UCF Alumni announced the recipients of its third annual 30 Under 30 Awards on Tuesday, with this year’s class including entrepreneurs, attorneys, security analysts, business professionals, education leaders, doctors, social media experts and others.

“This year’s 30 Under 30 class is a bold group of young alumni who have made an impact from the early stages of their careers. Their commitment to their profession, community and UCF is inspiring,” said Mike Kilbride ’12, chair of UCF’s Young Alumni Council. “This group represents the best of the best from UCF’s accomplished young alumni base. As a fellow alumnus, it is inspiring to see so many of our graduates using their UCF experience to make an impact. The entire Young Alumni Council is proud of the group of finalists, and on behalf of UCF, I extend my sincerest congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment.”

The 30 Under 30 awards program recognizes outstanding young alumni who strive for greatness in their professional and personal lives. Nominations for the 2017 class were accepted through May, and winners were selected based on the following criteria:

  • Must be a graduate of UCF (undergraduate or graduate degree)
  • Must be 30 or under on June 30, 2017
  • Must have made an impact in one or more of the following areas: professional success, community involvement and/or university engagement
  • Must demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with UCF
  • Must strive to uphold the tenets of the UCF Creed

    • The recipients will be recognized in a formal ceremony on campus in August.

    UCF Alumni’s 2017 Class of 30 Under 30

    Melissa Amoi-Belinda Smith ’11Ph.D.

  • User experience researcher, Google
  • College of Sciences | The Burnett Honors College

    • Ashley Beilan ’09, J.D.

  • Associate attorney, Unice Salzman Jensen
  • College of Sciences

    • Jonathan Beilan ’09 ’13M.D.

  • Chief resident in urology, University Of South Florida’s Morsani College Of Medicine
  • College of Medicine | The Burnett Honors College

    • Tava Bingham ’12M.A.

  • Assistant director, LEAD Scholars Academy at UCF
  • College of Education & Human Performance

    • Keal Blache ’11

  • Founder, Loba Creative
  • College of Business Administration

    • Jacqueline Boehme ’11M.D.

  • Resident, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
  • College of Medicine | The Burnett Honors College

    • Sasha Dookhoo ’11 ’15M.A.

  • Senior account executive, PAN Communications
  • College of Sciences

    • Andre Ferrari ’13

  • Associate attorney, Haynes and Boone
  • College of Business Administration

    • Jessica Gottsleben ’15

  • News editor, DC Stop Modern Slavery
  • College of Sciences | The Burnett Honors College

    • Ashley Gudzak ’10

  • Communications manager, Aurora Flight Sciences Corp.
  • College of Sciences

    • Nicholas Gurney ’11

  • Trial attorney, Law Office of Kanner & Pintaluga
  • College of Health & Public Affairs | The Burnett Honors College

    • Angela Huston ’10

  • Assistant general counsel, Florida Department of Revenue
  • College of Business Administration

    • Kevin Kulbacki ’11

  • Forensic document examiner, IRS National Forensic Laboratory
  • College of Sciences

    • Dasha Kuret ’12

  • Ring announcer and community liaison, World Wrestling Entertainment
  • College of Health & Public Affairs

    • Heather Lawrence ’15 ’17M.S.

  • Graduate research assistant, UCF
  • College of Engineering and Computer Science

    • Blaire Martin ’11 ’13MBA

  • Director, Florida Angel Nexus
  • College of Business Administration | The Burnett Honors College

    • JaVonte’ Mottley ’08 ’09MPA

  • Social insurance specialist, Social Security Administration
  • College of Health & Public Affairs

    • Brandon Naids ’14 ’16M.S.

  • CEO/Co-founder, Talon Simulations
  • College of Engineering & Computer Science

    • Brandon Naidus ’12

  • Social media manager, Arizona Cardinals
  • College of Business Administration | The Burnett Honors College

    • Rupert Neish ’09 ’12M.A.

  • Coordinator of Academic Services, UCF Department of Legal Studies
  • College of Education & Human Performance| College of Sciences

    • Jordan Ostroff ’09, J.D.

  • Founding partner, Jordan Law
  • College of Arts & Humanities | The Burnett Honors College

    • Stephanie Parenti ’11

  • Immigrant visa unit chief, U.S. Embassy Kabul
  • College of Sciences | The Burnett Honors College

    • Dane Paul ’09 ’11M.S.

  • Audit manager, Deloitte & Touche
  • Rosen College of Hospitality Management | College of Business Administration

    • Michael Rape ’10 ’13M.S.

  • Financial analyst, University of Texas Medical Branch
  • College of Health & Public Affairs

    • Lauren Rehm ’10

  • Associate, Bush Ross P.A.
  • College of Business | The Burnett Honors College

    • Joseph Rogan ’11, J.D.

  • Attorney, Smith, Hulsey & Busey
  • College of Sciences | The Burnett Honors College

    • Kyle Simpson ’11

  • Director of business solutions and operations, FS Investments
  • College of Medicine | The Burnett Honors College

    • Carey Sobel ’09

  • Partner and director of business development, Three21 Creative
  • College of Business Administration

    • Joseph Taylor ’10

  • Regional eCommerce manager, Hilton Worldwide
  • College of Sciences

    • Amity Wyss ’10

  • Assistant principal of Curriculum and Instruction, Poinciana Elementary School
  • College of Education & Human Performance | The Burnett Honors College

    •