2008 Woodie Awards
UCF mishandled several million dollars in funds and is spending more money than it should, according to a recent state audit. At a time when state budget cuts to education have caused reductions in classes, caps on enrollment and stalls on faculty raises, the findings for the fiscal year ending June 30, revealed 13 instances of university funds being used improperly.
The deadline is fast approaching for students to apply for a piece of more than $50,000 in scholarships offered by the UCF Alumni Association. Each year there are numerous scholarships that are overlooked by the majority of UCF students. The association first began offering scholarships in 1977.
The UCF College of Optics and Photonics has received international recognition recently by receiving three prestigious awards from the international scientific society SPIE. Dr. M.J. Soileau, vice president for Research and Commercialization for UCF, is the recipient of the Gold Medal Award, the society's highest honor, for his contributions to optics education and his research into laser-induced damage.
Fans of science fiction came together March 7-9 at the MegaCon Convention, held annually at the Orange County Convention Center. With an expected attendance of 18,500 people, the south concourse of the convention center was packed. Attendees meandered through crowded aisles in the vast labyrinth of booths that showcased immense comic book collections, and themed memorabilia.
The Grammy Award-winning band Hootie and the Blowfish performed a free concert in Celebration on Saturday as part of the Robert Gamez Celebrity Weekend for charity. The Robert Gamez Celebrity Weekend features a host of events, including a comedy show, a celebrity golf classic and a concert.