacitech and Soarce illustrate how investments in technology development and entrepreneurship education can work together to increase innovation diffusion and societal impact,” says Cameron Ford, William and Susan Crouse Endowed Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Blackstone LaunchPad at UCF. “They also illustrate the arduous, fraught, years-long paths that entrepreneurs commonly travel when no one is watching to achieve ‘overnight’ success. We are immensely proud of the example they are setting for current and future Knights by combining their disciplinary expertise with entrepreneurial knowhow to positively impact others.”

To learn more about how these Knights are putting in the work today that is shaping the future around us, check out their stories (with video) on UCF Today:

• Forbes 2026 30 Under 30 Winner: Capacitech
• Forbes 2026 30 Under 30 Winner: Soarce

They had been tasked in a semester-long class assignment to build a carbon fiber rocket that would successfully carry the professor’s payload. While their design may have failed epically — while being broadcast live on the internet — they noticed one very important element that turned out to be the spark for their future company.

“When we walked up to the rocket, we saw that the motor had gone through a 2-inch-thick steel plate, but the carbon fiber that we had made was intact and still super strong and actually protected the professor’s payload after exploding and crashing,” Saltzman says. “We said, ‘Hey, we’re pretty good at manufacturing this [carbon fiber] stuff.’ ”

They took it as a sign to change their majors from aerospace engineering to materials science and engineering, and the earliest roots of Soarce were planted.

Sustainably Strengthening Industries

Soarce is at the forefront of bio-based nanomaterials and seeks to solve society’s greatest climate challenges by leveraging natural materials to create products that can outperform those made synthetically.

Drawn from seaweed, hemp and elephant grass, their nanocellulose coating can be applied to and fortify carbon fiber structures — everything from hockey sticks to electric vehicles to rocket ships.

“That allows engineers to design parts that are lighter, stronger and more efficient,” Saltzman says. “For electric vehicles, they can now go farther. In the world of aerospace, we’re making those materials stronger so now you have more payload mass that you can put into space.”

Their innovation has so much promise it has already secured $3.2 million in funding.

“Ů��AV is about dreaming big, going as big as you can. And that’s how we feel.” — Derek Saltzman

“Ů��AV is about dreaming big, going as big as you can. And that’s how we feel,” Saltzman says. “We’re on pace to what we feel is going to be the largest global nanocellulose producer in the world. And we are not afraid to say that and stand behind it. That’s a big dream, but that’s kind of what we’re here to do — make big changes.”

UCF-Backed Entrepreneurship

Their entrepreneurial journey has gone through several iterations since Saltzman and Mincey were randomly assigned as roommates in during their freshman year. The pair dabbled in enterprises involved with agriculture and drone racing, cutting their teeth on the business side of running a company through resources UCF offers including the ’s .

To this day, they’re still partnering with the UCF ecosystem, utilizing the UCF Business Incubation Program’s Life Sciences Incubator in Lake Nona, which gives Soarce access to a fully equipped, Biosafety Level II wet lab to foster their work in advanced materials.

“UCF has really strong partnerships and connections to industry that allow you to funnel your idea from a lab-benchtop scale all the way to integrating into a Fortune 500 company to get that product off the ground,” Saltzman says.

Now, along with fellow UCF alums and Soarce co-founders Matthew Jaeger ’22, an actuarial science alum, and Patrick Michel, a former management student, they’re looking forward to expanding their operations into an 8,000-square-foot facility in partnership with Tavistock and heading into pilot trials with Fortune 500 companies.

“It’s really cool to see how far we’ve come, from an idea in a notebook that we started eight years ago to now within the next three to five years, we’ll have that material not only created, but actually being flown into space and amongst the stars,” Saltzman says.

The Soarce co-founders were recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Manufacturing & Industry list in 2026.

UCF alum Kelly Shea ’23 understands first-hand the academic challenges some children struggle with in the classroom. After all, she was once one of them.

“School just didn’t make sense to me,” says the elementary education grad, who couldn’t read until midway through elementary school.

Those early challenges have been integral to Shea’s career path as an educational entrepreneur. They also fuel the “why” behind her mission to empower young students through her start-up business that offers invention education kits for kids.

Making Sense of School

Growing up, Shea recalls struggling in every subject, especially reading, during her elementary school years.

“I had trouble comprehending things,” says the 23-year-old, who has since written and published four children’s books. “My first-grade teacher, Ms. Shepard, was the one who recognized I was having problems. I met with her almost weekly throughout second grade for extra support. Things finally started clicking for me in middle school, but I struggled a lot early on.”

She got involved with a Tampa-area nonprofit called Girls With Confidence, which empowers young girls in developing positive self-esteem. As she got older, she began volunteering and taking on more leadership roles with the organization.

“I would come up with activities and games for their programming and realized that I love teaching and creating impact, like how people did for me,” she says. “I just loved working with kids. I wanted to help them find solutions to their struggles because I was there once, too.”

Shea carried that determination and creative, problem-solving spirit throughout her time in and leveraged it to create two businesses before she graduated. She credits UCF’s and as crucial resources that complemented the knowledge she gained in her coursework, ultimately fueling her career path today with Innovation Station LLC.

Connecting Education and Entrepreneurship

While taking the Careers in K-12 Education course with Cristina Sáenz ’22PhD — now an invention education manager for Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lemelson-MIT Program — Shea had her light bulb moment: She could bridge her passion for education with her entrepreneurship endeavors.

Invention education is a learning approach that challenges students through hands-on problem-solving. Shea often saw this play out during her internship with , where young patients face educational challenges due to injuries and illnesses.

“At Nemours, I saw how kids with cerebral palsy adapt things for their needs, and it inspired me because that’s what invention is about,” she says. “I thought, ‘Why don’t I create a series of kits for K-5 students that teaches them to go back to the basics of hands-on learning?’”

With that, Innovation Station LLC was born during her last semester at UCF.

Empowering Tomorrow’s Innovators

Through Innovation Station, Shea offers a series of four invention education kits that teach children to identify and explore problems, brainstorm and develop innovative ideas, build and prototype concepts, and practice their presentational skills.

Each kit includes a relatable storybook — written by Shea herself — as well as guided activities, worksheets, crafting supplies, and lesson resources for teachers. Even the packaging is designed to be used as part of the inventive process. With the final kit in the series, students cut off the sides of the box to make into a poster board they’ll use to pitch their product.

“They’re reminded that their product is a prototype; it’s not going to be perfect, and failure is OK because we can always fix things based on what we learn from it,” she says. “They learn how to communicate their brand with problem and solution statements. The books also cover easing those presentation nerves and learning to support your friends even if you’re competing.”

Prior to launching Innovation Station kits in July 2025, she conducted a six-week focus group with the Girls Scouts of Citrus Council, where she was able to test the kits with girls ranging from 4 to 12 years old. One 4-year-old invented a soft pencil because she was just learning to write, and regular pencils hurt her hand.

“It’s meant to teach them to be problem-solvers,” she says.

Since then, Shea has been promoting Innovation Station kits while also working in manufacturing, helping others bring their own inventions to life. She is piloting the kits this semester in partnership with fellow teacher education alum Chuck Burgess ’92. The kits will debut in nine Tampa-area elementary schools through local nonprofit High 5, Inc., which offers a variety of after-school and recreational programs.

“I took a chance on myself, and I decided that this is what I want to do.” — Kelly Shea ’23

She aspires to collaborate with school districts to introduce them into today’s classrooms.

“I took a chance on myself, and I decided that this is what I want to do,” she says. “I want to inspire and have an impact on the next generation and help create core memories by facilitating those light-bulb moments of, ‘Wow, I can be an entrepreneur.’”

To celebrate that rise, UCF Alumni has launched Ever Upward: Fastest-Growing Knight Businesses — a new annual awards program honoring Knight-owned or -led companies demonstrating significant revenue growth, innovation and leadership.

Ever Upward is about more than recognition. It honors how far ideas can travel, and reminds the UCF community that ambition doesn’t end at graduation. For Knights in business, the direction has always been clear: ever upward.

“Ever Upward … shines a light on Knight-led businesses that are scaling with purpose.” — Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships at UCF

“Our alumni are building companies that are growing rapidly and making a real impact in their industries and communities,” says Rodney Grabowski, UCF’s senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. “Ever Upward recognizes success and the entrepreneurial drive behind it. This program shines a light on Knight-led businesses that are scaling with purpose.”

Honorees will be recognized at a signature awards event on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, bringing together alumni entrepreneurs, university leadership and business leaders to celebrate remarkable achievements and share insights.

Inspired by UCF’s unwavering charge to reach higher, Ever Upward acknowledges businesses whose growth reflects perseverance and vision. Recognition is based solely on verified financial performance over a three-year period — spotlighting companies that are truly rising.

Eligible businesses will be ranked by their cumulative percentage revenue growth across their 12-month reporting periods for 2022, 2023 and 2024. To ensure the highest levels of transparency and trust, all rankings will be independently tabulated, so recognition lands exactly where it’s earned.

Applications for the inaugural Ever Upward awards open Feb. 3 and close March 26.

Unlike traditional business awards that are driven by nominations or subjective criteria, Ever Upward is determined entirely by performance data. All financial information will be submitted directly to Carr, Riggs & Ingram — the program’s official tabulation partner and a nationally ranked accounting and advisory firm — ensuring confidentiality and independent verification throughout the process.

Applications for the inaugural Ever Upward awards will open Feb. 3. Eligible companies must have been in operation since at least January 2022, meet minimum revenue thresholds and be Knight-owned or led.��

“Our alumni don’t just represent UCF, they extend it,” says Michael Harding, UCF associate vice president for partnerships. “Ever Upward celebrates Knight-owned and Knight-led businesses whose leadership and momentum mirror the ambition of this university and uniquely position them to build powerful partnerships with UCF.”

The application deadline is Thursday, March 26, 2026. Finalists will be announced in early summer, with full rankings revealed at the August awards celebration.

For eligibility requirements and application details, visit the .