“Central Florida is my home, and I’d like to be part of this community for as long as I can,” he says.

That plan fell into place when he landed a job at Lockheed Martin, a �鶹ӳ����ý Pegasus Partner, just weeks after graduating with his �����������ǰ�’s degree in May. His new role as an electro-optical engineer associate in Lockheed Martin’s Orlando Missiles and Fire Control division involves developing new imaging systems — a project that comes with its own challenges.

“These systems make use of sensors specific to the mission,” says Lopez-Zelaya, who is part of the 83% of career-ready �鶹ӳ����ý alumni who help fuel Florida’s workforce. “We’re concerned with how these sensors generate images, so we take the optics and other sources of noise into consideration.”

That’s exactly the skillset he honed during his time at the �鶹ӳ����ý College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL). In addition to engineering and physics concepts, CREOL students learn the hands-on methods necessary to build optical and electro-optical systems — allowing them to contribute to technological developments that benefit humanity. Lopez Zelaya says he now puts that training to use every day.

“Somebody who doesn’t have an optics and photonics background can’t truly engage in these discussions,” he says, “Because they don’t understand the basics of what is actually happening in these systems.”

Lopez Zelaya’s early career success is a continuation of the legacy he built during his undergrad years. Between classes that taught him MATLAB, display technology, image processing and semiconductor devices, he got involved as an undergraduate student research assistant. He also volunteered at Grace Medical Home, served as president of the IEEE Photonics Society student chapter and served on �����’s President’s Leadership Council. His dedication to both professional development and his fellow students led to his induction into Order of Pegasus, the most prestigious award �鶹ӳ����ý bestows upon students.

Lopez Zelaya says �����’s culture of creating lifelong learners prepared him well for his next steps at Lockheed Martin.

“Everybody is willing to learn something new about optics,” he says, adding that he’s often a source of expertise for questions that arise in the field.

Lopez Zelaya’s quick transition illustrates the value of the talent pipeline CREOL supplies to the Central Florida photonics industry. As a valued, longtime member of CREOL’s Industrial Affiliates Program, Lockheed Martin’s partnership has strengthened both the available opportunities for students and collaborative research efforts that aim to benefit the industry at large. And as a new Pegasus Partner with �鶹ӳ����ý, Lockheed Martin’s investment in the future will make impacts far beyond CREOL’s walls, building on a longstanding and pragmatic focus on talent pipeline.

With a 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, CREOL’s students are in a unique position to have a small-college experience at a big university. Lopez Zelaya says he’s glad to have found a similar sense of community at Lockheed Martin.

“There’s a misconception that new technologies mostly emerge from startups, but a lot of them are being developed here,” he says. “Development is fun — taking a concept and making it into a working product.”

Lopez Zelaya says he’s proud to put those skills to use in his hometown, and for a company that’s leading the way in emerging optical technology – positively contributing to Central Florida’s economy along the way.

“It’s one of the best ways to make an impact here,” he says.

Elected leaders joined founding donors to celebrate the pavilion’s opening on �����’s at Lake Nona. They gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured the pavilion, which will help to address Florida’s critical nursing shortage. Fittingly for Florida’s Premier Engineering and Technology University, the pavilion also features the latest in immersive modeling and simulation technologies.

“This facility will help strengthen Florida’s nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier.” — �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright

“The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is a powerful example of what is possible when vision, community and partnership come together. Built with the generous support of state leaders, donors and health care champions, this facility will help strengthen Florida’s nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier,” says �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Together, we are fueling hands-on learning, enabling new research and discovery, and preparing generations of Knight Nurses who will have a lasting impact on the lives of those they serve.”

With the opening, �鶹ӳ����ý will increase access to its accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs and graduate an additional 150 newly licensed nurses annually. These graduates will have a direct impact on the state. Of the 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in Florida, and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

Located next to the College of Medicine and in Lake Nona’s Medical City, a nationally recognized hub of healthcare innovation, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will bolster interdisciplinary collaboration to prepare providers to thrive in the workforce and deploy cutting-edge research to solve the industry’s greatest challenges and ensure a healthier future for all.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson played a vital role as Senate President in securing about $43 million in state funding for the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, as well as additional funding for state university and state college nursing initiatives throughout Florida.

“We worked very hard to secure the funding,” he says. “When you think about state-of the-art nursing, when you think about doubling the capacity of nursing, this couldn’t come at a better time. Florida is growing 400,000 people a year still. We’re going to continue to grow.”

“Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the state continues to invest in key academic programs that set an example nationwide,” says State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. “The new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion at the �鶹ӳ����ý is no exception — by providing innovative educational opportunities for nursing students now, Florida is ensuring a promising future of skilled nurses that will care for our communities.”

The Power of Partnerships

The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which came to fruition through $43 million from the State of Florida and over $29 million from private donors, will directly impact the community that created it and will be a longstanding symbol of what can be achieved through the power of community partnerships — unleashing potential for generations to come.

“We are honored to be part of this transformative moment for Central Florida,” says Kenneth Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Inc. and the Dr. Phillips Foundation. “This investment will help address the nursing shortage, strengthen our healthcare system, and expand access to exceptional education and career opportunities. By supporting this project, we’re helping to graduate more Knight nurses who will make a lasting impact. We’re proud to stand with �鶹ӳ����ý and our community partners to shape a healthier, brighter future.”

Founding donors of the facility also include the Helene Fuld Health Trust; �鶹ӳ����ý Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health and Addition Financial; Zaby and Suree Vyas; and many others.

“Today we are witnessing the power of partnerships,” says Professor Emerita Mary Lou Sole, who, as the previous College of Nursing dean, led the efforts to advocate and raise funds for the new building. “The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is the result of the collective efforts of �鶹ӳ����ý and this community to come together to solve one of our greatest healthcare challenges. We are incredibly grateful for the support, which will have an immeasurable impact for generations to come.”

Inside the Future of Nursing

Every aspect of the 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was thoughtfully designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and student success and well-being.

“The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will serve as a catalyst for ensuring a brighter, healthier future,” says new College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. “In this space, �鶹ӳ����ý will strengthen and empower future nurses and nurse leaders to advance healthcare innovation and collaboration to improve evidence-based patient care and outcomes.”

On the second and third floors is a hub of healthcare innovation, the Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling (STIM) Center. �鶹ӳ����ý is Florida’s first simulation center to earn three international accolades in the field and the new, expanded space will build upon its global leadership to innovate healthcare education using the latest immersive technologies to prepare nurses for practice as compassionate, skilled providers.

The second floor also features the Dr. Colleen Conway Welch Virtual Reality Learning Studio, a makerspace design studio to accelerate nurse-led innovations, a home health apartment to meet growing demand for home-based healthcare, and the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation Healthy Aging Research Lab for interdisciplinary research and innovations led by renowned aging expert Ladda Thiamwong.

Upon entering the pavilion, students, faculty, staff and visitors are greeted with the inspiring “” public art commissioned by Florida’s Art in State Building program. The first floor also includes three large high-tech learning studios, the Zaby and Suree Vyas Collaboration Concourse, the Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation Study Cafe and a student success suite.

The opening comes a little over a year and a half after the groundbreaking in January 2024. �鶹ӳ����ý built the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in conjunction with HuntonBrady Architects, Ayers Saint Gross and DPR Construction.

�����’s Industry Partners Highlight Transformational Impact

AdventHealth

“At AdventHealth, we’ve seen firsthand the extraordinary caliber of nurses who graduate from �鶹ӳ����ý. They bring clinical excellence, compassion and an unwavering commitment to their patients — values that perfectly align with our mission to provide whole-person care. As the demand for skilled nurses continues to grow, we’re happy to support this exciting new chapter for the �鶹ӳ����ý College of Nursing. And as a �鶹ӳ����ý alum, I’m excited to welcome even more outstanding Knight nurses to AdventHealth.”

-Cathy Stankiewicz, (MSN’11), chief nursing officer, Central Florida Division

Helene Fuld Health Trust

“The Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling Center at �鶹ӳ����ý exemplifies our mission to support the education of nursing students. Simulation is a critical component [of] nursing education and will continue to be in the future, and we’re proud to make this investment to strengthen nursing skills and improve the welfare of our communities.”

-Robert Campbell, vice president of Trust & Fiduciary Services at HSBC, who oversees the trust

Nemours Children’s Health

“Growing and solidifying the nursing workforce is critical to care delivery across the healthcare sector. Through our longtime relationship with the �鶹ӳ����ý College of Nursing, we have seen firsthand the benefits of hiring their well-trained, work-ready graduates. The new nursing pavilion will be a tremendous asset in our continued collaboration, partnership, and investment to support the education, development, and maturation of emerging nurses.”

-Nicole Johnson, (DNP’17), senior vice president and chief nursing and patient operations officer  

Orlando Health

“It is an honor and privilege to be associated with �鶹ӳ����ý, and we are thankful for our partnership with the university, nursing professors, and students.”

-David Strong, president and CEO

Joined by Gov. Ron DeSantis, �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright and Lockheed Martin Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John ’87 ’91MS signed the Pegasus Partnership agreement in June at the Paris Air Show, the global aerospace industry’s premier meeting — and a fitting venue for two organizations that are leaders in Florida’s robust and rapidly growing aerospace industry.

As part of the agreement:

• Lockheed Martin will expand investments in the highly successful , which since 1981 has provided unrivaled work experiences for more than 10,000 students in engineering, business and many other disciplines – and led to many of those students earning full-time employment with Lockheed Martin.
• Lockheed Martin will significantly grow research with �����’s world-class faculty in key areas such as autonomous systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, advanced manufacturing and hypersonic technologies.
• �鶹ӳ����ý will develop a new executive education program that would provide an opportunity for Lockheed Martin to upskill and train their leaders for the future.
• Both organizations will work together to pursue joint federal funding opportunities that will further strengthen their roles as leaders in cutting-edge research and development.

What This Means for Florida’s Future

The Pegasus Partnership supports many of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ goals, including maintaining Florida’s role as setting the national standard for economic growth, workforce development and innovation.

“This partnership between �鶹ӳ����ý and Lockheed Martin is an example of how Florida leads in workforce education,” DeSantis says. “Our state is proud to prioritize educational opportunities that produce practical knowledge and immediate job opportunities.”

�鶹ӳ����ý has provided much of the talent that has fueled Lockheed Martin’s growth and success. The university is the nation’s top provider of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry, according to Aviation Week Network.

“Lockheed Martin’s unwavering partnership empowers our students with real-world opportunities, drives innovation, and strengthens our shared commitment to building a brighter future,” Cartwright says. “Together, we will work even more closely to shape the next generation of leaders and advance industries and technologies that benefit Florida and the world.”

The agreement builds on �鶹ӳ����ý and Lockheed Martin’s longstanding partnership and designates �鶹ӳ����ý as Lockheed Martin’s first university strategic partner in Florida. �鶹ӳ����ý joins 11 other prestigious universities in this designation, committed to supporting Lockheed Martin as the world’s largest Aerospace and Defense corporation.

“This agreement is a celebration of more than four decades of partnership between Lockheed Martin and �鶹ӳ����ý, built on innovation, shared values, and a commitment to developing the next generation of STEM talent,” says St. John, who earned �����������ǰ�’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from �鶹ӳ����ý and began at Lockheed Martin through the CWEP. “As an alum, I’m incredibly proud of the role �鶹ӳ����ý plays in shaping the future of aerospace and defense.”

About �����’s Partnership with Lockheed Martin
Thanks to �����’s partnership with Lockheed Martin, �鶹ӳ����ý students for decades have gained invaluable hands-on experience through internships and cooperative education programs, which strongly enhance their practical skills and employability. Lockheed Martin also provides scholarships and mentorship opportunities that help students excel in fields such as engineering, cybersecurity and technology.

The two organizations have worked closely on cybersecurity initiatives — including the Cyber Innovation Lab, where �����’s national champion collegiate cyber defense team trains — and educating K-12 STEM teachers who are inspiring Florida’s future workforce to become interested in science, math and engineering fields.

About the Pegasus Partners Program
�����’s Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, strategic philanthropy and co-location at �鶹ӳ����ý. The university is proud to also include Addition Financial, AdventHealth, Nemours Children’s Health, Orlando Health and Siemens Energy among its Pegasus Partners.

Through this enhanced partnership, clinicians will continue to deliver exceptional care to �鶹ӳ����ý students — offering injury evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation and preventive services — now bolstered by direct access to one of Central Florida’s premier healthcare systems.

“This collaboration ensures our students receive top-tier care from highly qualified athletic trainers.” — Jim Wilkening, �鶹ӳ����ý RWC executive director

The agreement also supports expanded staffing, upgraded equipment, enhanced programming and streamlined referral pathways for students requiring additional care. These enhancements further solidify the RWC’s role as a cornerstone of student well-being at �鶹ӳ����ý.

All RWC services — including appointments at the athletic training clinic — are free for students who have paid the university’s activity and service fee.

�����’s Pegasus Partner program provides select organizations with opportunities to engage across the university in ways that foster meaningful, long-term relationships.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Orlando Health for the continued health and safety of our students,” says Jim Wilkening, executive director of the RWC. “This collaboration ensures our students receive top-tier care from highly qualified athletic trainers.”

“As the official medical provider for �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics, expanding our role to provide the same expert care to the entire student body was a logical step for us,” says Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute sports medicine physician Fred Soliman, who also serves as a team physician for �鶹ӳ����ý.  “Through this partnership, students will have easier access to high-level medical care at the RWC.”

“Through this partnership, students will have easier access to high-level medical care at the RWC.” — Fred Soliman, Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute sports medicine physician

Since becoming one of �����’s first Pegasus Partners in 2023, Orlando Health has made significant contributions to the university, including support for the new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona, which will open this fall; student scholarships; and internships aimed at addressing Florida’s nursing shortage.

Orlando Health also recently partnered with a �鶹ӳ����ý biomedical engineer and several engineering students on a pilot program that uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to track surgical staples in operating rooms. The AI software directs a camera to record each staple’s use, enabling data analysis that improves efficiency and reduces costs. This technology has the potential to be applied to other surgical processes, such as tracking instrument usage during non-robotic procedures.

“From Pilates and rock climbing to open-water SCUBA, the RWC empowers students to stay active — and now, with enhanced support from Orlando Health, they can climb higher, swim deeper and run faster, with even greater confidence in their care,” says Rod Grabowski, �����’s senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships. “We are grateful not only for Orlando Health’s continued trust in our mission and programs, but also for their shared commitment to our students — and their future.”

�鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright and Siemens Energy North America President Rich Voorberg signed the new partnership agreement Monday, expanding the university’s longstanding relationship with Siemens Energy, a global leader in energy innovation known for its work in gas and power solutions, renewable energy systems and power generation services.

Siemens Energy intends to invest a minimum of $5 million additional dollars, mostly to boost �����’s research in the energy sector and also in talent development and executive education initiatives.

Siemens Energy has previously invested more than $13 million in research at the university since 1996. The �鶹ӳ����ý-Siemens Energy partnership also has yielded significant results in the energy workforce, with more than 900 �鶹ӳ����ý alumni currently employed by Siemens Energy, many in leadership and innovation-focused roles.

“We are grateful for Siemens Energy’s continued partnership and new investment in our talented students, world-class faculty, and innovative research,” says �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright. “We are both deeply committed to advancing energy technologies and preparing the next generation of leaders in energy, strengthening the workforce in an industry critical to our state and nation’s future.”

Cartwright and Voorberg signed the Pegasus Partnership agreement Monday during a ceremony at the Siemens Energy Innovation Center in the Central Florida Research Park.

“This partnership gets right to the heart of two of the greatest challenges that we as an industry face when trying to drive the energy transition — people and innovation,” says Rich Voorberg, president of Siemens Energy for North America. “The research that we do here in Orlando will be essential to producing and distributing clean, reliable affordable energy and we will be simultaneously training the workforce of the 21st century.”

At the Siemens Energy Innovation Center, about one-third of its employees are �鶹ӳ����ý alumni. Researchers there frequently partner with �鶹ӳ����ý faculty members.

Jayanta Kapat, a professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, directs the , and he has worked with Siemens Energy on several projects to enhance the efficiency of and reduce the environmental impact of industrial systems. His research includes innovative methods to improve gas turbine cooling and environmentally friendly techniques for industrial steam production. Kapat recently received the prestigious 2024 International Gas Turbine Institute’s technology award.

“The most important impact of our work with Siemens Energy is advanced training that our students receive, who get to work on practical technologies in �鶹ӳ����ý labs even before those technologies are introduced to the market. The students also get to work with engineering experts from a large global high-tech company, and no in-class education can provide the same training,” Kapat says. “The talent pipeline for Siemens Energy is another big benefit, as they work closely with the students and get to know them better from our lab itself.

“Of course, societal impact of what we collaborate on is another big gain. Energy and modern human society are so closely intertwined that whatever we and Siemens Energy get to together benefits the society, in terms of cheaper products and cleaner environment. The outcome of our research can directly go into Siemens Energy products in the future as it has happened multiple times in the past,” Kapat says.

Another centerpiece of the partnership is the Siemens Energy Digital Grid Lab, a research and educational facility established in 2017 and now led by Associate Professor Wei Sun of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Here, �鶹ӳ����ý students are trained in cutting-edge skills needed for success in the fast-evolving energy sector. Students benefit from hands-on training to design and manage self-healing power-distribution grids to quickly resolve issues caused by natural disasters, cyberattacks and other outages. They train on the energy industry’s latest microgrid software to manage and operate dynamic generation assets, such as solar, wind power, storage and electric vehicles. With these skills, students secure positions in a vital industry with a growing demand for jobs.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the utilities sector saw the fastest employment growth of 5.0% in 2023, adding nearly 30,000 jobs, and Florida is among the top five states with the greatest number of energy jobs in the nation.

Building on this legacy, Siemens Energy also intends to invest $800,000 in student recruitment efforts, focusing particularly on postdoctoral researchers who can drive innovative solutions to meet the growing global energy demand. �����’s College of Engineering and Computer Science will be a key partner in identifying and nurturing top talent for Siemens Energy.

Siemens Energy’s Orlando Innovation Center, located in �����’s Research Park, is where energy solutions are designed, manufactured, and tested. The Innovation Center Orlando (ICO) is one of four Siemens Energy Innovation Centers globally, and its mission is to drive the future of energy toward a more sustainable future through cutting-edge research, development, and commercialization of innovative solutions.

The center, close to �鶹ӳ����ý, offers annual internships for �鶹ӳ����ý students. These hands-on experiences culminate in the popular “Battle Bot” competition, where students showcase their engineering skills in a creative and competitive environment.

Additionally, Siemens Energy has enrolled more than 100 employees in �鶹ӳ����ý Continuing Education programs, with plans to expand professional development opportunities in the future.

�����’s Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, and strategic philanthropy. �鶹ӳ����ý is proud to include Addition Financial, AdventHealth, Nemours Children’s Health and Orlando Health among its Pegasus Partners.

�鶹ӳ����ý is honored to announce Addition Financial as the first financial institution to be recognized as a Pegasus Partner. Addition Financial joins AdventHealth, Orlando Health and Nemours Children’s Health as organizations that share the university’s vision and commitment to continuing to lead the region in key industries such as aerospace, engineering, defense, optics, digital media, finance and healthcare. Pegasus Partners engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations, including talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and strategic philanthropy.

“We are grateful for this new level of partnership between Addition Financial and �鶹ӳ����ý,” says �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright. “As our newest Pegasus Partner, we look forward to continuing our longstanding collaboration to create opportunities for �鶹ӳ����ý students and faculty and to improve outcomes for individuals across our community through the transformative power of education.”

“We are grateful for this new level of partnership between Addition Financial and �鶹ӳ����ý.” —�鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright

As a new Pegasus Partner, Addition Financial generously supports the, the new and expanded home for �鶹ӳ����ý’s College of Nursing that is anticipated to open in Fall 2025 and that will help the university graduate 150 much-needed additional nurses each year. They’re also a core supporter of �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown, where students gain invaluable real-world experiences in the heart of Downtown Orlando.

By investing in �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown, which opened five years ago, the credit union helped the university partner with Valencia College to establish a campus that is now home to the nation’s top-ranked graduate video game design and emergency management programs. Students benefit from many internship and job opportunities in industries, as well as government and nonprofit offices, located in or near downtown Orlando.

Addition Financial Arena has hosted major �鶹ӳ����ý basketball wins and sold-out crowds, including the men’s basketball team’s upset over No. 3 Kansas last season in its first-ever Big 12 home game. Over the past five years, the arena has hosted 1.4 million visitors  for university commencement ceremonies, basketball home games, concerts and other events.

In total, Addition Financial’s philanthropic support of �鶹ӳ����ý, as well as its projects and programs, has exceeded $25.8 million throughout the course of 20 years. The credit union has operated a branch on �����’s main campus since 1971.

With a strategic eye on preparing students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, Addition Financial is collaborating with �鶹ӳ����ý to grow its internship program. They’re working to engage annually in student research projects within multiple colleges, and to expand how the company uses faculty expertise to respond to key business challenges and opportunities.

“Addition Financial’s longstanding and successful partnership with �鶹ӳ����ý speaks volumes to the deep commitment we share in improving the Central Florida community,” says Kevin Miller, president and CEO of Addition Financial Credit Union. “As a credit union founded nearly 90 years ago by educators, witnessing �鶹ӳ����ý unleashing the true potential of its students, Addition Financial is proud to be the first financial institution to be a �鶹ӳ����ý Pegasus Partner.”

Like �鶹ӳ����ý, Addition Financial strongly believes in the power of education to transform lives. That philosophy drives the credit union’s support for �鶹ӳ����ý, as well as its focus on financial literacy. The state-chartered credit union was founded in 1937 by a group of 23 educators who aimed to create a better financial alternative for its members. The credit union has completed more than $60,000 in K-12 classroom renovations and grants and more than $70,000 in scholarships annually through the Addition Financial Foundation.

“For more than a decade, Addition Financial has been part of the College of Business student experience through professional development workshops, internship opportunities and support for our young entrepreneurs through sponsorship of the Joust,” says  Paul Jarley says. “Kevin and his team have also been at the forefront of our efforts to introduce our faculty to the community through sponsorship of our Dean’s Speaker Series in downtown Orlando. Recognition as a Pegasus Partner is very well-deserved, and we are grateful for their support.”

An Environment of Excellence

Addition Financial’s substantial contributions have enhanced the student experience and created an environment of excellence, goals that �鶹ӳ����ý hopes will attract additional Pegasus Partners. �鶹ӳ����ý alumni account for the largest part of the team at Addition, from interns to leadership, and even make up the majority of its board of directors.

To encourage the mutually beneficial relationship and regular conversations that already exist between �鶹ӳ����ý and Addition Financial, �鶹ӳ����ý has created the President’s Industry Advisory Council, where representatives of the Pegasus Partners program will hold a seat, providing input to President Cartwright and exchanging ideas with other members of the Council on topics of current interest to the university and its partners.

Joining the new President’s Industry Advisory Council will be Kevin Miller, president and chief executive officer of Addition Financial.

Miller, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Emory Law School in Atlanta, has worked at Addition Financial since 2004. His personal philanthropic and community involvement also involves �鶹ӳ����ý; his wife, Kari Miller ’04MEd is an alumna. Together, the Millers have also supported �鶹ӳ����ý for more than 20 years, including the and the �鶹ӳ����ý Student Housing Insecurity Fund, the College of Community Innovation and Education, �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown, and the College of Nursing.  Another of the Millers’ major areas of interest includes

Miller is an elected director for �鶹ӳ����ý Foundation Inc. and serves on the �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown Executive Advisory Council. He is also past chairman of the Foundation for Seminole County Schools and a board member for A Gift for Teaching and the Galileo School for Gifted Learning.

With an obvious passion for education, especially for public education, Miller enjoys engaging with �鶹ӳ����ý and, together with his wife, bringing their children to sporting events, �鶹ӳ����ý Celebrates the Arts, the Dean’s Speaker Series and the university’s theatre program.

“�鶹ӳ����ý and Addition Financial have transformed countless lives together, but today, this powerful partnership spreads its wings to truly soar,” says Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the �鶹ӳ����ý Foundation. “Our collective vision for the future includes an expansion of the Addition Financial internship program and the 2025 grand opening of the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, both of which expound on our commitment to fuel Central Florida’s talent pipeline and workforce for the future. We’ll spark new mutually beneficial connections between industry, students and faculty by further engaging them in student research projects and growing upon how the company uses faculty expertise to respond to key business challenges and opportunities. Their designation as a Pegasus Partner represents a new and exciting chapter that we can all expect incredible impact from.”

What’s uncommon is for these students to pair with trained hospital nursing staff instead of �����’s faculty instructors. That’s what happened recently for six weeks when a group of 30 undergraduate �鶹ӳ����ý students participated in a new kind of clinical rotation called dedication education units, or DEUs, at AdventHealth East Orlando and Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC).

The DEU model is gaining in popularity across the U.S. for its proven benefits to nursing schools and healthcare organizations — and ultimately benefiting the community.

Research has found that DEUs provide nursing students with a more realistic preparation for clinical practice, leading to improved patient care. In hospitals, DEUs engage staff in educating the next generation of nurses, which has shown increased job satisfaction and reduced nurse burnout and turnover.

“In order to capitalize on the benefits of a DEU initiative, it cannot be underestimated the importance of a true academic and healthcare organization collaboration,” says Kate Dorminy ’06BSN ’10MSN, undergraduate clinical education coordinator at �����’s College of Nursing.

For months before the DEU launch, �鶹ӳ����ý worked closely with AdventHealth and Orlando Health to identify units with higher levels of patient care to maximize learning opportunities for students. More than 25 nursing staff members in the identified units across both systems then received training to become a preceptor for undergraduate students.

“Collaborative strategy, training, and communication are all required well before the students arrive onsite for their first day,” Dorminy says. “The effort is worth the valuable outcome at the end, which is a positive long-lasting learning experience.”

Progress in Patient Care

Senior nursing student Emilee Meeks can attest to that.

“This clinical experience was much different than my previous clinicals in many ways,” says the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student.

In DEUs, students work in the same unit alongside the same preceptor and colleagues for six weeks. Students take care of several patients as part of a team instead of taking care of one patient as a guest on a unit. In addition, students participate in rounds and communicate with all healthcare team members. As a result, they learn workflow on a unit, time management, communication and organizational skills, and the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork.

At AdventHealth East Orlando, Meeks paired with Jason McRoberts ’22BSN in the progressive care unit.

“It was always so welcoming to walk on the unit and to be greeted with a smile from the same preceptor each morning. He was invested in my learning and pushing me to strive for excellence,” Meeks says. “From the first day, Jason helped guide me through multiple experiences such as medication administration and patient assessment. He also asked questions to ensure I understood the reasoning behind what we were doing.”

“Being a preceptor in the DEU model of learning allowed me more time to focus on developing my student’s hands-on clinical and critical thinking skills, which are required to be a successful nurse,” says McRoberts, who previously has been a preceptor for nursing students in a traditional clinical model. “It is important to mentor future nurses, to introduce them to the profession, and to be a role model to exemplify how a nurse should conduct themselves.”

“I am proud to be a part of this new partnership,” says instructor Sotos Djiovanis ’20MSN ’15BSN, who is the DEU liaison at AdventHealth East Orlando. “The students made incredible progress in patient care, and the team at AdventHealth — the leadership, unit managers and educators — all worked tirelessly to provide an engaging clinical learning experience for our students.”

Immersive Clinical Learning

Taylor Floyd, an accelerated second degree BSN student, had a similar experience across town at Orlando Health ORMC.

“By being able to work with the same nurse each week, we were able to develop a relationship and I truly gained an understanding of what a day in a nurse’s life is like,” she says.

Floyd, like Meeks, was welcomed as part of the team at Orlando Health. In addition to providing patient care with her preceptor, Floyd participated in team huddles, morning reports, charting, and spoke with other healthcare providers about her patients’ care.

“In the DEU, I truly felt like the nurse while taking care of my patients,” Floyd says. “I was able to really thrive in the trust and relationship I had with my preceptor.”

DEU preceptor Samantha Pearson ’21BSN, a nurse on the vascular step-down unit at Orlando Health ORMC, agrees. “The DEU model is active learning, and the students and preceptors get to rely on each for support for patient care.”

“I am very happy to see this model come to life from the ground up,” says Sarah Rose Thornton ’18BSN ’21MSN, DEU instructor at Orlando Health. “This was an amazing opportunity for our students to become a part of a unit.”

Collaborating for the Community

“This first cycle of DEUs was overwhelmingly successful,” says College of Nursing Dean Mary Lou Sole.

“We are incredibly thankful to the teams at both AdventHealth and Orlando Health who invested time and energy to ensure its success,” Sole says. “It is a true testament to how all of us, at �鶹ӳ����ý, AdventHealth and Orlando Health, are working together to ensure a brighter, healthier future for our Central Florida communities.”

Orlando Health and AdventHealth have been longstanding supporters of �鶹ӳ����ý and the College of Nursing. The partnerships have continued to expand and evolve to innovate learning, meet the changing healthcare needs of the community, and help address the nursing shortage.

Most recently, the healthcare systems pledged a combined $10 million to support nursing education at �鶹ӳ����ý and the new building at Lake Nona. This investment, together with PIPELINE funding, supported the DEU initiative.

DEUs will replace one traditional clinical opportunity for nursing students at �鶹ӳ����ý Orlando. Based on the launch’s success, the college is exploring additional opportunities to expand the program in Orlando and at regional campuses.

“I am beyond thankful for this amazing opportunity,” says Meeks, who is expected to graduate in Summer 2024. “It has helped myself, and other students in this clinical rotation, become more confident, knowledgeable and optimistic for the future as we prepare for our nursing careers.”