Meet the 2025-2026 College of Sciences Student Ambassadors  

After a competitive application process, these students will represent the College of Sciences student body through engagement and representation.  

By: Emily Dougherty | Published: September 22, 2025

The College of Sciences (COS) is kicking off this academic year, and its newly selected student ambassadors are leading the way. The COS Faculty Fellow for Student Engagement who serves as faculty advisor for the ambassadors, Dr. Kari Mottarella, says she is looking forward to fostering new collaboration and creating a stronger community with all departments and schools in UCF’s largest college.   

For the ambassadors, Mottarella hopes they will use this opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills, create collaborative opportunities, and set good examples while representing their fellow COS Knights.  

“The ambassadors are exceptionally strong and accomplished students,” Mottarella says. “Their time as an undergraduate student at UCF will rush by, and I encourage them to take moments to soak in, appreciate, and enjoy their experience as a Knight.”  

Beatrix Alerte | Senior | Communications  

Beatrix Alerte is eager to give back to the COS community and showcase her creativity as a first-time student ambassador this academic year. Through this opportunity she hopes to engage with COS students, build connections, and help students feel supported. As a transfer Knight, her favorite UCF memory was her first homecoming week, where she met many students that grew into friendships. 

David Alvarado | Senior | Data Science  

David Alvarado is a returning COS student ambassador this academic year and is excited to have the opportunity to continue representing his fellow Knights under new leadership and create new opportunities for students to connect outside the classroom. His favorite UCF memory is attending a basketball game with fellow ambassadors, where they shared pizza beforehand and appeared on the jumbotron in matching COS shirts. From this incredible experience, he hopes to organize more sporting events.  

Ray Estevez | Junior | Political Science  

Ray Estevez is looking forward to being a returning student ambassador this year, as he sees it as a valuable opportunity to collaborate with COS leaders and learn through his experiences. He is most looking forward to the opportunity of tabling sessions where ambassadors connect with students, share information, and help build a stronger COS community. His favorite memory was collecting event exclusive rubber ducks and is eager to grow his collection this year.   

Alysia Furbish | Senior | Psychology -Industrial Organizational Track 

Alysia Furbish is looking forward to sharing her love for UCF as a first-time student ambassador. She says it gives her the opportunity to encourage her fellow Knights to deepen their connection to the university. One of her favorite UCF memories is chasing the student shuttle with her late dog (named Sassy). She shares that through this fun memory she got to know the bus drivers and learned how they go above and beyond to ensure students have a stress-free experience and arrive to campus safely.   

Drew Jonsson | Junior | Forensic Science, Chemistry Track 

As a first-time student ambassador, Drew Jonsson says he has developed a great sense of confidence and responsibility to represent students in the largest college at UCF. He looks forward to connecting with his fellow student ambassadors and faculty to create more collaborative opportunities with COS students. One of his favorite UCF memories is getting a front row spot for Spirit Splash and retrieving a coveted UCF rubber duck.   

Bruna Melo | Junior | Political Science and Advertising / Public Relations  

Bruna Melo says being selected as a COS student ambassador is an honor and privilege that she can’t wait to use as an opportunity to help students feel more connected on campus. She is looking forward to organizing activities and events to create a stronger sense of community among COS Knights. One of her favorite memories is participating in Knight-Thon where she not only had fun but grew a deep love for the university.   

Spurthi Nrusimhadevara | Sophomore | Psychology 

Spurthi Nrusimhadevara says becoming a student ambassador is the perfect opportunity to give back to the College of Sciences. Seeing how past ambassadors were engaged with the community has inspired her to create events where freshman have the opportunity to better connect with the college. One of her favorite UCF memories is traveling to Connecticut with UCF KnightRaas, a competitive Indian dance team that provides students a chance to connect with their heritage and share their culture, and playing in the snow with her fellow teammates after a long day of competing. 

Bianca Nuñez | Junior | Political Science  

Bianca Nuñez says being selected as first-time student ambassador is an exciting opportunity for her because it provides her with a new way to get more involved with students outside of her participation with student government. She is looking forward to building relationships with both students and faculty, while pushing her outside of her comfort zone. One of her favorite UCF memories is attending Day at the Capitol last spring semester, where she joined other Knights to spark important conversations with state leaders.   

Jordan Richardson | Senior | Anthropology 

Jordan Richardson says she feels honored to be selected as a student ambassador this academic year and looks forward to using her new role to better connect with the College of Sciences student body. One of her favorite UCF memories was participating in an opportunity to study aboard in Turks and Caicos alongside other anthropology and environmental science students. In addition to the camaraderie with fellow Knights she gained rewarding and hands-on archaeologic experience. 

Griffin Seel | Senior | Mathematics  

Griffin Seel says it’s a huge honor to be selected as a first-time student ambassador from the strong candidates who applied. Grateful for this opportunity, he says he is eager to use his leadership skills to plan and help host events for his fellow COS Knights. One of his favorite UCF memories are the friendships he’s made and fun experiences he’s had with the UCF Video Game Music Ensemble.  

Ornella Vintimilla | Junior | Psychology and Biomedical Science  

Ornella Vintimilla says it’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to represent COS as a student ambassador and first-generation student. She says she is looking forward to meeting and connecting with students as well as representing fellow transfer students. One of her favorite memories was attending a pre-transfer retreat with Valencia College that introduced her to UCF’s campus and community. She says it was an experience that made her feel at home before she even started classes.  

Danna Arrieta-Ventura | Sophomore | Chemistry 

Danna Arrieta-Ventura says it is amazing to be selected as a student ambassador this year. Having a background with student government, she says she is passionate about building a sense of community so students can feel more connected to each other. She also looks forward to building stronger relationships between students and faculty. One of her favorite UCF memories was when she bonded with fellow Knights while waiting in line for Universal Knights tickets, serving as a reminder of the strength of Knight Nation.   

Hannah Wagner | Senior | Political Science  

Hannah Wagner says it is a true honor to be given the opportunity to be a student ambassador. She shares that it’s an opportunity to give back to COS, since the college has already provided her with so much support. In her new role, she is looking forward to connecting with students across the many departments in COS. One of her favorite UCF memories is working in the President’s Suite during football games, giving her the chance to network with UCF leaders.