Groundbreaking advancements in alternative energy research are the catalyst for a recent groundbreaking here in Metro Orlando. In February, Florida Governor Jeb Bush joined company leaders from Ford, ChevronTexaco and Progress Energy in announcing plans for Florida’s first hydrogen fueling station, which is being built on land owned by Progress Energy near Orlando International Airport.

Slated for completion in 2006, the facility will focus on finding new uses for hydrogen energy, the power source used by the Space Shuttle. Orlando’s hydrogen fueling station will be one of few national “demonstration projects” established to heighten public awareness of hydrogen as an alternate energy source. Eventually, the energy station will fuel Ford shuttle buses transporting visitors at the airport.

The evolving energy and alternative fuels industry has been identified as one of the EDC’s targeted industry sectors. Establishment of this prestigious facility is a major coup and an important step in building a significant new economic driver for the region. Success in landing this project is due in large part to our proximity to NASA and renowned existing research facilities, most notably UCF’s Florida Solar Energy Center.

Commercializing alternative fuel and energy sources is a field with far reaching ramifications for transportation, manufacturing, pollution control, and many other global priorities. Metro Orlando is now positioned to become a leader in addressing those priorities. The future is bright for this important, emerging technology cluster in Central Florida.

A recent expansion by Electronic Arts (EA) in Metro Orlando sparked the creation of a new academy, known as the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA). EA officials worked with the EDC and UCF administrators to convince the state of Florida to provide a $3.2 million grant last year to start the academy and $1 million annually in operating funds. EA employees in Orlando helped design FIEA’s curriculum.

“EA applauds the creation of FIEA,” said Steve Seabolt, the company’s vice president of University and Marketing Education. “EA has been involved with helping to shape the academy since its inception. EA personnel helped shape the creation of the academy’s curriculum and culture. We have confidence in FIEA’s faculty, and believe that students who excel in the program will be well-poised for careers building video games.”

The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy will open in the fall at the renovated Expo Centre in downtown Orlando. As many as 50 students will enroll in the graduate certificate program and will learn about the design, testing and programming of video games. Classes in the intensive, 16-month program will deal with topics such as business and entrepreneurial skills, project management and the critical study of games.

“EA fully supports FIEA’s mission to educate the next generation of interactive entertainment innovators,” said Steven Chiang, vice president and studio general manager of EA – Tiburon. “As a company whose success depends on the talents and creativity of individuals, we are excited to play a role in helping FIEA advance the academic development of the video game industry.”

EA Tiburon staff members will work as adjunct professors at FIEA, and the company is donating capital equipment for the new facility in the Expo Centre.

“The University of Central Florida is pleased to have EA’s support, and we look forward to a long-term relationship with the company,” Provost Terry Hickey said. “We greatly appreciate EA's cooperative spirit and tangible support in carrying out joint research projects for mutual benefit and helping the university provide quality graduates and specially trained personnel. EA's continuing support for our new entertainment academy, FIEA, provides a unique benefit for UCF, EA and related industries in our community.”

The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) at the University of Central Florida has named experienced game industry executive Ben Noel to head the graduate-level academy. Noel, vice president & studio chief operating officer at Electronic Arts – Tiburon, was tapped to lead the academy through an executive-in-residence arrangement with EA. Along with a wealth of industry contacts and knowledge of current game studio operations, the new executive director in residence brings a professional history rich with achievements to FIEA. Prior to EA – Tiburon, Noel was a member of EA’s management team at its Austin, Texas studio.

“As a leader in the video game industry, Ben Noel brings an extraordinary amount of experience to FIEA,” said Kathryn Seidel, dean of UCF’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Our great hope is that this will become a long-term fit for Ben and FIEA."

“Having him lead the academy will be a great benefit to our students, because he knows how to excel in the real environment in which video games are made. His practical experience will set FIEA apart from other interactive entertainment schools because its graduates will be well prepared for a career in video game development.”

Prior to joining EA, Noel was the vice president of finance and director of operations at Esco Technologies, an electro-magnetic compatibility company. Noel has also held finance and operations positions with PepsiCo and Emerson. Noel received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Florida and an MBA from Rollins College.

“In the fall of 2004 we enrolled more than 43,000 students. But how old is UCF really? Physicists talk in terms of “half-life” of changing systems. Marketing folks say that such terminology is too negative. Doubling time better describes our growth than half-life. So, here is a snapshot of change at UCF:

• DOUBLED enrollment in 12 years.
• DOUBLED graduates in 10 years.
• DOUBLED doctoral graduates in five years.
• DOUBLED research funding in three years.
• DOUBLED technology licensed for commercial production in two years.

"We produced our first NFL quarterback in 1999, our first Rhodes Scholar in 2003, and our first Miss America in 2004.”

EDC Rolls Out “2005 Metro Orlando Profile”

UCF Joins Top Universities in Princeton Review’s Best Colleges Guide

The University of Central Florida (UCF) will be included for the first time in The Princeton Review’s annual guide to the best institutions for undergraduate education in the United States.

“The Best 361 Colleges: 2006 Edition,” which will be available in bookstores in late August, selects schools based on their academic programs, the opinions of students, parents and educators, and other data. The book is the “flagship guide to the ‘crème of the crop’ institutions for undergraduates,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s vice president of publishing.

The Princeton Review’s recognition comes as the academic quality of UCF students continues to rise. Freshmen admitted in 2004 posted average SAT scores of 1186 and average high school GPAs of 3.84.