<\/p>\n
Shivani Vakharia, student government academic affairs coordinator (left) presents plaques to Dr. Shanequa Bernard, UCF alum (center left); Cameron Cummins, music composition and statistics major (center); Alex Plant, aerospace engineering student (center right); and Ossyris Bury, senior aerospace engineering major (right) during TEDxUCF at the Fairwinds Alumni Center on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Savannah Schaefer<\/p>\n
Students took the stage Friday night for TEDxUCF, sharing personal stories and ideas rooted in their passions and experiences.<\/p>\n
Hosted by UCF Student Government at the Fairwinds Alumni Center, the event brought together student speakers to highlight creativity, curiosity and community on campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
TEDxUCF<\/a>, organized by Shivani Vakharia, student government academic affairs coordinator and 2026-27 student body president-elect, aimed to connect students with speaking opportunities and highlight student-driven ideas across campus.<\/p>\n Vakharia said the initiative grew out of conversations with students during her campaign, in which many expressed challenges in finding opportunities and platforms to share their work. UCF previously hosted TEDx in 2015 and 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have 70,000 students; we need to bring them this opportunity,\u201d Vakharia said.<\/p>\n To organize the event, Vakharia presented the idea to Student Body President Luci Blanco and Vice President Jarib Benitiz before contacting the TEDx organization to secure licensing.<\/p>\n To move forward, Vakharia first had to obtain a TEDx license, which, according to the Office of Risk and Safety, is required to host a third-party event on campus. Vakharia said the licensing requirement also limited attendance to 100 guests.<\/p>\n Speakers were selected through an extensive interview process, with organizers choosing students from a range of backgrounds whose ideas and experiences stood out. Most of the\u00a0speakers selected<\/a> were UCF students, including Ossyris Bury, senior aerospace engineering major.<\/p>\n Alex Plant, aerospace engineering student, delivers a talk titled “The High Ground of the Space Industry” during TEDxUCF at the Fairwinds Alumni Center on Friday. Plant discussed tangible and intangible innovations in the space industry, their role in everyday life, and space as a global initiative.\u00a0<\/p>\n Savannah Schaefer<\/p>\n<\/p>\n