ORLANDO,
Fla., May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
(The University of Central
Florida's College of Engineering and Computer Science issued
the following news release.)
A $75,000 donation to the
University of Central Florida from Duke
Energy Florida will provide critical resources to support the
transformation of engineering and computer science students into
professionals and future leaders in their fields.
The funds will be used towards priority areas in the UCF College
of Engineering and Computer Science, specifically in programs
designed to build leadership skills in students, including UCF's
Engineering Leadership and Innovation Institute (eli2),
and UCF's Senior Design "Boot Camps" – training workshops for teams
enrolled in the Senior Design capstone course – a requirement for
graduating seniors.
The donation adds to a previous $75,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to
support UCF's College of Engineering and Computer Science projects
including the Girls Excelling in Math and Science mentorship
program, Senior Design, and diversity, equity and inclusion
programs.
"At UCF, while our engineering and computer science students are
learning the core technical aspects of their disciplines, they are
simultaneously learning important 'soft skills' and leadership
qualities that are critically important in the workplace," says
Michael Georgiopoulos, dean, UCF
College of Engineering and Computer Science. "The years of support
from Duke Energy help make UCF's leadership-building programs
possible. We are extremely grateful for their gift."
The gift adds to the longstanding relationship between Duke
Energy Florida, the Duke Energy Foundation and the University of Central Florida. Over the years, Duke
Energy and its foundation have given more than $5 million to support UCF programs that have
benefitted thousands of students. In addition, the Duke Energy
Welcome Center at UCF serves as a high-visibility information
portal about the university designed to attract prospective
students to UCF.
"For more than a decade, Duke Energy, its legacy companies and
its foundation have invested in the University
of Central Florida and its Engineering Leadership and
Innovation Institute," said Melissa
Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "There is an
immense need for engineering and computer technology leaders across
the board, and we are honored to be able to support this program
and continue transforming students into the skilled professionals
and leaders needed in Florida and
beyond."
With financial support from Duke Energy (then Progress Energy),
the Engineering Leadership and Innovation Institute
(eli2) at UCF was born in 2010, a program that has
provided leadership skills-building opportunities for thousands of
engineering and computer science students.
Opportunities include hands-on workshops and "Leaders Up Close"
seminars, classes to earn an Engineering Leadership Minor or
Certificate, the eli2 maker spaces on campus designed to
enhance creativity and collaboration, Senior Design Boot Camps that
help student teams with their projects; and other programs
specifically focused on enhancing student creativity, innovation,
collaboration and accountability.
"Duke Energy championed students' leadership development from
the very beginning of eli2," says Tim Kotnor, a
professor in UCF's Department of Industrial Engineering and
Management Systems and director of UCF's Engineering Leadership and
Innovation Institute. "What started out as initial support of 31
students 15 years ago has burgeoned into a college-wide culture of
student leadership engagement that has impacted the education and
professional development of more than 20,000 students and
alumni."
Senior Design, a capstone course in the College of Engineering
and Computer Science, begins for students with Boot Camp, provided
by eli2: an all-day interactive session for newly formed
senior design teams to bolster teamwork and project ideation. The
eli2 Boot Camp is designed to help student teams
collaboratively design their projects from start to finish,
including budgeting, timelines, prototyping, testing, and
overcoming challenges to get their projects to the finish-line: the
Senior Design showcase, where the projects are presented to a
public audience and alumni judges.
In April, 917 graduating seniors participated in UCF's Spring
2022 Senior Design virtual and live showcase, featuring 185
projects designed by collaborative teams of graduating seniors in
engineering and computer science.
The University of Central Florida is
one of the nation's largest producers of engineers and computer
scientists and is the nation's top workforce supplier to numerous
key industries, including aerospace, energy, utilities, financial
technology ("fintech"), healthcare, and defense industries. UCF was
named the nation's No. 1 workforce supplier – and top preferred
supplier – to the aerospace and defense industries by Aviation
Week Network.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,300
megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million
residential, commercial and industrial customers across a
13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities
serve 8.2 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.6 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000
people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition
to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural
gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric
generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050
net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions.
In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid
enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power
generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More
information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke
Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos
and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories
about people, innovations, community topics and environmental
issues. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
UCF College of Engineering and
Computer Science
The University of Central Florida's
College of Engineering and Computer Science in Orlando is among the nation's largest
producers of engineering and technology workforce talent. The
college's six academic departments offer 40+ bachelor's, master's
and doctoral degrees, tracks and certificates. Its $50-million annual research enterprise addresses
society's greatest challenges and aspirations in aerospace,
computing, energy, the environment, healthcare, transportation, and
more. The college is strengthened by innovative industry
partnerships and diverse faculty, students and staff who together
create a welcoming, entrepreneurial hub of learning and discovery.
Visit cecs.ucf.edu to learn more.
Media contacts:
Duke Energy Florida – Audrey
Stasko
Cell: 315.877.3031
Media line: 800.559.3853
Email: audrey.stasko@duke-energy.com
University of Central Florida –
Kimberly Lewis
Cell: 703.864.5984
Email:
Kimberly.Lewis2@ucf.edu
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-donates-75-000-to-university-of-central-florida-to-help-train-future-engineering-computer-science-professionals-301544154.html
SOURCE Duke Energy