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For a number of years the National Center for Simulation (NCS) has supported annual scholarships to students entering or attending the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Daytona State College. The Vince & Beth Amico Scholarship to UCF ($2,500 in the Spring & Fall) has been awarded to either an incoming Freshman or a student enrolled in the M&S Graduate Programs (MS & Ph.D.). Students entering or enrolled in the Daytona State College Simulation Technology and Robotics Programs have been able to compete for the Henry C. “Hank” Okraski Scholarship ($1,000 in the Spring & Fall) to help fund their continuing education. In 2015, NCS has expanded its scholarship program to include awards to five local high school students (University High School, Hagerty High School, Lyman High School, Timber Creek High School & Crooms Academy for Information Technology). NCS has long had a special relationship with each of these high schools and supported their STEM programs as a means to get students excited about M&S and a possible career in the Simulation Industry.
This year, NCS will award $1,000 scholarships to the following high school students to help offset the costs of tuition and/or books as they enter an accredited Florida College, University or Technical School:
Amber R. Pearson, University High School
Robert F. Burke, Hagerty High School
James R, Henderson, Lyman High School
Melinda I. Ramos, Timber Creek High School
Martin A. Austin, Crooms Academy of Information Technology
In addition, NCS will present the following schools an Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headset for us in their STEM classes:
Corner Lake Middle School
Timber Creek High School
University High School
Hagerty High School
Lyman High School
Crooms Academy of Information Technology
NCS is also pursuing State of Florida certification of its four year high school curriculum in M&S and once approved will offer it for use at schools across Florida and possibly beyond. The curriculum was developed by the NCS Education and Workforce Development Committee with strong support from Academia, Industry and local Government. School teachers and administrators from Orange and Seminole County contributed to this effort and Seminole County is now spearheading the certification process.
Finally, in 2015 NCS has rolled out a M&S certification program for teachers and students. The first ten teachers in the nation have already taken the certification exam and will be awarded their certification as M&S teachers at the high school level. In addition students from six different schools across Orange and Seminole County are in the process of taking the beta test examination enroute to earning their certification. This entry level certification will make them more competitive for potential Industry Internships and post secondary education.
