Several University of Central Florida students were honored with Founders’ Awards for their commitment to excellence in academics, leadership and community service on Wednesday at the annual Founders’ Day Honors Convocation.

College of Sciences

Jennifer Heppert, a Biology major, has excelled in both academics and athletics at UCF.  Heppert is an ESPN-recognized volleyball player, and off the court she maintains a 4.0 GPA.  Her organizational skills and competitiveness have helped her excel within her major, and her undergraduate research experience in plant molecular biology culminated in a trip to Mexico. She has taken advanced courses in which most of her classmates are graduate students. She also mentors younger student-athletes.

Undergraduate Studies

Barbara Swift, a Biological & Physical Sciences major and Women’s Studies minor, has balanced academics, research and travel during her four years at UCF.  She completed her undergraduate research experience at the University of California at Berkeley and  participated in the President’s Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge. Swift has served as a resident assistant, member of the President’s Leadership Council and a big sister mentor in the Young Women Leaders Program.

Outstanding Thesis Awards

Runner-up: Juan Carlos Gonzalez-Pons for “Geometrical Control of the Magnetization Direction in High-Aspect Radio PdNi Ferromagnetic Nano-Electrodes,” directed by Enrique del Barco in Physics

Runner-up: Tania S. Luna for “The Columbian Crisis,” directed by Houman Sadri in Political Science