This year’s tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations — United States, Canada and Mexico — and the first to include an expanded field of 48 teams from across the globe. Eleven U.S. cities will host 78 matches June 11 – July 19, including the championship match in New York and third place playoff in Miami.

This historic event coincides with the United States’ 250th anniversary and marks the first time since 1994 the country has hosted the men’s World Cup.

Here’s a look at some of the Knights bringing this event to life.

Izzy Angel ’23

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FIFA location: Atlanta

I will be supporting media logistics, guiding photographers and press to designated areas, and facilitating press conferences and interviews. One of the biggest ways �鶹ӳ����ý prepared me for this opportunity was through its emphasis on networking, collaboration and real-world experience. That mindset opened doors to internships, jobs and experiences that helped me gain confidence in putting myself out there and connecting with people.

It’s been really fulfilling to meet people with completely different backgrounds and life experiences who are all coming together over a shared passion. Being part of something on such a global scale and feeling that sense of community has been incredibly special.

Brendon Boseja ’25

Bachelor’s in integrated business

Role: Senior coordinator, Client Group Management Accreditation
FIFA site: Miami

At �鶹ӳ����ý, I learned to network and make many connections in the industry and to continue these relationships. This has especially helped me throughout FIFA, especially since my main job is to communicate with every stadium involved in the tournament. Working for a sports organization as big as FIFA has been a dream of mine, and to be involved with an event like the World Cup is surreal to think about.

Taylor Culver ’23 ’26MSBM ’26MBA

Bachelor’s in kinesiology
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Master’s in business administration

Role: Event executive, FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Houston

“Because of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through �鶹ӳ����ý, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.”

My role is to help create and execute large-scale fan experiences that bring the energy of the World Cup to life outside of the stadium. Being able to contribute to an event of this magnitude is both humbling and motivating, and I know it will be one of the most impactful experiences of my career. �鶹ӳ����ý prepared me for this opportunity by putting me in real-world sports environments early and constantly challenging me to grow as a leader. Through the program and my experience as a recruiting assistant for �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics with the football team, I learned how to operate in fast-paced environments where organization, communication and adaptability are critical. Because of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through �鶹ӳ����ý, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.

Daniel Garzon ’23 ’24MSBM ’24MBA

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Master’s in business administration

Role: Workforce integration senior coordinator, Tournament Operation Center Services
FIFA site: Miami

I started my journey at FIFA as an intern with the volunteer management team shortly after graduating from the DeVos Sport Business Management program in 2024. As a recruitment coordinator, I spearheaded communications and recruitment strategy while sourcing and scheduling thousands of candidates. Now in my new role, I will be in the heartbeat of the headquarters of the tournament, fulfilling operational needs for all departments while manipulating data to make informed decisions for all the venues during the World Cup.

William Mendez ’26MSBM ’26MBA

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Master’s in business administration

Role: Team protocol liaison officer
FIFA site: Miami

I will provide operational support as a main point of contact for the teams’ protocol representatives, managing VIP/VVIP seating, ticket distribution and logistics. I’m truly excited to be part of an event of this magnitude because FIFA ’26 goes beyond sports by bringing people together across cultures from all over the world. The DeVos Sport Business Management program at �鶹ӳ����ý has played a major role in preparing me for this moment, giving me the hands-on experience and confidence I need to contribute to an event of this scale.

Colin O’Toole ’26MSBM ’26MBA

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Master’s in business administration

Role: Accreditation center coordinator
FIFA site: Boston

I grew up watching the World Cup and always dreamed of being part of the most watched sporting event in the world. My experience in the soccer industry through both professional and volunteer roles gave me a strong foundation, and the DeVos program broadened my perspective. It exposed me to the business side of the industry, while simultaneously connecting me with incredible mentors and peers, ultimately giving me the confidence and network to land this opportunity with FIFA.

Connor Pank ’17

Bachelor’s in management

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FIFA site: Tampa, Florida

The sport business management minor at �鶹ӳ����ý offered plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience in the industry. My junior year, I was fortunate enough to land a season-long internship at Orlando City Soccer Club in the game day operations department, which then turned into a full-time position with seven amazing seasons of constant growth and experiences that I am forever grateful for.

Being involved in a FIFA World Cup has been a personal goal of mine since my early days with Orlando City SC, when we hosted a U.S. Soccer vs. Panama World Cup Qualifier ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Every team participating in the World Cup chooses a designated home base, which includes the team hotel, training site and other operational support facilities as needed. My role is centered around acting as FIFA’s primary operational lead on-site for Cabo Verde’s home base in Tampa to ensure a seamless, world-class experience.

Annie Quaile ’06

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Role: Venue manager, FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Atlanta

I act as the bridge between FIFA, Atlanta and the commercial and operational partners delivering the Fan Festival experience. My role focuses on coordinating event logistics, operations, guest experience, VIP and talent management, and partner integration while ensuring FIFA brand standards are upheld throughout the event.

One of the biggest takeaways from my experience at �鶹ӳ����ý was learning how to balance creativity, leadership and problem-solving under pressure, which is essentially the foundation of live event and operational management. The FIFA World Cup is one of the few truly global experiences that brings together people from every background, culture and country around a shared passion. All of the planning, coordination and operational work happens behind the scenes for months, so finally seeing people from around the world gathering together, celebrating and creating memories is incredibly rewarding.

Andres Sifontes ’24

Bachelor’s in communication

Role: Coordinator, Accreditation Documentation and Training Operations
FIFA site: Houston

I joined the FIFA team in September 2024, supporting preparations for both Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026. In my role now, I oversee Accreditation Center operations in Houston, assist volunteers, and ensure that key stakeholders — including partners like Coca-Cola, Adidas and Visa — receive proper credentials. �鶹ӳ����ý’s communication program, and especially my Communication Research Methods���ʰ��Ǵڱ�����ǰ� , equipped me with the tools I continue to apply every day in my role at FIFA by teaching me how to communicate effectively, carry myself professionally, and think strategically.

Since graduating, my goal has been to contribute to the growth of soccer in the United States. This passion has always been part of who I am, and �鶹ӳ����ý helped me build the foundation to pursue it professionally. After graduation, I worked with Inter Miami CF, and now with FIFA, I’ve been fortunate to play a role in supporting the continued development of the sport. I truly believe we are about to witness unprecedented growth for the game in this country. I hope that at the end of my career, I can look back and say I contributed to that growth — and that it all started at �鶹ӳ����ý.

Dennis Sprenkle ’01

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Role: Director of workforce and human resources
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My team oversees the employee journey from recruitment to offboarding across the three host countries (Canada, Mexico and the U.S.) and 16 host cities. We are responsible for everything from workforce planning, training, visa management, benefits, payroll, employee uniforms and just about every other aspect of human resources.

I have always had a keen interest in global political and business affairs, which is why I studied political science with an emphasis on international relations at �鶹ӳ����ý. Working for a governing body like FIFA in many respects is akin to working for the United Nations. … In order to be a successful leader in a global organization like FIFA, it is critical to have an open mind to effectively collaborate, plan and execute the largest sporting event in human history. My education and experience at �鶹ӳ����ý as a leader in Student Government certainly laid the foundation and has helped prepare me for this opportunity.

Ryan Taheri ’24

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FIFA site: Dallas

I grew up watching the World Cup with my family. Now, I occasionally stop for a second and realize how special it all is to be working behind the scenes on the operational side of the tournament. A big part of what I do in my role is coordinate with different functional areas like transportation, catering, accommodations, uniforms and venue operations to ensure the workforce is supported and operations run smoothly.

“�鶹ӳ����ý pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts.”

A lot of the role comes down to staying organized, communicating clearly and solving problems quickly. �鶹ӳ����ý pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts. Looking back now, I don’t think I realized at the time how much of my experience at �鶹ӳ����ý directly prepared me for working on something as large and complex as a FIFA ’26.

Alejandro Tarazona ’22

Bachelor’s in integrated business

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FIFA site: Miami

I oversee transportation operations and logistics at all 75 training sites across U.S., Canada and Mexico — including shuttles, loading zones, team busses and their fleets, and parking lots for media, volunteers and guests. I grew up in Lake Nona and had an opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a Division II school in Florida, but financially, it just didn’t make sense for my family and me. Instead I enrolled at Valencia College and earned my degree through the .

�鶹ӳ����ý gave me the technical skills I needed for my managerial position now, like creating financial analysis for labor rates across 16 stadiums that we’ll be using in U.S., Canada and Mexico. As a former soccer player and as someone who is obsessed with the sport, working for one of the biggest and best sports organization in the world has been a lifelong goal. This experience has taught me to consider redefining what’s possible and keep setting goals.

Tomas Upegui ’22

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FIFA site: Miami

Growing up playing soccer, being involved with FIFA in any capacity is something I never imagined would become reality, especially this early in my career. I am supporting transportation and depot operations across all 16 host cities, contributing to transportation operations involving VIPs and trophy movements. Studying business taught me how to work efficiently in fast-paced environments and quickly adapt while balancing multiple responsibilities at once, which directly translates to my role.

One of the most exciting parts of this experience has been realizing the true scale of the FIFA World Cup and seeing firsthand how much coordination happens behind the scenes to make an event of this magnitude successful.

Jewett is an internationally recognized political scientist and co-author of the book Politics in Florida. Jewett also served as a congressional aide for a now-retired congressman and as president of the Florida Political Science Association. This semester, he is teaching State Government and Public Policy, Florida Politics, and Scope and Methods of Political Science. Jewett joined �鶹ӳ����ý in 1995 and earned his doctorate in political science from Florida State University in 1997.

What factors have made this presidential election unique?
AJ: Two factors make this election unique: One is Donald Trump and the other is coronavirus. We have not had a president like President Trump in my lifetime. Presidential role theory suggests that presidents act and behave in certain ways. Regardless of age and party, most presidents conform to that. President Trump has done things differently compared to traditional presidents of either party.

Clearly beyond the candidates and personalities, the pandemic is something the country hasn’t been through in a century. It has affected the way Trump and Joe Biden campaign. It has affected the way people vote. We’ve seen a lot more people request mail-in ballots. And each candidates’ response to the pandemic may certainly be one of the bigger factors on choosing which candidate they vote for.

In the last six presidential elections, [Florida has] voted three times for Republican, three times for Democrat and all six times for the winner.

Why is Florida such an important state in presidential elections?
AJ: Empirically, Florida has been the most important swing state over the last 24 years. In the last six presidential elections, we voted three times for Republican, three times for Democrat and all six times for the winner. The margin of victory for the winner has been the smallest of any of the 50 states. On average, the president who won Florida won by 2.6 percent over those six elections. Ohio is the only other state that has voted for the winner six times in a row and their margin of victory for winners has been 4.6 percent. We have 29 electoral votes, which is the most of any of the historical swing states. That makes Florida such an important and prime target, and the candidates are aware of that.

How does the Electoral College process work, and why do we have it?
AJ: We have it because it’s the way the framers of the Constitution set it up more than 200 years ago. The framers didn’t trust direct democracy — they didn’t want the masses to necessarily have the final say on who would be president because they knew based on history that in democracies, a lot of times the masses didn’t make considered choices. They also really wanted to protect the role of the states in choosing the president. Each state wanted to have some influence, and particularly the smaller states didn’t want the larger states to have all the say politically. So they came up with the Electoral College.

Each state gets electoral votes based on their membership in Congress. Even the smallest states get at least three electoral votes (one for each senator, and at least one for a representative). Larger states have more members of the House of Representatives so they get more electoral votes. So instead of a national popularity contest, we have a state-by-state race. It is a contest to win states and electoral votes of those states. As a candidate, you have to win a majority of electoral votes (270) to become president. There are 435 members in the House and 100 members in the Senate – that’s 535, plus by constitutional amendment we give three electoral votes to Washington, D.C. As a president, you try to win enough states so that you can win at least 270 electoral votes.

In 48 of the 50 states, it’s a winner-take-all race. In other words, if you win the state of Florida by even just one popular vote, you win all 29 electoral votes. The two exceptions to winner-take-all are Maine and Nebraska. They have a congressional apportionment system. The statewide winner wins two electoral votes for the two U.S. senators and then the winner of each district will win one electoral vote. In 2016, Trump lost Maine statewide but he won one of the congressional districts, so he won one electoral vote from Maine.

What are the pros and cons of the Electoral College?
AJ: The biggest criticism is occasionally the winner of the national popular vote doesn’t become president. We’ve had that happen twice in the last 20 years – in 2000 when George W. Bush beat Al Gore, and four years ago when Hillary Clinton won by more than 2 million votes but lost in the Electoral College. People argue, “This is democracy? How can the winner of the popular vote not win the presidency?”

But in terms of defending the Electoral College, it keeps a vibrant and important role for the states and particularly protects the role of small states — they have a larger percentage of power in the Electoral College system than they would have in just a national popular vote. When the original states agreed to form the country, that was part of the deal.

Is there a possibility of reforming the way elections are run?
AJ: There have been a lot of critics of the Electoral College. Those critics have usually been Democrats and more progressive because from their perspective, they’ve come up on the short end of the stick twice in the last 20 years. It’s a difficult thing to change because it’s in the Constitution. To change the Electoral College means you’d have to have a constitutional amendment. We’ve only had 27 amendments in more than 200 years, and 10 of them happened in the first two years right after the Constitution. So it’s not impossible, but it’s certainly a difficult road and a hard process to change.

Do you think we’ll know the winner of the presidential race on election night?
AJ: It depends on how close the race is, and this year might take a lot longer to tabulate the results because of all the mail-in ballots. Florida is a little bit better off compared to a number of other states because we’ve been doing mail-in ballots for a long time, and we have state laws that say the supervisor of elections can start tabulating those mail ballots before the election. But a lot of states do not have that rule. Some of them have a rule that you have to wait until election night. Historically that hasn’t been a problem for those states because they haven’t had huge numbers of mail-in votes but this year they probably will. There are also some states, like California and Oregon, that allow ballots to count as long as they are postmarked by the election. Those states historically vote for the Democratic candidate, so those mail-in ballots may not be a factor for them in projecting a winner for president, but in other more competitive states who have the same rule, it could be a factor if the race is close. So it’s really going to be interesting to see how all of this affects the process.

In light of the world’s COVID-19 pandemic, Wilk has turned the kitchen of her small studio apartment in New York City into a full-blown bake shop. Her inspiration: The brave first responders passionately dedicated to the safety of civilians. The treat: A variety of gooey, sweet cookies that Wilk considers to be her forte.

“I have no medical training, but I can bake a really, really good cookie for the people who do,” Wilk says.

“This concept may have started with the coronavirus, but the sprinkling of joy made with love in the kitchen will go on forever.”

After being furloughed from her job as a chef and instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, she decided to use her time to provide tasty treats for local medical employees working long hours. Then she created#BAKEITFORWARD, a social media initiative to encourage others to give thanks through food to those on the front lines of the pandemic.

So far, Wilk has raised more than $3,500 on GoFundMe that will go toward a #BAKEITFORWARD cookbook, made with the intention of share her recipes to others so that they, too, can spread positivity during this time.

“This concept may have started with the coronavirus, but the sprinkling of joy made with love in the kitchen will go on forever,” Wilk says. “When you have a bad day, or you want to bring someone else some happiness, this cookbook will serve as a template for doing that.”

Despite her experience as a professional chef, Wilk’s degree in political science from the �鶹ӳ����ý is what she points to as an important influence in #BAKEITFORWARD.

“You wouldn’t think I’d be using a degree in political science as a chef,” Wilk says, “but it is the perfect degree to blend my passion for nonprofit work with my passion for food.”

Wilk’s love for both food and helping others began at a young age. When she was old enough to choose a university to attend for her bachelor’s degree, there was no doubt in Wilk’s mind �鶹ӳ����ý is where she wanted to be.

“I loved everything about the school,” says Wilk, who is from Miami. “From the experiences �鶹ӳ����ý offers, to the campus, to being right around Disney, I was drawn from the get-go and I knew in my heart that this is where I wanted to be for school.”

While in Orlando she also had the chance to frequent vegan restaurants in the area. When she decided to attend culinary school, she wanted to attend one where she knew she’d be making nutrient-dense food akin to that approach, leading her to the Natural Gourmet Institute.

But as her career progressed, Wilk says she learned that sometimes classic eggs, butter, and sugar cannot be beat.

“The cookies that I’m making for #BAKEITFORWARD are not vegan or nutrient dense, but right now that isn’t my focus,” Wilk says. “My focus here is to bring joy, and there is nothing more joyful than a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip cookie made with classic pastry ingredients.”

When she’s finished baking up batches in her kitchen, she hand delivers her goods to local hospitals and service departments. What Wilk loves most about this ritual is the humanity she gets to see on her walks to her destinations.

“On my way to drop off the cookies, I always see chalk on the sidewalk and free coffee deliveries being made, stuff like that,” Wilk says. “It reminds me that we are all human and all going through something totally new to us, not to mention terrifying. It’s the little things we do as human beings that can make a difference in someone’s life right now.”

Frey leaves a long legacy of service to the United States and Central Florida. He had a hand in both establishing Kennedy Space Center as the home of the space shuttle program and appealing to President Richard Nixon to turn over McCoy Air Force Base to the city of Orlando. That base would later become Orlando International Airport.

The �鶹ӳ����ý connection started with Frey’s donation of his congressional archives to �鶹ӳ����ý in 2002 to create the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government. The institute promotes the development of enlightened, responsible and actively engaged citizens through experiential learning and civic education. That mission was boosted through a partnership with former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham to create the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, which is housed in the Lou Frey Institute.

“Lou appealed to so many in this state for his honor, his attention to constituents and his love of Florida and his country,” says Stephen Masyada, interim executive director of the Lou Frey Institute and director of the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship.

Frey was an attorney by trade, holding positions as assistant county solicitor for Orange County and counsel for the Florida Turnpike Authority before running for office as a Republican. His tenure representing Central Florida extended five consecutive terms before retiring undefeated in 1979. He also ran for U.S. Senate and Florida governor.

His political influence continued long after leaving office, including stints as committee member on the presidential campaigns of Gerald Ford, Bob Dole and George W. Bush. Frey shared that wealth of knowledge as a frequent speaker through the institute on topics including homeland security, the space program, and church and state.

Senior Fellow Doug Dobson said Frey was happiest when he was surrounded by a group of students or teachers. His lectures extended beyond the surface level of “how government works” to include the mental and physical toll of running for office and the demands of life in the public eye. The result was one of the strongest civic education programs in the U.S, which, in turn, is producing students equipped for politics, Dobson says.

“Lou felt an incredible commitment to educating future public servants and passing along his experiences,” Dobson says. “That was part of his life’s mission.”

The value of civic education cannot be underestimated, says Kerstin Hamann, director of the School of Politics, Security and International Affairs, which houses the Lou Frey Institute. To fully exercise your rights as a citizen, you need to understand how the system works, what the Constitution represents, and our rights and processes, Hamann said.

“The Lou Frey Institute excels at providing K-12 students with the understanding they need to become educated citizens,” Hamann says.

Growing up, the political sciences and biology double major and says, “my version of the superhero was always that doctor that saves the day from a super disease that takes over the world.”

That passion for science and geopolitics has only grown at �鶹ӳ����ý. Working under the supervision of Güneş Murat Tezcür, chair of �鶹ӳ����ý’s program, Dovydaitis has been working on an honors undergraduate thesis examining the medical and political ramifications of the Anfal campaign, an infamous chemical weapons attack perpetrated by Saddam Hussein’s regime in the late 1980s that resulted in the genocide of an estimated 50,000-100,000 Kurds.

The risk of chemical weapons being used in future terrorism attacks makes this a particularly salient topic for study, Dovydaitis says.

“There’s a saying that ‘biological weapons are the poor man’s atom bomb,’ ” she says. “These weapons are actually quite easy and inexpensive, from the science standpoint, to create. And so, a lot of terrorism scholars predict their usage is only going to continue as the future of war and conflict develops.”

As she read the existing literature on Anfal, she learned about the lingering health consequences of being exposed to mustard and Sarin gas  — a long list that includes chronic respiratory ailments, burns, damage to the eyes and an increased incidence of cancer.

“But what I didn’t find a lot on was how a society recovers from such a massive incident of chemical warfare,” she says.

To get those answers, she would need to go to Iraqi Kurdistan, a country nearly 7,000 miles away that she had never stepped foot in. Fortunately, her program of study gave her a way in.

“The Kurdish Political Sciences program is really well connected to the university system in Iraqi Kurdistan, and so we have many connections to professors and politicians in that area,” Dovydaitis says.

Dovydaitis spent two weeks doing on-the-ground fieldwork this summer, shuttling between the capital city of Erbil and other areas affected by the genocide. There, she interviewed the former deputy minister of Anfal and Martyrs, Baravan Hamdi Hussein, as well as activists, politicians, medical professionals, town council members and government lawyers.

She also met with survivors, documenting first-hand accounts of the genocide’s emotional and psychological toll. In the mountainous rural town of Halabja, “I met a mother who lost all of her children,” she says. “I met a father who lost his wife and children, people losing eight to ten family members in a day.”

“It didn’t seem like anyone I met in that town wasn’t somehow affected by what happened.” – Jenna Dovydaiti, �鶹ӳ����ý student

“I can’t even begin to imagine how horrible that would be, to lose all of my siblings and the people I love in a single day. It didn’t seem like anyone I met in that town wasn’t somehow affected by what happened.”

The experience left a profound impression.

“I had an academic understanding of my topics of study before I got there,” Dovydaitis says. “But it really was quite different to meet the people who are actually affected by it, and to gain a sort of emotional understanding. And now I feel this great sense of responsibility to do them justice in my thesis writing.”

Dovydaitis plans to work in government after going to medical school and says her thesis fieldwork was a “transformative” experience.

“It’s different reading about it in books and doing assignments about your future career, and then doing something that would be like your future career,” she says. “It’s reassuring that what I’ve been saying I’ve wanted to do for a long time is actually what I want to do.”

The students were spread out across 28 school districts that hosted mock elections this year using a ballot that reflected all the statewide races. The ballot was editable so that schools could include local races like school board or county commission. While limited in scale, students flipped the results of Tuesday’s election and sent Andrew Gillum to the governor’s mansions. While the real Senate race could be heading to a recount, students had no trouble selecting Bill Nelson over Rick Scott.

While the ballots don’t contribute to the real result, the value of mock elections is high, said Chris Spinale, Action Civics coordinator at the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship.

“Any time you’re able to model a civic experience, it sticks with the kids,” Spinale said. “By providing them the opportunity to participate in a mock election … students have shown a greater proclivity to engage in the real thing.”

The mock election ballots are created soon after their official counterparts and distributed to schools across the state. Each school has a unique identifying number, so students can see the day after the election where their vote fits into the bigger picture. That sense of community is another shared experience with real voting, Spinale explains.

“When the student understands their voice can make a difference, it starts to affect real change,” Spinale said. “They start to understand their role in the process.”

Doug Dobson, Ph.D., is director of the Lou Frey Institute, which advocates and educates for the development of civic and political skills. Voting is at the heart of American representative democracy, he said, and the mock elections allow students to “develop habits of citizenship that will stay with them throughout their lives.”

Spinale echoes his thoughts on citizenship.

“Right now you can look at our students as citizen apprentices. When students better understand what it means to be a citizen, then we have a more effective society,” Spinale said.

Kerstin Hamann, Ph.D., a Pegasus Professor and chair of the , added: “This experience is invaluable as it enhances young people’s understanding of democracy and prepares them as future voters.”

Her plea — along with her endorsement of two candidates in upcoming Tennessee races for U.S. Senate and House — coincided with more than 166,000 new voter registrations between the time she posted on Oct. 7 and noon on Oct. 9, according to Vote.org. About 42 percent of those registrants were between the ages of 18 and 24.

But are celebrity endorsements really a magic bullet for politicians?

Not necessarily, says Aubrey Jewett, associate professor of Political Science at �鶹ӳ����ý.

“Studies show that celebrity endorsements most often energize a fan base who were already leaning toward a certain politician. So maybe they go from planning to vote to attending a rally,” Jewett says.

Jewett points to the close primary race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in 2008 as an example. Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Obama was estimated to be worth more than a million votes and a huge boost in fundraising.

On a broader scale, celebrity endorsements often serve as a bridge between a demographic and a candidate, explained Terri Fine, professor of Political Science and associate director of the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at �鶹ӳ����ý. The Institute promotes civic engagement through educational programs, research and policy analysis.

Turnout and registration is often low with younger voters because they don’t frequently see candidates who mirror their age or demographic. Swift’s endorsement serves as a proxy for that lack of a familiar face, Fine says.

“People recognize her, they like her, and that enables her to send a message,” Fine says.

But celebrity endorsements have their drawbacks, too.

“It can actually have a net negative effect,” Jewett explains.

Research shows in some cases voters will come out specifically to vote against someone a celebrity endorsed.

“It can hurt instead of help a candidate,” Jewett says.

This year’s recipients are Rachael Rothstein-Safra ’17, a history major and staff member for the �鶹ӳ����ý Community Veterans History Project; Karla Aurazo, a political science and international relations double major; and Caleb Archie, an international and global studies major. All three worked with the Burnett Honors College and the Office of Prestigious Awards to apply for the fellowships.

Boren Fellowships provide funding up to $24,000 for immersive study of the language and culture of countries deemed critical to U.S. national security. In return, Fellows agree to complete a service requirement with the federal government. An initiative of the National Security Education Program, Boren Awards funds a broad spectrum of study that encompasses global challenges such as environmental and sustainability measures, economic practices, and even historical-culture analysis.

A Historical Approach to Political Rhetoric in Beijing

Rothstein-Safra used her undergraduate thesis as a jumping-off point for her Boren application. Her thesis was on medieval Chinese literature, and she is looking forward to honing her research skills and studying intensive Mandarin for a year at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

“As a historian, it is essential to understand the nuances of a language … so that you may then understand the society,” Rothstein-Safra says.

History is not a common field of study for a Boren recipient, but Rothstein-Safra explains the ties between historical analysis and national security by stressing the importance of studying historic political trends. “A lot of the current political rhetoric of the Communist Party of China draws on historical Chinese ideas and phrases,” Rothstein-Safra says. “It is key to understanding how they portray themselves to their people and the global arena.”

A self-described nontraditional student, Rothstein-Safra took a different path to �鶹ӳ����ý. Dropping out of high school in 11^{�ٳ���}grade, she attended Seminole State College before transferring to �鶹ӳ����ý. At Tsinghua University, she will design her own program of study, and credits working with the Burnett Honors College, the Office of Prestigious Awards, and her mentors in the history department for helping her to become a Boren Fellow.

Upon returning next summer, Rothstein-Safra plans to pursue a master’s degree in history at �鶹ӳ����ý.

Studying Russian in Kazakhstan

Currently a Francis Bok Human Trafficking Awareness Fellow for �鶹ӳ����ý Global Perspectives, senior Aurazo channeled her knowledge about human trafficking and the issue of language barriers into a desire to learn Russian through a Boren Fellowship. As �鶹ӳ����ý’s first student to study abroad in Kazakhstan, Aurazo custom-tailored a program for her studies at Kimep University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Aurazo describes the country as a sociological and geographic portal between Russia and China, causing it to be of great interest to the United States.

“Given that Kazakhstan is rich in resources and that they have been an ally in combatting terrorism,” says Aurazo, “I think we should continue working towards consistent cooperation with them.”

In the future, Aurazo aspires to work as a U.S. foreign officer. “I believe in … serving with my neighbor, and I find joy in doing so,” she says. “I believe in building bridges, not walls, across cultures and beliefs.”

Learning Mandarin in Chengdu, China

Archie will explore the developing financial hub of Chengdu, China. He chose Chengdu, a city more than 1,000 miles west of Shanghai in the Sichuan province, because he wanted to study in a place where English is not a common secondary language, as that would motivate him to learn through cultural immersion.

Archie’s interest in China developed last summer during an internship with the U.S. Department of Energy where he explored nuclear cooperation with global partners. At Chengdu University, Archie plans to study advanced Mandarin, modern politics and Chinese governmental relations.

In the future, Archie also plans to work as a U.S. foreign officer and is grateful for the opportunities that a Boren Fellowship offers.

“It’s not just wanting to have American influence and regional security in a country, but it is about helping those people, by supporting them and their culture,” Archie says.

If you are a student participating in or applying to a graduate degree program in the U.S. and are interested in applying for a Boren Fellowship, please contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at opa@ucf.edu.

Armed with a 4.0 GPA and international work experience, took steps to make herself competitive for a position in the U.S. Foreign Service, but with the current hiring freeze in the State Department, this goal seemed impossible – until now. Fleming recently received a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, which will provide her the opportunity to work with the State Department’s Foreign Service.

Fleming recently received a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, which will provide her the opportunity to work with the State Department’s Foreign Service.

This highly competitive fellowship provides academic funding up to $75,000 for its recipients for tuition, housing and books during a two-year master’s degree program focused on a field related to the Foreign Service. During the summer months between academic years, fellows also participate in two State Department internship programs, one in the United States and one abroad. After graduate school, fellows complete a minimum five-year service commitment in the Foreign Service.

Discovering a Love of Diplomacy 

Fleming said her inspiration to begin this journey started at �鶹ӳ����ý. Her honors diplomacy course with Ambassador Harriet Elam-Thomas sparked her interest in public diplomacy and the Foreign Service. Elam-Thomas was the U.S. ambassador to Senegal from 2000-2002.

“In the ambassador’s class, I learned about the value of creating mutual understanding between people from different countries through international exchange programs,” Fleming says.

“In the ambassador’s class, I learned about the value of creating mutual understanding between people from different countries through international exchange programs,” Fleming says. “I later had the opportunity to work on public-diplomacy initiatives through internships at the World Affairs Council of Central Florida and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.”

After graduation, Fleming felt she needed to gain international work experience. She had earned a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate at �鶹ӳ����ý, so she spent five months teaching English in Thailand before she was awarded a Fulbright English teaching assistantship. From there, she spent 10 months teaching English in Vietnam.

“Living in Vietnam was a life-changing experience because I had the opportunity to really immerse myself in the country’s vibrant culture,” says Fleming. “My students were wonderful, and I deeply cherish the memories and relationships that I made there. The experience solidified my resolve to pursue a career bridging cultures.”

Providing a Global Perspective

Fleming works in the at �鶹ӳ����ý. As the senior program assistant, she helps run programs that sharpen �鶹ӳ����ý’s international focus.

Fleming submitted her application for the Pickering fellowship in January 2017. She was selected as one of the 60 finalists, and completed a final interview and writing assessment through Skype while she was teaching in Vietnam.

In February, Fleming was informed that a spot had opened up and she was offered the opportunity to be a Pickering fellow. Now, she is preparing to start her journey with the State Department.

She has been accepted to two master’s programs, and her first hurdle will be deciding to attend either the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver or the School of International Service at American University. Once she finishes her graduate education, she will start her five-year service commitment in the Foreign Service.

Excited for the possibilities for service, Fleming is also grateful for the role that �鶹ӳ����ý has played in her journey.

“I would not be in this position today without the help and support of my mentors at �鶹ӳ����ý,” says Fleming. “The Global Perspectives Office and the Office of Prestigious Awards have been instrumental in helping me to achieve my goals, even as an alumna. These two offices teamed together last spring to help me prepare for the Pickering interview, and I am so grateful for their guidance.”

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Watch her , shown at the Black & Gold Gala, to learn more about Cynthia.