91�Թ�� Alumni Archives | 91�Թ�� News

91�Թ�� Emergency Management Alum’s Career Takes Flight with JetBlue

Danielle Hendrix ’15 ’24MA | Photos by Antoine Hart — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:30:51 +0000

Growing up in a well-traveled family with a father who worked as a flight attendant, Kaylie Savitz ’22MECM dreamed of flying planes herself.

That’s what first led her to earn an aeronautical science degree and a commercial pilot’s license. Then the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the industry — and her plans.

Savitz changed course and pursued a master’s degree in emergency and crisis management (MECM) at 91�Թ��. The decision connected her with aviation emergency management professionals and gave her the confidence to pursue a career at the intersection of what she’s most passionate about.

Today, Savitz isn’t in the pilot’s seat. She’s among the boots on the ground driving business continuity and emergency response initiatives across JetBlue operations.

Kaylie Savitz ’22MECM works as a senior analyst of business continuity and emergency response for JetBlue.

Preparing for Career Takeoff

When Savitz graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2020, she planned to take straight to the skies.

“Everything was shut down; all the airlines stopped hiring, and my original plan was out the window,” she says. “I thought, ‘OK, what am I going to do in the interim?’”

91�Թ��’s MECM is the first emergency management graduate program to earn accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration.

She began exploring programs and career paths in aviation safety. That search led her to 91�Թ��’s MECM, where she could apply her aviation knowledge to emergency and crisis management.

“I was immediately enthralled with every single course, and I hadn’t experienced that before,” she says. “I would make every single project that I had the opportunity to do so about response to an aviation disaster or legislation surrounding aviation. That really cemented my future goals.”

91�Թ�� also became the launchpad for professional relationships, beginning with her mentor, 91�Թ�� public administration/emergency management alum Keila Walker-Denis ’07.

“When we were being paired with mentors, I was hoping for someone in the aviation industry, and they ended up pairing me with Keila — who at the time was the assistant vice president of airport operations for emergency management with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority,” Savitz says. “I was over the moon when I discovered that a career like that could exist for me in the future, and I knew I wanted to work in emergency management and response in aviation.”

Later in the program, Savitz accepted an environmental health and safety internship with Delta Air Lines in Atlanta. She learned Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements and regulatory language while expanding her professional network.

What began as a three-semester internship rotation became a full-time role with Delta’s environmental health and safety team while she was still in the program.

Working in aviation safety, Kaylie Savitz ’22MECM is responsible for helping create and maintain emergency response plans, as well as facilitating training opportunities.

Raising Her Hand, Climbing the Ranks

Since then, Savitz has followed a simple mantra: Raise your hand at every opportunity. A year later, that approach brought her to JetBlue’s flight operations and safety team.

“[I completed] a lot of data work, change management and looking at safety reports from pilots. It was exciting to be part of having a pulse on safety like that.”

“It was a lot of data work, change management and looking at safety reports from pilots,” Savitz says. “In aviation, they use something called the Swiss Cheese Model. You have all these slices of Swiss cheese with all their different holes. Every so often, all the holes will line up, and that’s when an accident occurs. The role of any aviation safety team is focusing on not letting them line up. It was exciting to be part of having a pulse on safety like that.”

She kept raising her hand. After connecting with JetBlue’s director of emergency management and completing an emergency response apprenticeship with the team, Savitz was promoted in February 2026 to senior analyst of business continuity and emergency response — a role the team created for her.

She helps write and maintain emergency and business continuity plans, identify risks and training opportunities, and coordinate response readiness with both internal and external stakeholders.

No two days are exactly alike. One week might involve updating plans and incorporating recommendations from recent training exercises. The next could bring a full-scale exercise with airport employees and administrators, emergency response liaisons, crew members, and JetBlue’s care and ground operations teams.

“In an actual emergency, there are so many people involved in a response that your own team is also coordinating with the airline, airport first responders and government agencies,” she says. “Creating and maintaining those relationships ahead of time really helps in real-life situations. That way you already know these people, and you might even know what to expect from them or what they would want from you during these events.”

“91�Թ��’s emergency and crisis management program really gave me a baseline for every single thing that I do.”

Her relationship with Walker-Denis is a prime example of how those early connections continue to shape her work.

“She introduced me to some of her colleagues, and now I’m in a role with JetBlue where I get to work with her team at Orlando International Airport,” Savitz says. “91�Թ��’s emergency and crisis management program really gave me a baseline for every single thing that I do.”

Transfer Student, First-Generation Graduate Proves It’s Never Too Late to Aim High

Robert Stephens — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:00:51 +0000

Robin Marquez ’26 has re-prioritized his necessities at the University of Minnesota: he has clothes for exploring, clothes for frigid winters and somewhere he’s safely stored a new passport. This is Marquez’s latest stop in a lifelong itinerary that’s taken him from Brooklyn, New York, to Palm Beach County to Tampa, Florida, to 91�Թ��.

Nov. 2-6 is First Generation Week at 91�Թ��.

“I created a new road by going offroad,” he says.

Marquez is coming up on his 31^st birthday. He graduated from 91�Թ�� in May with a biology degree and an unexpected interest. Among the possessions he took north are arthropod samples collected from the 91�Թ�� Arboretum, an 80-acre parcel of research-rich ecosystems. He’s studying the microscopic insects for information about biological diversity. They’ve already provided the direction Marquez sought for so long.

“What I’m doing now, I couldn’t fathom a few years ago,” he says.

91�Թ�� biology alum Robin Marquez ’26 accepts the the 2025 Alate Award from the Entomological Society of America. (Photo courtesy of Robin Marquez ’26)

In his mid-20s, Marquez felt as if he were stuck in the weeds with a high school education and blurry future. Today, this same Robin Marquez has achieved the following: awarded the Order of Pegasus, recognition as the first student nominated through Valencia College for a Goldwater Scholarship, collaborated with researchers at Yale University and the Smithsonian Institution, and stood as the only undergraduate to receive the coveted Entomological Society of America Alate Award in 2025.

All of this has led him to the Twin Cities to work on a Ph.D. in entomology.

“I still don’t know where the limit is,” Marquez says.

His successes aren’t just for him. They’re for anyone who thinks they’ve wandered off the academic road.

“I no longer buy the narrative of hitting traditional checkpoints, like [completing an uninterrupted path to graduation] and starting a career by your early 20s,” he says. “It might take time to find the right people to propel you in ways you never thought possible.”

Robin Marquez ’26 completed leaf litter sampling as part of entomology training during his internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Summer 2024. (Photo courtesy of Robin Marquez ’26)

Marquez tried the “traditional checkpoints” route after high school, enrolling at the University of South Florida on a full ride in 2013. He imagined cruising along to medical school. However, 16 months later he departed USF with a failing GPA and mounting mental health challenges.

“I felt crushed,” he says. “I thought college would be my ticket out of socioeconomic hardship, that I’d be a first-generation graduate and break a cycle. Instead, it came to a grinding halt. I had the capability but not the right mindset. So, I kind of floated in this nebulous space of ‘adulthood.’ ”

Marquez carried the label “college dropout” in his mind for years. To this day, it’s hard for him to explain how misunderstood he felt.

Robin Marquez’ 26 looking for pollinating insects during a 91�Թ�� Bug Closet bioblitz, an event focused on finding and identifying as many species as possible. (Photo courtesy of Robin Marquez ’26)

Volunteering at an animal shelter became an escape. He moved to Orlando and grew plants in his apartment, hoping to shake himself out of stasis. A friend noticed how he enjoyed gardening and said he could make a career at it.

“I grew up in the concrete jungle of Brooklyn before my family moved to Florida,” Marquez says. “A gardening career sounded impossible until I heard Valencia [College] offers a degree in plant science. I thought I’d take a class, set the bar low and get back on my feet.”

A botany instructor at Valencia, Fabiano Isenhour, told Marquez to aim higher and consider research. The program director, Javier Garces, suggested he pursue a doctorate.

“I went from thinking two years of college would be my path into the workforce,” Marquez says, “to wondering where research might take me.”

The Fascinated Bug Librarian

In January of 2024, nearly 10 years after leaving college with a 0.9 GPA, Marquez transferred through the DirectConnect to 91�Թ�� program with multiple plant certifications and a 4.0 earned at Valencia. His mental health had improved, too.

Robin Marquez ’26 in the 91�Թ�� Bug Closet. (Photo courtesy of Robin Marquez ’26)

“Everything snowballed,” he says. “At 91�Թ��, I spent time with a wellness coach in the McNair Scholars Program. Mentors like (former Professor) Patrick Bohlen were invested in my potential. I found this intersection of passion, support and community, which fueled my drive.

Marquez also discovered the Arboretum and 91�Թ��’s Bug Closet, a collection of more than 575,000 specimens — one of the largest completely databased collections in the world — that heightened his new curiosity about the relationship between insects and agriculture.

“Insect specimens are like books,” he says. “They provide knowledge about the world. In the Bug Closet, I was the librarian. My research there led me to the Smithsonian, where I worked with species that are new to science. Someday I could be involved in giving them names.”

On His Own Track in Life

“When I look back at where I’ve been and where I’ve come, it’s exhilarating. I can’t imagine making it this far if my path hadn’t led to 91�Թ��.”

The dispiriting label Marquez once shouldered has been shed. In its place, he has that new passport, which he’s using to present research at international conferences. He envisions completing his doctorate and working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Smithsonian to support America’s natural resources through entomology.

“I’m just now finding where I belong,” he says. “When I look back at where I’ve been and where I’ve come, it’s exhilarating. I can’t imagine making it this far if my path hadn’t led to 91�Թ��.”

91�Թ�� Students, Emmy-Winning Professors Team Up to Give a Voice to the Dead

Natalie Fedor ’26MA — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000

What happens when students from an entertainment law class and a podcasting class walk into a graveyard together? At 91�Թ��, they bring to life the most ambitious cross-college collaboration yet from an Emmy-winning faculty duo.

Legal studies senior lecturer was inspired one day when she came across a video of someone wandering through cemeteries, reading headstones and telling the stories of the people buried beneath them. The videos were pulling in millions of views. Pons, who teaches both entertainment law and funeral law at 91�Թ��, saw a learning opportunity for her legal studies students.

Rick Brunson ’84 and Irene Pons ’00 brought their two classes together for an in-person day of collaboration. (Photo courtesy of Irene Pons ’00).

She reached out to , a senior instructor in 91�Թ��’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) and veteran broadcast journalist, as the first step to what would go on to become a student-produced podcast, The Dead Speak.

Pons’ entertainment law students paired with Brunson’s audio reporting and podcasting students during the Spring 2026 semester — creating a cross-disciplinary collaboration unlike anything either department had attempted before.

The two faculty members are repeat collaborators. Their prior work legal studies-related documentaries that have earned five regional Emmy awards.

But this project presented a whole new challenge. It required bringing together nearly 100 students of very different skill sets to deliver a finished product that would both accurately and legally “bringing the dead back to life.”

Bringing the Dead to Life in Sound

Each class took on a distinct role in the production. Pons’ legal studies students were the researchers. Using legal databases, death records, obituaries and cemetery records — while exercising the entertainment law and copyright skills they were developing in class — they identified deceased Floridians or people with strong Florida ties whose stories were compelling, historically verifiable and legally safe to tell.

A few students even ventured into cemeteries to find their subjects, while others utilized websites for virtual tours of burial grounds.

“Law comes into play because a lot of research goes into databases where death records are kept,” Pons says. “The entertainment law aspect comes in because we have ethical considerations, like copyright, public domain and how to verify the veracity of a record. ‘Did that person really die in 1867?’ Those are the kinds of questions that sharpened our legal research skills.”

“The entertainment law aspect comes in because we have ethical considerations, like copyright, public domain and how to verify the veracity of a record.” — Irene Pons ’00, senior lecturer

Once initial research was completed, the classes met together in person, divided into groups, in NSCM’s state-of-the-art podcasting studio. They pitched their research and determined which subjects would make the strongest episodes.

“My students were coming at this from what I call ‘seeing with your ears,’” Brunson says. “Does this subject and the time period they’re in present rich audio and sound opportunities? Does their story present rich opportunities to tell it in a sonic way?”

From there, Brunson’s students took over, writing scripts that would be narrated in first person and finding voice actors to give an accurate voice to the deceased.

Some students reached out to professional voice-acting collectives, and several professionals were so intrigued that they volunteered their voices. Other students recruited friends, family members or peers who matched the voice characterization they needed.

They further enhanced the production by recording real-world ambient sounds like crickets chirping, musical instruments or an audience cheering to create the backtracks that bring each episode to life.

In total, the collaboration produced 12 publicly accessible episodes that can be streamed on .

Everlasting Benefits

The response from students on both sides was immediate and enthusiastic. Pons’ law students were so enamored by the experience that many asked if they could come into the studio themselves to see their research brought to life.

“They were so invested in what they were doing,” Pons says. “At the end of class, they were like, ‘Do we have to leave?’ That was their favorite part of the whole semester.”

For Brunson’s podcasting students, the project offered an avenue for creativity while still adhering to journalism’s standards of accuracy and reporting and will ultimately serve them well on their resumes.

“The benefits are two-way. You get smarter by working with really smart and creative people, and you push understanding of ourselves as humans and as a community forward.” — Rick Brunson ’84, senior instructor

“We have dead-set rules against making things up over here,” Brunson says. “They really enjoyed this opportunity to go out, get sound, create a period of time and make it immersive in a listener’s mind. It stretched their muscles as audio storytellers. Students can say, ‘This is something I built. This is something that went out and is public-facing.’ I think that is so much more valuable to students than just getting an A on a test.”

He adds that the experience reaffirmed what he’s always believed about project-based learning.

“It’s cross-pollination,” he says. “The benefits are two-way. You get smarter by working with really smart and creative people, and you push understanding of ourselves as humans and as a community forward.”

Pons hopes to continue The Dead Speak podcast and partnership with Brunson’s class with her Entertainment Law course in Spring 2027 and her Death, Dying and the Law course in Fall 2027.

“When faculty have the opportunity, they should take advantage of collaborating like this,” she says. “It was so rewarding for the students and for us as professors just to see the smiles on their faces. That says it all.”

91�Թ�� Alum ‘Returns to Earth’ After 378-Day Mars Mission

Jenna Marina Lee — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:00:04 +0000

Landing humans on the moon was just a dream when 91�Թ�� was founded in 1963. But we dared to believe — developing the talent and inventing the technologies to make it reality. That same spirit still drives us today.

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ�� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

While taking a break from his job responsibilities on “another planet,” Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS settled in for some light reading: The Handbook of Space Resources. Curious about the authors’ backgrounds, he flipped through the contributors list.

The two-time 91�Թ�� electrical engineering alum couldn’t help but smile when he spotted two familiar names: acclaimed 91�Թ�� planetary scientists Daniel Britt and Phillip Metzger ’00MS ’05PhD.

Even on a mission to “Mars,” 91�Թ�� was right there with him.

CHAPEA Mission 2 crew members, from left to right: Ross-Elder, Ellen Ellis, Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS and James Spicer pose in front of the door to the simulated Martian landscape. (Photo courtesy of: NASA/CHAPEA crew)

On Oct. 19, 2025, Montgomery entered a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center with three crewmates for NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA). Together, they’ve simulated living on Mars, conducting research and collecting data as if they were 140 million miles from Earth.

Their work includes spacewalks with and without virtual reality, time-delayed communications, crop growth, meal preparation and consumption, exercise, hygiene activities, maintenance work, personal time, science work and sleep — all to help prepare for future missions.

The 39-year-old isn’t a trained astronaut or a NASA scientist. After an 18-month application and screening process, being selected to volunteer for this mission meant stepping away from his loved ones and Floating Lava Studios, his Los Angeles-based film production company, for more than a year.

He cultivated the skills that helped him land this gig, in part, at 91�Թ��.

An Orlando native, Montgomery enrolled through an early admission program while still a senior at nearby University High School. As a Burnett Honors Scholar, he immersed himself in research opportunities and lab work while earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering.

“91�Թ�� provided me the technical foundation to get where I’m at,” Montgomery says. “I think engineering is one of the best undergraduate degree programs that anyone can pursue. Foundationally, it teaches you problem-solving skills that can be broadly applied to almost anywhere you go. I also learned solid research principles, and lab work was critical. You need both sides. There’s a lot of opportunity (at 91�Թ��). I’ve taken a more entrepreneurial approach (in my career), and I think 91�Թ�� really sets you up for that.”

Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS conducts research inside the habitat, as shown in a photo released on day 300 of the mission. (Photo courtesy of NASA/CHAPEA crew)

As CHAPEA’s science officer, Montgomery draws on his engineering background to contribute expertise in LED lighting, robotics, controlled environment agriculture and embedded control systems.

Ahead of the mission’s scheduled Oct. 31 conclusion, Montgomery answered questions via video about life inside the habitat — and what it could mean for humanity’s future beyond Earth.

A Glimpse of Life on Mars

Inside CHAPEA’s sandbox area, research volunteers conduct simulated walks on the surface of Mars. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

Why did you say yes to this mission?
When I read through the application, I really felt meant for this mission. It comes down to a simple answer: The researchers asked for help, and they had a worthy cause.

I think there’s a powerful lesson and reminder in there — when you’re pursuing lofty goals or reaching for the stars, you do need support. All you need to do is communicate your vision and ask for help. When you do, people show up and support you.

What does a routine day look like?
Our day-to-day life is similar to astronauts on the International Space Station and representative of what will be expected of Mars-surface astronauts: drone and rover operations, exercise testing, bio collections. Each day has a mix of standard items — resistance or cardio exercise, science and experiment work, crop care, maintenance, ensuring you get your daily caloric intake goals met.

We also perform spacewalks, or extravehicular activities, in two forms: virtual reality (VR) or non-VR.

Outside the airlock, we have a simulated Mars surface with red regolith simulant. During non-VR spacewalks, we participate in surface equipment checks, maintenance, infrastructure builds, and a lot of science and geological-type tasks.

On VR spacewalks, we put on headsets and use treadmills that allow us to traverse much larger distances. Compared to the International Space Station, you might be doing spacewalks every day on Mars, and that tempo is something NASA isn’t used to. We need to gather data: Does that tempo start to affect cognition or physical performance?

When you are on the surface of these more remote environments, you’re going to want to use that time to not only survive, but gather data and increase the body of scientific knowledge.

Left: Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS collects a blood sample for health monitoring. Right: Montgomery evaluates a seed germination experiment in the glovebox. (Photos courtesy of NASA/CHAPEA crew)

How well did you pack for 378 days?
I consider myself a light packer, and I’ve learned you really don’t need a whole lot to get by. That way of life translated well into the mission.

I did bring some comforts. I’m glad I brought a buckwheat pillow. I find them really comfortable, especially when they’re broken in. I brought a good pair of headphones and a set of spudger tools.

We packed quite a few books. We have a nice library of music and movies. Owning a production company, I really enjoy film, and members of the crew are film fans, too. It’s been something we’ve bonded over.

I wish I had brought a small mirror for my room. One of the other crew members brought high-quality microphones we could plug into different devices. It’s contributing to this interview.

In the end, there are four of us. When we come together, we have quite the spread and our bases covered.

Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS showcases vegetables harvested from the hydroponic crop growth system. (Photo courtesy of NASA/CHAPEA)

How do you hope this mission will advance space exploration?
A lot has to come together to advance space research. The technical side is probably thought of first, but an important piece is the human aspect.

An important aspect of our mission is time-delayed communication. That’s something NASA has limited experience with but is looking to gain through experiments like this.

If we think about the ISS or the moon, they’re relatively close to the Earth, and [communication] is nearly instantaneous. But as we push farther out to Mars, that distance gets quite long. We have no [option for] instant [communication] like a phone call or video chat. A lot becomes written, and we have to account for the time it takes to send messages and receive responses.

Ultimately, all of this will hopefully create new processes, procedures and plans for surface missions where mission control isn’t quite as integrated with the crews.

Top: CHAPEA mission 2 crew stands in front of the Space Exploration Vehicle, a prototype pressurized rover that transported the crew at the start of the mission. (Photo courtesy of NASA/James Blair). Bottom: Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS says time spent with his crewmates will be among his most cherished mission memories. (Photo courtesy of NASA/CHAPEA crew)

What have you learned about yourself during this mission?
I should give myself a little grace and have a short memory. I’m driven to strive for really high-performing outputs, but in complex situations, especially on long-duration missions, you’re going to make mistakes and things aren’t going to go as planned. You need to assess those accurately, learn the lesson and move on.

The good part about a long-duration mission is there’s usually an opportunity to give something a go again. There’s a little comfort in that.

I’ve also learned I should trust myself a little more. When something doesn’t feel right or I’m feeling [drawn to] a particular course of action, I should dive in and pinpoint where that’s coming from. A few [times during] this mission, [doing that has] led to better outcomes.

Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS (left) and Commander Ross Elder (right) prepare for a simulated spacewalk in the airlock. (Photo courtesy of NASA/CHAPEA)

What advice do you have for future Mars explorers?
Acquire a broad set of skills. I’m continually impressed by the crew’s breadth and depth of knowledge. When it’s just the four of you and you have to rely on yourself and each other, having that broad set of skills is incredibly important. You’ll be the ones solving problems, and that could be the difference between life and death and the success of the mission.

Foster a deep sense of inquisitiveness. You need to be present. Being [observant] might lead to new discoveries. It might also lead to preemptive measures that help your safety and success.

Check everything. That’s both good for data and good for safety.

91�Թ�� Alums Bring a Fresh Brew to Familiar Grounds

Juzanne Martin | Photos by Antoine Hart — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:52:09 +0000

Inside Weekday Coffee & Matcha, students settle into couches near a cozy fireplace and gather around tables over handcrafted drinks. Behind the counter, two longtime friends and 91�Թ�� alumni are finding their footing in a place that already feels like home.

For Ricky Bravo ’17 and David Benjamin ’21, opening the shop meant bringing years of experience and an ambitious idea back to campus. Steps from where they made some of their favorite college memories, they’re building a place for the next generation of Knights to make their own.

“I’ve walked up and down Memory Mall for years,” Benjamin says. “I would hammock there all the time and play spike ball with my friends. So every part of this just feels like home in a sense.”

The shop opened Aug. 24, the first day of fall classes. But the idea began with a much smaller space — and a dream Benjamin thought might take years to reach.

Back on Familiar Grounds

Long before they shared a business, Bravo and Benjamin shared a home — and a growing list of favorite Orlando coffee shops.

Introduced through a mutual friend, they became roommates during college in Summer 2016. Bravo, a couple of years older, brought Benjamin along to explore the city’s coffee scene.

“We went everywhere together and had a ton of fun,” Benjamin says. “We grew a pretty close friendship.”

Their careers took different turns, but each gained experience that would eventually lead them to Weekdays.

David Benjamin ’21 works behind the counter at Weekday Coffee & Matcha, bringing his entrepreneurial ambitions back to the campus where they took shape.

Benjamin’s parents, both first-generation immigrants and entrepreneurs, inspired his ambition to build something of his own. At 91�Թ��, he studied integrated business and interned with the Knight Vision program, helping the university transition to Workday. After graduating, he worked at financial services company Robinhood before returning to 91�Թ�� as an IT project manager for four years.

Bravo, a first-generation American and college student, initially planned to pursue physical therapy. After earning a degree in sport and exercise science at 20, he took time to explore another interest.

At nonprofit cafe DUO58, he started as a volunteer dishwasher and eventually became director of training. Training with the Specialty Coffee Association in California deepened his appreciation for coffee’s journey from seed to cup. Work at Lineage Coffee Roasting strengthened his connections within Orlando’s coffee community.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift into finance at Robinhood, where he and Benjamin became coworkers. But the pull toward coffee and community remained.

A Small Pitch with Grande Possibilities

Benjamin spotted a possibility in an empty kiosk near 91�Թ��’s Reflecting Pond.

The former Topper’s ice cream spot looked like an ideal grab-and-go cafe. The surrounding city offered plenty of inspiration: Orlando ranks No. 1 on WalletHub’s 2026 list of America’s best coffee cities.

For Benjamin and Bravo, that thriving coffee culture deserved a home on campus. In February, Benjamin contacted 91�Թ��’s vice president of real estate with a proposal to create one.

“ … my dream one day … [was] to take over the Starbucks on Memory Mall.” — David Benjamin ’21, 91�Թ�� alum and Weekday co-founder

Then he called Bravo, who was planning his own coffee cart.

Before their pitch meeting, Benjamin shared a bigger ambition:

“I still get goosebumps thinking about it. But I tell Ricky, ‘I know we’re pitching for this little kiosk, but my dream one day … is to take over the Starbucks on Memory Mall,” Benjamin says.

The kiosk proved unavailable. But in March, the university offered them the Starbucks space instead.

“I just lit up. I called Ricky, freaking out,” Benjamin says. “I’m like, dude, it’s happening. Then we got right to work.”

With 91�Թ�� Dining’s approval, the founders had just a few months to prepare. They turned to Lineage Coffee Roasting, just five minutes from campus, for guidance on products and design. Bravo and his wife drew on their rental-property design experience to create a bright interior with couches and a mix of intimate seating and communal tables for both quiet study sessions and conversation.

Weekday Coffee & Matcha opened Aug. 24 in the former Starbucks space on Memory Mall, welcoming Knights on the first day of fall classes.

“[We want Weekday]” to be part of people’s daily rhythm and routine … where you get something really crafted.” — Ricky Bravo ’17, 91�Թ�� alum and Weekday co-founder

Even the name reflected their vision.

“It spoke to wanting this to be part of people’s daily rhythm and routine, a quick break, … where you get something really crafted,” Bravo says.

On opening day, that vision met a line of customers.

“We were running out of items,” Bravo says. “I remember making an order, and I just paused, like, this is real.”

Weekday’s menu pairs signature coffee and matcha drinks with seasonal flavors and syrups made in-house.

The Daily Grind, Handcrafted

That realization now comes with early prep shifts, dishes to wash and recipes to refine.

Both founders live nearby and work daily alongside their mostly student staff. Their attention extends from the ingredients they source to the experience of the person waiting at the counter.

Co-founder Ricky Bravo ’17 works behind the counter at Weekday Coffee & Matcha, bringing years of specialty coffee experience to the shop’s daily operations.

Their signature Weekday Blend, roasted by Lineage, includes coffee grown by the Sánchez family — a 91�Թ�� student’s family — in Honduras. A light-medium roast preserves its distinctive flavors, while an Ethiopian coffee adds berry-like, syrupy sweetness. The result is something a coffee enthusiast will love, and an easy first sip for anyone new to specialty coffee.

Their matcha comes from a Japanese tea house. Every syrup is made in the shop’s prep kitchen, including caramelized Madagascar vanilla bean, mocha finished with sea salt and brown sugar shoyu with warm spices — the base of the popular, cookie-like Golden Shoyu drink.

“There’s a lot of intentionality into everything we do,” Bravo says. “We’re not bulk ordering syrups from a warehouse. Our staff comes in at six in the morning and makes gallons and gallons of syrup.”

For Homecoming Week, that creativity includes The Citronaut, an orange blossom honey drink honoring 91�Թ��’s original mascot.

A Place to Call Home

As regulars return and student organizations gather, Weekday is becoming the place its founders envisioned.

Weekday’s mostly student staff take orders and serve up a warm welcome, helping make the shop a gathering place for the 91�Թ�� community.

French and Spanish clubs have held meetings in the shop. Students make up most of the staff, bringing a sense of ownership the founders value. Next summer, Benjamin and Bravo hope to make the outdoor seating area more inviting with lush plants and a shaded awning.

“Rooted in community, built by alumni, handcrafted for campus … that’s what we want to do.” — Ricky Bravo ’17

“We want this to feel like a 15-minute vacation in the midst of people’s high-pressure moments, and for them to remember the faces behind the bar,” Bravo says.

For Benjamin, being one of those faces adds another chapter to a relationship with 91�Թ�� that has grown from student to graduate, employee and business owner. For both founders, it’s a chance to give the campus they remember a gathering place they can call their own.

“Rooted in community, built by alumni, handcrafted for campus aren’t just things that we say,” Bravo says. “We wake up every morning, and that’s what we want to do.”

Weekday is drawing students, food bloggers and visitors from across Orlando — bringing its founders’ dream to life, one guest at a time.

Shooting for the Moon: A 91�Թ�� Graduate’s Role in Artemis Mission Safety

Joseph Harkins — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:00:54 +0000

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ�� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

Seconds after NASA’s Orion capsule splashed into the Pacific Ocean, white spray rose around the scorched spacecraft. Telemetry streamed from Houston to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Inside the Test Launch Control Center thousands of miles from the splashdown, Joseph Hoayun ’22 ’26MSEM watched his monitor intently. His heart pounded as he tracked live data from the crew module uprighting system, a critical safety mechanism he had spent months testing and analyzing.

Recovery teams secure NASA’s Orion capsule after the splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. 91�Թ�� alum and Lockheed Martin Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer Joseph Hoayun ’22 ’26MSEM verified the critical uprighting system — visible as five orange balloons — that brought the capsule home. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Hoayun ’22 ’26MSEM)

As five vibrant orange balloons inflated and lifted the capsule upright in the rolling sea, Hoayun’s shoulders finally dropped. Months of work gave way to pride. Orion was home. Mission accomplished.

“That capsule was my baby,” says Hoayun, a spacecraft propulsion test engineer at Lockheed Martin, NASA’s prime contractor for the Orion spacecraft used in the crewed Artemis II mission. “We were just freaking out — everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. It felt like hours from the time Orion entered our atmosphere until the astronauts safely emerged from the spacecraft.”

While the world celebrated the first crewed lunar flyby in more than half a century, Hoayun’s attention soon turned to the next mission. As NASA prepares to accelerate its launch schedule from one Artemis mission every two years to an aggressive eight-month cycle, the pressure on test engineering is mounting. To keep pace, his division is expanding from 70 to more than 100 personnel.

High-Pressure Stakes

Hoayun supports the night shift in an operation that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week at Kennedy Space Center. On any given evening, he might run a proof and leak test on an Orion service module, pressurizing flight propellant tanks to hundreds of pounds per square inch to verify structural integrity under extreme stress.

“People think you build one rocket at a time, but right now we have Artemis III, IV and V all in our building being tested in parallel by different teams,” Hoayun says.

As leader of his division’s Operational Excellence Team, he applies Six Sigma methods to improve tracking, refine testing workflows and eliminate waste. He estimates his team has saved Lockheed Martin hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Joseph Hoayun ’22 ’26MSEM stands with NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. Supporting the night shift at Kennedy Space Center, he tests propulsion systems to keep the aggressive Artemis flight schedule on track. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Hoayun ’22 ’26MSEM)

“We do hundreds of distinct tests for each spacecraft cycle to ensure that all engines, electrical components, mechanical units and control systems work cleanly before they leave Earth,” he says.

Ensuring spacecraft reliability requires precision and strict safety protocols, including a 70-foot evacuation radius during high-threshold testing to protect personnel from lethal hazards. A single miscalculation could destroy a $2 billion spacecraft or trigger a catastrophic explosion.

Hoayun credits his 91�Թ�� bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in engineering management through the university’s College of Engineering and Computer Science with giving him the tools to thrive in these high-pressure environments. For his senior design project, he fondly recalls building and successfully flying a distributed electric propulsion aircraft. The complex engineering challenge required the same collaborative problem-solving he now relies on at Lockheed Martin.

But long before stepping onto 91�Թ��’s campus, Hoayun discovered his passion for solving problems. As a child, he watched Apollo 13 and was captivated by the scene in which engineers race against the clock to build a makeshift carbon dioxide filter.

“Watching them solve a life-or-death engineering problem in real time made me say, ‘I want to be the guy in the control room doing rapid problem-solving,’ ” he says.

Read Him Like a Book

Hoayun’s dad, a science teacher at Orlando’s Corner Lake Middle School, recognized his son’s fascination with space early. Instead of traditional bedtime stories like Goodnight Moon, his father read him school textbooks or set up kitchen experiments to explain thermodynamics and chemistry. When Hoayun reached middle school, he landed right in his dad’s honors class.

“Getting to touch a spacecraft and see your work blast into orbit every day is a full-circle blessing.”

“I wouldn’t necessarily recommend having your dad as your teacher,” Hoayun says with a chuckle. “He loved using me as the class guinea pig for demonstrations, but I couldn’t complain — he was my ride home!”

After submitting about 400 job applications, Hoayun landed his dream job. In a few years, he says he may return to 91�Թ�� to pursue a doctorate. But for now, at just 26, he’s focused on preparing the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis III mission.

His work supports preparations for the precise maneuvers needed to bring Orion and commercial lunar landers together in orbit, helping pave the way for astronauts to return to the moon’s surface.

“Each mission is progressively more complex and difficult,” Hoayun says. “But that means you never get bored. Getting to touch a spacecraft and see your work blast into orbit every day is a full-circle blessing.”

From Center Stage to Setting the Stage

Camille Dolan ’98 — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:28:54 +0000

Annie Swift ’26 and a colleague were examining the floor of a kitchen set they had helped bring to life. Their question: Which way should the trail of simulated blood smear?

Guests entering the room needed to immediately understand the story, Swift reasoned.

91�Թ��’s newest Pegasus Partner, Universal Destinations & Experiences, recently joined 91�Թ�� to launch a first-of-its-kind school for future themed entertainment leaders.

For Swift, a set dresser at Universal Orlando Resort, the answer was more than where to place a prop. As part of a team developing a Halloween Horror Nights house, she helped shape the story guests would experience the moment they entered. Every staged bloodstain, overturned object and carefully placed detail served a purpose, even to visitors who rushed through the room with their eyes squeezed shut.

“You might sit there and pretend to be the person and think, ‘How would that look here? How would that inform the space?’” Swift says.

For the recent 91�Թ�� theatre graduate, questions like that are part of her dream job.

Finding Her Place Behind the Curtain

Born and raised in Orlando, Swift grew up drawing, painting, singing and sewing. She once imagined a future in interior design, and she loved performing. But backstage at Boone High School, she discovered a place where all her talents could truly thrive. Stage production combined artistic expression, teamwork, problem-solving and endless opportunities to keep learning. It was the first glimpse of a career where creativity could shape experiences and bring stories to life.

“I’ve always been a creative person who really liked learning different methods of creation,” she says. “I never really stuck to one medium.”

Theatre gave those interests a home. It also gave Swift the confidence to build a career around them.

91�Թ��’s College of Arts and Humanities offered what she couldn’t find elsewhere: a robust undergraduate theatre design and technology track.

“91�Թ�� was truly the only place where design and technology took importance in the space of theatre,” Swift says.

An Education Built Around Doing

At 91�Թ��, Swift learned industry-standard techniques and applied them through eight production assignments. She served as a light board operator, props manager, audio technician, scenic paint charge and associate projections designer. Each role helped her understand how the parts of a production come together.

Annie Swift ’26 brought the scenic designer’s vision to life for Sweeney Todd at 91�Թ�� Celebrates the Arts 2024, developing paint treatments and leading students in transforming the set.

For Sweeney Todd at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Swift translated the scenic designer’s vision into paint treatments and led students in applying them. For Legally Blonde, she helped use projection mapping to transform scenic pieces with changing colors, textures and video.

“You’re not just learning the theory. You’re doing it as well,” she says. “That’s where I feel I learned the most.”

Swift believes theatre education is often misunderstood as training for performers. Behind every production are people who design, build, budget, research, troubleshoot and communicate under tight deadlines. Those skills can carry graduates into film, television, theme parks and other fields.

“If you know theatre, then you understand that those people can do anything,” Swift says.

Creating the Scare

Swift joined Universal during her sophomore year. This year, she was selected for the team that helps create immersive environments for Halloween Horror Nights houses.

That work includes creating the elements that make every room horrifyingly convincing. Swift and her team also secure the props so they stay in place as guests move through the house.

She enjoys walking through the houses among the guests and watching them react. Whether she’s choosing furniture or making a new prop look worn, she draws on what she learned at 91�Թ��: The smallest detail can tell a larger story.

Swift once walked through Halloween Horror Nights wondering how its frightening worlds were made. She came to 91�Թ�� to learn how to build them. Now, she brings them to life — down to the clues on the kitchen floor.

As 91�Թ�� works to fuel discovery and innovation, alumni like Annie Swift ’26 show what Knights can create when they carry their curiosity, ingenuity and determination into the world. Join , and help build a future the world has only begun to imagine.

The Complete Guide for 91�Թ�� Homecoming 2026

Jenna Marina Lee — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:20:19 +0000

Over the last 55 years, 91�Թ�� Homecoming Week has grown to become one of the most anticipated weeks on our academic calendar, and 2026 will be no exception.

Students, alumni, faculty and staff are in store once again for a full lineup of unforgettable events and activities across the main and 91�Թ�� Downtown campuses from Oct. 18–25.

A Quick History Lesson

91�Թ��’s first homecoming was held in 1971, three years after the first classes were held at Florida Technological University.

Since football didn’t start at 91�Թ�� until 1979, Homecoming originally coincided with basketball season, which was the university’s first varsity sport. The year 1980 saw two homecomings for the first time: one during basketball season and the first for football.

Student and Community Events

Oct. 18 – 91�Թ�� Volleyball vs. West Virginia | The Venue | 1 p.m.
The Knights welcome the Mountaineers in Big 12 Conference play for “Kids Day.” Tickets are free for students. The general public can purchase tickets on . For more information, visit .

Oct 19–23 – Who’s Your Ducky?�� John C. Hitt Library | Open to Close
After the Design Your Own Duck event during Welcome Week, choose your favorite student-designed duck. Check out the Gallery Wall on the second floor of the John C. Hitt Library for the top 50 ducks and cast your vote during Homecoming Week. Scan the QR code on the wall to make your voice heard.

Oct. 19 – Homecoming Kickoff | Reflecting Pond | Noon–2 p.m.
Students can claim their exclusive 2026 Homecoming T-shirt and last-minute free tickets for Comedy and Concert nights.

Oct. 19 – Knights Got Talent | Knights Plaza | 7 p.m.
Bring a blanket or chair to support your fellow Knights as they showcase their special talents. This event is free for both the community and 91�Թ�� students. Alongside the annual show, an art show will feature work from 91�Թ�� students and Knight Thon’s Miracle Children.

Oct. 20 – Movie Knight | Memory Mall | 7 p.m.
Catch 2026 Academy Award Best Picture nominee F1. Secure your spot on Memory Mall as early as 6 p.m. and score an exclusive popcorn cup (while supplies last).

Oct. 21 – Game Night | 91�Թ�� Downtown’s Learning Support Center | 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Challenge friends and members of the Downtown Learning Support team to some friendly competition. Prizes are up for grabs for a costume contest, Super Smash Brothers tournament and more. for more information.

Oct. 21 – Comedy Knight | Addition Financial Arena | Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
Get ready for an unforgettable night of comedy with Jay Pharoah, with special guest AJ Foster. Best known for his standout run on Saturday Night Live, Pharoah has made a name for himself with his hilarious celebrity impressions, energetic personality, and impressive musical talent. Admission is free for all 91�Թ�� students, but tickets are required. . The general public can .

Oct. 22 – Foam Splash | Communication and Media Building Plaza, 91�Թ�� Downtown | Noon-2 p.m.
Dive into the biggest foam party of the semester. Splash into a giant foam pit and bubbly pool, enjoy tacos and ice cream, play water games and more. The first 200 attendees will get free rubber ducks and exclusive Foam Splash T-shirts.

Oct. 22 – 91�Թ�� Women’s Soccer vs. Cincinnati | 91�Թ�� Soccer Complex | 7 p.m.
The Knights welcome the Bearcats in Big 12 Conference play on “Fright Knight.” Tickets are free for students. The general public can purchase tickets on the . For more information, visit .

Oct. 22 – Concert Knight | Addition Financial Arena | Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
This high-energy show features rappers Soulja Boy and Waka Flocka Flame. Admission is free for all 91�Թ�� students, but tickets are required. . The general public can .

Oct. 23 – Spirit Splash | Reflecting Pond | Noon–2 p.m.
Recognized as the best university tradition in the state by the National Association for Campus Activities, Spirit Splash is not to be missed. Thousands of students will run into the Reflecting Pond and attempt to catch this year’s custom homecoming rubber duck. There will be special guest speakers, as well as performances from the spirit team and Marching Knights. The event is free and open to 91�Թ�� students and the community.

Oct. 24 – 91�Թ�� Football vs. BYU | Acrisure Bounce House | TBA
91�Թ�� students can attend the game for free. A complete guide to student ticket information can be found at . The general public can purchase tickets through the or 91�Թ�� Athletics Ticket Office at 407-823-1000. For more information, review the .

Oct. 25 – 91�Թ�� Women’s Soccer vs. Houston | 91�Թ�� Soccer Complex | 1 p.m.
The Knights welcome the Cougars in Big 12 Conference play on “Alumni Weekend.” Tickets are free for students. The general public can purchase tickets on the . For more information, visit .

Oct. 25 – 91�Թ�� Men’s Soccer vs. South Carolina | 91�Թ�� Soccer Complex | 5 p.m.
The 91�Թ�� men’s soccer team hosts the nationally ranked Gamecocks in Sun Belt Conference play. Tickets are free for students. The general public can purchase tickets on the

Alumni Events

Oct. 22 – Shining Knights Alumni Awards Reception | Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts, Downtown Orlando | 6-9 p.m.
The Shining Knights Alumni Awards honor 91�Թ��’s outstanding alumni and community leaders who have significantly contributed to the university and the community. The 91�Թ�� Alumni family will celebrate six honorees at this year’s reception.  and include a pre-reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and dinner.

Oct. 23 – Ignite the Knight | Memory Mall | 6-8:30 p.m.
This family-friendly 91�Թ�� festival features live music, food, beverages, carnival games and special appearances before the grand finale: fireworks. .

Bonus – volunteer to support Trick or Treat on Greek Street by bringing sealed, individually packaged Halloween candy, small toys or crafts.

Oct. 23 – 91�Թ�� Athletics Hall of Fame 2026 Class Induction Banquet | Celeste Hotel | 6 p.m.
The 2026 class includes women’s soccer’s Marissa Diggs ’15, track and field’s Octavious Freeman, former football head coach Mike Kruczek, football’s McKenzie Milton ’19 ’22MA, volleyball’s Emily Mottola ’96 and men’s basketball’s BJ Taylor ’18.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the induction program at 7 p.m. Individual tickets are $200, and Hall of Fame tables (seating 10) are available for $2,000. , or email varsityknights@ucfathletics.org for additional information.

Oct. 24 – 91�Թ�� Alumni Tailgate | 91�Թ�� FAIRWINDS Alumni Center | Three hours before kickoff
Enjoy a live DJ, free beverages, delicious BBQ for purchase, family-friendly games and more at this indoor and outdoor tailgate. Admission to this family-friendly zone is complimentary for all 91�Թ�� alumni and guests.

Oct. 24 – 91�Թ�� Black Alumni Community Family Reunion and Tailgate | 91�Թ�� FAIRWINDS Alumni Center | Three hours before kickoff
Head to the ultimate tailgating experience, hosted by the 91�Թ�� Black Alumni Community, three hours before the Knights take on BYU. Enjoy a DJ, giant yard games, guest appearances and more. while they last. This event is open to all alumni and guests.

Oct. 24 – 91�Թ�� Regional Community Watch Parties | Locations vary | Time varies
Not able to come to campus? Regional Knights communities will host local watch parties before the homecoming game — and everyone is invited. .

Oct. 25 – Trick or Treat on Greek Street | Greek Park Drive | 2-5 p.m.
The 91�Թ�� Greek Community is hosting its annual Trick or Treat on Greek Street. This family-friendly event brings Halloween fun to the Central Florida community — and everyone’s invited.

in your group. All registered Greek alumni will be entered for a chance to win.

Mission X: Honoring 91�Թ��’s Origin Story for 10th Annual Space Game

Jenna Marina Lee, Juzanne Martin and Nicole Dudenhoefer ’17 — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:10:35 +0000

Landing humans on the moon was just a dream when 91�Թ�� was founded in 1963. But we dared to believe — developing the talent and inventing the technologies to make it reality. That same spirit still drives us today.

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ�� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

Since 91�Թ�� first held classes on Oct. 7, 1968, we have always been driven by an ambitious charge: “Reach for the stars.” The first moon landing followed in 1969. Decades later, 91�Թ�� keeps reaching as that founding mission lives on in the Knights developing the talent, discoveries and technologies taking humanity deeper into space — and transforming life here on Earth.

Before 91�Թ�� had a single classroom, we had a mission: provide the talent to help humanity reach the moon.

91�Թ��, America’s Space University, was built for the Space Age. We have spent every decade since building what’s next.

This year’s Mission X Space Game celebrates that momentum during a year of milestones: the 10th anniversary of 91�Թ��’s Space Game, the 20th season of the university’s on-campus football stadium, the 30th anniversary of 91�Թ�� football’s rise to the highest division of collegiate athletics and the 250th anniversary of the United States.

91�Թ��’s inaugural Space Game uniform in 2017 (left) and the 10th anniversary Space Game uniform (right). The 2017 uniform The helmet included a picture of the surface of the moon sublimated in the 91�Թ�� logo and included a special stripe down the center of the helmet. The 2026 uniform is heavily influenced by the astronauts of NASA’s earliest human spaceflight missions Mercury, Gemini and Apollo during the 1960s when the university was founded.

Together, these milestones offer a chance to reflect on how far 91�Թ�� has come — and look toward where Knights are headed next.

Across six decades, every breakthrough has built on what came before. The goalposts have moved from reaching the moon to sustaining life beyond it. New fields have joined the mission. Once-distant ideas have become experiments, breakthroughs and careers powered by Knights.

The moments that follow trace those threads across generations: then, the bold moves that launched 91�Թ��’s space legacy; now, the people and possibilities building on that foundation to push exploration even further.

A message from 91�Թ��’s founding President Charles N. Millican emphasized the university’s connections to space from the beginning of the university. (President message content from Central Florida Future’s Oct. 7, 1968 edition)

1960s | Building the Space Workforce

1963: Florida Technological University, now 91�Թ��, is founded to provide talent for the growing space industry as the United States is challenged with landing a man on the moon before 1970.

Today: 91�Թ�� is the No. 1 supplier of graduates to the nation’s aerospace and defense industries by Aviation Week. That impact is especially visible along Florida’s Space Coast, where 29% of Kennedy Space Center employees are 91�Թ�� graduates.

Some of the first buildings on 91�Թ��’s campus in 1968.

1968: Classes begin across 91�Թ��’s original five colleges, with aerospace sciences among the university’s earliest degree programs.

Today: Space at 91�Թ�� extends far beyond a single discipline. Students can choose from more than 35 space-related programs spanning business, engineering, hospitality, medicine, planetary science, optics and policy — preparing them for in-demand careers across the space sector.

The late astronaut John Young spoke at 91�Թ��’s first commencement ceremony in 1970. Young was an Orlando native and flew on the Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. (Content from Central Florida Future‘s June 19, 1970 edition)

1968: 91�Թ�� receives its first research grant — $12,500 from NASA — establishing an early connection between the university and the agency.

Today: 91�Թ�� has received $204 million in NASA awards since 1991, supporting work that advances planetary exploration, propulsion, space medicine, technologies and more. This underscores the strong decades-long collaboration between the university and the agency.

Computer science doctoral student Hiroshi Furuya uses a virtual reality headset to simulate a moon mission, aiming to improve human decision-making and astronaut–autonomous system interactions. The work is part of a NASA-funded project in partnership with Cislune. (Photo by Melanie Cedeño-López)

1970s | Connecting Education to Industry

Electrical engineering alum Bob Butterfield ’75 discovered a new method for reading X-rays while a co-op student at NASA. (Content from Central Florida Future‘s May 31, 1974 edition)

1971: NASA employs 18 students through 91�Թ��’s Co-Operative Education initiative, which leverages the university’s metropolitan location to let students alternate quarters of study with off-campus work in their academic fields.

Luis Jimenez-Chavez ’22 ’25MS, who has conducted human health related research for NASA, working in a research lab on campus.

Today: 91�Թ�� students are conducting hands-on research alongside Johnson Space Center astronauts and testing technology on the world’s largest simulated lunar surface.

These experiences strengthen students’ resumes while giving them workforce-ready skills and professional connections to step directly into the fast-growing space industry — and start contributing immediately.

1980s | Developing the Foundation of Space Medicine

1985: As rockets soared off Florida’s Space Coast for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, 91�Թ�� students were already exploring spaceflight’s impact on people. A group of 91�Թ�� health sciences graduate students, including respiratory health alum Charles Gutierrez ’82 ’85MS, conducted experiments in labs on campus and on a field used as a makeshift launch site to understand how rockets impact heart and lung health. The research, published in The Physiologist, reflects 91�Թ��’s spirit of turning curiosity into action.

Vice Chair of Aerospace Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine Emmanuel Urquieta (Photo by Jordan Smith)

Today: Reaching farther into space requires an understanding of how humans will live, work and stay healthy there. As the closest medical school to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, 91�Թ�� established the Led by Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair of aerospace medicine and associate professor of medicine, the center brings together 91�Թ�� experts across disciplines to lead research and develop technologies that will help humans prepare for longer missions to the moon, Mars and beyond. Urquieta also leads .

1990s | Creating a Place for Space

1990: 91�Թ�� establishes the Space Education and Research Center, which later becomes the . The institute is a hub for space research, education and technology development connected to Florida’s space industry.

Today: FSI research ranges from studying the Earth’s upper atmosphere to the origin of the planets to propulsion technologies for aerospace vehicles. Through research, operations oversight and educational programs, the institute continues to position Florida as a global leader in the space industry and contributes to the state’s economic development.

In May 2026, 91�Թ�� hosted the quarterfinal of NASA’s Lunabotics Challenge, a competition for college students to design and build a prototype off-world construction robots, for the second year. During 91�Թ�� Space Week, Oct. 25-30, the university hosts the international final for the first time.

Among its facilities is the , home to the world’s largest simulated lunar surface. Filled with 240,000 pounds of simulated lunar soil, the lab’s Lunar Highland Regolith Test Bin lets researchers, students and space organizations test how rovers, tools and other technologies perform on a moonlike surface.

Physics alum Catherine Millwater ’23 gazes at the night sky near 91�Թ��’s Robinson Observatory. (Photo by Nick Leyva ’15)

1996: Robinson Observatory opens on 91�Թ��’s main campus, providing students and faculty a place to study planetary systems, asteroids and more. By 2004, it housed what the Orlando Sentinel described as the largest telescope in the Southeast open to the public.

Today: 91�Թ�� researchers use observations from some of the world’s most powerful telescopes, including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, to investigate comets, asteroids, and the origins and evolution of our solar system.

2000s | Entering the Space Renaissance

In 2009, Stott completed the first painting done in space. The Wave is based on a photo taken through the International Space Station window.

2009: Engineering alum Nicole Stott ’92MS launches aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, becoming the first 91�Թ�� graduate to fly aboard a NASA shuttle and live on the International Space Station.

The Rosen College Career Fair 2025 featured a space theme as students consider possibilities in space hospitality. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Today: 91�Թ�� is preparing students not only to travel to space, but also to build the industries, policies and experiences surrounding it.

Through the Barry S. Miller College of Business, students can earn the nation’s first fully online MBA in space commercialization. A Space Policy and Management course in the College of Community Innovation and Education examines the decisions and administrative mechanisms that help power the space industry. Students can help imagine the future of dining and hospitality in spaceports, shuttles and orbital hotels at the , a global leader in hospitality and tourism education.

2010s | Return to Liftoff

The inaugural Space Game uniform launched in 2017. (Photo courtesy of 91�Թ�� Athletics)

2017: Invigorated by a new uniform line and excitement around the hiring of Scott Frost as head coach in 2016, 91�Թ�� Athletics decides to debut the Space Game — an idea conceptualized three years prior by 91�Թ�� Athletics’ brand experience department.

“It’s a unique part of the 91�Թ�� story that it was too good of an opportunity not to use the athletics platform to amplify,” Jimmy Skiles ’06 said in a 2022 article about the origin of the Space Game.

91�Թ�� running back and interdisciplinary studies major Taevion Swint models the 2026 91�Թ�� Space Game uniform, which pays homage to NASA’s earliest missions. (Photo by Conor Kvatek, 91�Թ�� Athletics)

Today: The annual Space Game — which has crossed over into 91�Թ��’s other sports — has grown into a spectacular, fan favorite event that promotes our talented people, the revolutionary work done here and has laid the groundwork for what has become 91�Թ�� Space Week.

In 2013, College of Sciences Dean Joshua Colwell’s experiment was one of eight winners for the Florida International Space Station Research Competition. The experiment, which was supported by Department of Physics Chair Adrienne Dove, aimed to investigate how planets form and was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

2019: 91�Թ�� sends five research projects into space with SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic flights after launch activity resumes in full force following the conclusion of the Space Shuttle program in 2011.

Today: 91�Թ�� has worked with NASA on almost 600 projects since the 1990s, including the Lunar-VISE mission led by Associate Professor Kerri Donaldson Hanna and Department of Physics Chair Adrienne Dove. The $35 million project will land a spacecraft on a part of the moon never visited before: the Gruithuisen Domes.

2020s and Beyond

The next era of space exploration is already taking shape — and 91�Թ�� is helping lead it.

NASA is targeting 2028 for the first crewed Artemis lunar landing. At the same time, commercial launches are accelerating — with the White House aiming to enable over 1,000 launches and reentries on American soil annually by 2030 — new markets are emerging, and the demand for space-ready talent and technology continues to grow. Our future on Earth will be shaped by our future advancements in space, and 91�Թ�� will be an influential driver of that progress.

Aerospace engineering alum and researcher Rachel Hytovick ’20 ’24MS ’25PhD (left) with Trustee Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Kareem Ahmed (right) at the 91�Թ�� HyperSpace Center. (Photo by Nick Leyva ’15)

As the next phase of space exploration, launched in October 2024 as a first-of-its-kind partnership with the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, providing a centralized, physical space to advance hypersonic technology.

In May 2027, Knights from Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics aim to launch a rocket from sea through a partnership with Seagate. The ambitious effort aims to be to first sea-based launch by university students in the nation — an example of how we continue to forge a path forward for space exploration.

91�Թ�� is also helping connect Florida’s universities, NASA and industry through the Florida University Space Research Consortium. The partnership creates new paths for shared space research, technology development and workforce preparation tied to Kennedy Space Center — strengthening Florida’s ability to lead the United States’ future space efforts.

Six decades in, 91�Թ��’s space legacy is still being written — in classrooms, labs and places we are determined to reach.

91�Թ�� Grad, NASA Engineer Helps Build America’s First Moon Base

Joseph Harkins — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:02:16 +0000

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ�� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

On a clear night, Teresa Kinney ’11MS can step into her backyard in Merritt Island, just a few miles from Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and look toward the moon. Its illuminated gray and white surface is no longer just a distant destination — it represents the next chapter of human space exploration and her own engineering��.

The harsh terrain of the lunar south pole is the staging ground for humanity’s next great leap. In this heavily shadowed region, peaks of eternal light catch rare glints of sunshine alongside craters of absolute darkness.

As transportation office program lead engineer in NASA’s Moon Base Program, the 91�Թ�� alumna plays a critical role in the agency’s phased effort to establish America’s first permanent outpost near the moon’s South Pole. Her engineering team oversees the surface transportation systems needed to deliver cargo, move equipment across the lunar surface, support deep-space and orbital missions and ensure every component works together as part of the larger lunar architecture.

Kinney evaluates whether transportation concepts and designs are technically ready to advance and how they fit into NASA’s long-term vision for building and sustaining a lunar base.

“I make sure technically that the design is worthy of moving forward to the next phase, that we’re looking at all the right thermal, dynamic and radiation environments and making sure the integration of hardware, including electronics and other parts, is coming together the proper way,” Kinney says.

An artist’s concept of a lunar base bustling with rovers, habitats, solar arrays and scientific equipment.

Engineering a Moon Base

NASA’s Moon Base Program is designed to evolve from robotic and early uncrewed missions to semi-permanent infrastructure, early habitation and, eventually, a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. Every phase depends on reliable transportation systems capable of delivering the hardware and supplies needed to build, operate and maintain a base hundreds of thousands (238,855) of miles from Earth.

An illustration of a sustained colony on the Moon highlights the massive infrastructure challenge facing 91�Թ�� industrial engineering graduate Teresa Kinney ‘11MS.

For Kinney, success depends on how every system works together. Landers must deliver the right payloads. Surface vehicles can transport equipment once it arrives. Orbital and deep-space transportation systems must support the broader mission. Each piece must perform safely on its own while also working within the overall architecture.

“I was surprised by the logistical complexity of maintaining a permanent presence on the International Space Station,” Kinney says. “I guess I shouldn’t have been — it’s like going on a month’s-long camping trip when you’re used to camping for long weekends. You need a lot more for that longer duration because you can’t just make do for an extended period. You think you’re prepared, but then you realize there are things you didn’t expect to need and things you wish you had with you. I think we’ll learn those same kinds of lessons from Moon Base, and I’m excited and ready to get started.”

Kinney also serves as project chief engineer for the Liquid Oxygen-Methane Assessment, a joint initiative involving NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Space Force. As the project’s final technical authority, she’s helping quantify the explosive yield and risks associated with the large quantities of liquid oxygen and methane carried by next-generation rockets and spacecraft, including human landing systems, particularly during catastrophic failures or other anomalies. The data will help inform safety protocols for spacecraft, launch sites and surrounding communities.

Whether she’s assessing lunar transportation architecture or helping government agencies better understand the risks of cryogenic propellants, Kinney’s work comes down to the same challenge: understanding how complex systems behave, where they can fail and how engineers can make them safer.

A Curiosity That Started Early

That instinct to understand how the pieces fit together began early.

” … my dad slid me up under the dashboard and started handing me parts. At some point I realized, ‘I can do this.’”

At 8, Kinney started helping her father work on cars. By 12, she was small enough to slide under the dashboard of the family’s Chevrolet station wagon and install its air-conditioning system before a summer trip to Florida.

“We were living in Alabama and were going to [Walt] Disney World [Resort] but couldn’t make the drive to Florida without air conditioning,” Kinney says. “I was small enough that my dad slid me up under the dashboard and started handing me parts, asking me to connect things. At some point I realized, ‘I can do this.’ It was the first time I had ever completed a mechanical task entirely on my own.”

That experience sparked an interest in solving complex problems, shaping her career and allowing her to do what she enjoys most: putting things together.

Career Takes Off

Before becoming a NASA civil servant at Kennedy Space Center in 2005, Kinney earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and spent two decades supporting the space shuttle solid rocket booster, Spacelab and International Space Station programs as a contractor at Marshall Space Flight Center.

As a structural dynamicist at NASA, she embraced the challenges of loads analysis and modal testing of large space structures while enjoying the freedom to explore new ideas and uncover innovative solutions.

“I never had any roadblocks in front of me,” Kinney says. “They were like, ‘Here’s the work. Here’s your part of it, Teresa. If you have problems, come and talk to us.’ No one ever treated me in a way that wasn’t wonderful and supportive.”

91�Թ�� Landing

As her career evolved, Kinney realized technical expertise alone wasn’t enough if she ever wanted to lead an interdisciplinary team. With 91�Թ��’s longstanding presence at Kennedy Space Center, she knew where to turn.

“91�Թ�� has a great reputation and the proximity, but it took me years to say, ‘OK, start doing a master’s,’” Kinney says.

While working full-time, she attended most classes at KSC through a special program, often balancing 60- to 70-hour workweeks as she earned her master’s degree in industrial engineering.

“You never know what opportunities might be waiting in front of you.”

Kinney applies that same dedication to everything she does, whether she’s building bookcases with her husband — a retired NASA engineer she met while working at NASA (MSFC) — or encouraging young people to pursue careers in space exploration. She offers the same advice she gave her daughter, Julia Kinney ’19, a 91�Թ�� biomedical sciences graduate who works at a cancer center, and her son, Jackson, an aerospace engineer at Marshall Space Flight Center.

“Don’t be intimidated,” Kinney says. “Don’t see things as too hard — see them as challenges. You never know what opportunities might be waiting in front of you.”

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