UCF has named 22 students as recipients of the Order of Pegasus, the university’s most prestigious student award.

The 2019 recipients were selected from a pool of 77 nominations. The 2019 class includes eight LEAD Scholars, eight President’s Leadership Council members, three Student Government Association leaders, 14 Burnett Honors College scholars, one Greek member, two student-athletes and one transfer student.

Undergraduate students are chosen for Order of Pegasus each year based on their outstanding achievement in the areas of academic achievement, university involvement, leadership and community service. Graduate students are selected based on the same merits as well as publication or research experiences. Because of the breadth of accomplishments required for this award, the Order of Pegasus is the highest student award that can be attained at the university.

The winners will be honored at a ceremony this spring on April 10.

The names and a picture of the inductees will be added to the wall showcasing past and present Order of Pegasus recipients in the Pegasus Lounge located on the second floor of the Student Union. Inductees also receive commemorative medals and scholarships from the Student Government Association.

This year’s recipients are:

Undergraduate Students

  • Raquel Arthuzo, biomedical sciences (College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College)
  • Angelo Baldado, social work (College of Health Professions and Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
  • Maria Bower, environmental engineering (College of Engineering and Computer Science, Burnett Honors College)
  • Jonathan Brescia, physics (College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
  • Julia Carlin, biology (College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
  • Marley Denierio, biomedical sciences and anthropology (College of Medicine, College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
  • Yanelis Diaz, health services administration and biology (College of Community Innovation and Education, College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
  • Zachary Good ’18, political science (College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
  • Abbygail Lapinski, nursing (College of Nursing, Burnett Honors College)
  • Adrienne Li, health sciences-pre clinical (College of Health Professions and Sciences)
  • Latifah Maasarani, photonic science and engineering (College of Optics and Photonics, Burnett Honors College)
  • Uzoamaka Mbionwu, health sciences-pre clinical (College of Health Professions and Sciences)
  • Michael McWaters, political science and economics (College of Sciences, College of Business, Burnett Honors College)
  • Mansoor Qureshi, biomedical sciences (College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College)
  • Lauren Schmidt, environmental engineering (College of Engineering and Computer Science, Burnett Honors College)
  • Adam Searles, biology (College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
  • Graduate Students

  • Mohammad Ali ’16, health administration (College of Community Innovation and Education)
  • Brett Estrella ’18MBA,  sports business management (College of Business)
  • Christopher Faulkner, security studies (College of Sciences)
  • Tyler Janz, doctor of medicine (College of Medicine)
  • Kate Kilpatrick, theatre for young audiences (College of Arts and Humanities)
  • Katrina Phillips, conservation biology (College of Sciences)