{"id":14304,"date":"2015-11-30T13:19:40","date_gmt":"2015-11-30T18:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.cos.ucf.edu\/?p=14304"},"modified":"2015-11-30T13:19:40","modified_gmt":"2015-11-30T18:19:40","slug":"ucf-celebratesionaires-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-celebratesionaires-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Is a Millionaire?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Millionaires<\/a>

Richard Eastes was the top earner this year bringing in $12.68 million to UCF.<\/p><\/div>\n

Under a sunset stroked sky in front of the University of Central Florida\u2019s main administration building, university leaders celebrated the common traits of tenacity, collaborative spirit, and commitment to excellence that UCF\u2019s top grant earning researchers share.<\/p>\n

Twenty-nine researchers earned $1 million or more earning a bid into UCF\u2019s Millionaires Club, which hosted the celebration earlier this month.<\/p>\n

Recipients received kudos and tongue and cheek awards such as a\u00a0plush Underdog toy that went to a political science team that beat the odds by winning a $1.85 million grant. Another team earned the \u201cUnited Nations\u201d award for the project with the most non-U.S. collaborators.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough we have already trademarked the phrase \u2018America\u2019s Leading Partnership University,\u2019 our research and commercialization enterprise uniquely personifies that commitment,\u201d said MJ Soileau, vice president for research & commercialization and the emcee for the evening.<\/p>\n

Soileau, who started the event in FY00 by presenting six millionaires with a special blend of his home-made hot sauce with a label emblazoned with his picture, unexpectedly had the tables turned this year when Provost Dale Whittaker presented him with a one-gallon personalized bottle of Tabasco.<\/p>\n

Millionaires received smaller bottles of hot sauce and a special blend of perfume or cologne called \u201cMillionaire\u201d and several gag gifts were also presented.\u00a0 The awards largely aligned with President John C. Hitt\u2019s five goals for the university which include international prominence and focus in key areas of research, as well as emphasis on collaboration and partnership.<\/p>\n

The 38 researchers who received any size grant for the first time in FY15 were asked to stand as were the 35 patent recipients.<\/p>\n

The College of Sciences was well represented at the event,\u00a0receiving\u00a02 awards and 1 recognition:<\/p>\n