This spring, SVAD recognizes the determination first-gen students put into their academic careers.
Graduating from college is a major achievement – it’s a culmination of four years of hard work and persistence, and the start of a journey where students apply their academic skills to the real world. But for first-generation students, those whose parents did not complete a four-year degree, this milestone is often more profound than one may think. It represents the fulfillment of a dream that began long before they arrived on UCF’s campus. This spring, UCF’s School of Visual Arts and Design celebrates students who are the first in their families to graduate with a bachelor’s degree – an accomplishment that opens doors of opportunity for generations to come.
One of those individuals is Emily Hudson, an art history student mentored by Professor Margaret Zaho.
“I think both of my parents could have gone to college and done well if they’d had the opportunity to do so. So, while I’ve been so grateful for how supportive they’ve been, I also feel sad they didn’t get to pursue their own passions. When I started college, they told me to find what I loved and go after it, and I did. I might be the first in my family to have a bachelor’s degree, but I certainly won’t be the last,” says Hudson.
Hudson will continue her academic journey this fall as she pursues her graduate degree in art history at the University of South Florida. The offer letter came with an assistantship and a complete tuition waiver, as well as an invitation to travel with USF’s graduate student cohort to Paris for an extended study over Summer 2026.
“It’s very exciting not only to go to graduate school, but also to have the funding and research opportunities that make it possible to attend school affordably and to travel while I’m enrolled,” says Hudson.
Whether they studied animation, studio art, graphic design, or anything in between, each of these students exhibit dedication. Many navigated unfamiliar territories, relied on their own resilience and community for support, and often overcame financial hardships – all while pouring their heart into their academic career. Their efforts have cleared a path for the next generation of artists, designers and storytellers who will start their journeys at the School of Visual Arts and Design.
Below is a list of Spring 2025 graduates who identified as first-generation college students, representing a variety of disciplines and programs within SVAD:
- Alexandra Barath: Emerging Media BFA – Animation & Visualization
- Doha Boukhal: Emerging Media BFA – Animation & Visualization
- Jenaee David: Emerging Media BFA – Animation & Visualization
- Manuel Delgado Ordaz: BDes – Architecture
- Danniell Fennell: BFA in Studio Art
- Jaliyah Marieka Francois: Emerging Media BFA – Character Animation
- Jada Amaya Grantlin: Emerging Media BFA – Graphic Design
- Sabrina Herrera: Emerging Media BFA – Animation & Visualization
- Emily Hudson: BA in Art History
- Mya Mcneil: BA in Studio Art
- Nah’jha Moore: Emerging Media BFA – Animation & Visualization
- Benjamin Navarro: Emerging Media BFA – Animation & Visualization
- Alexis Spencer: BA in Film & minor in Studio Art
- Chloe Tam: Emerging Media BFA – Animation & Visualization
- Marcus Urbenz: Emerging Media BFA – Character Animation
- Anthony Urena: BA in Visual Arts Management
This list reflects the names shared by students and may not capture every spring 2025 first-generation graduate at UCF’s School of Visual Arts and Design.