Student Stories Archives | University of Florida Online

A Father and Veteran Fulfills His Lifelong Dream of Becoming a Gator via UF Online

While leading a fulfilling life of service to both his family and country, 32-year-old Alan Thompson held onto his lifelong dream of graduating from the University of Florida. Given life’s unpredictable twists and turns, Alan became a father, veteran, and business owner before his path led him to the Gator Nation. Four years after beginning

A Gator’s Perspective: Amanda Sapp’s Journey as a First-Gen and STEM Student

Every student has their own educational journey. Whether that be attending college right out of high school or pursuing their education years later, UF Online makes earning a University of Florida bachelor’s degree at any stage of your life possible. In celebration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Day, we turn the spotlight over

First Gator Graduate through UF Online’s Employer Partnership with Walmart

When one door closes, another opens. This couldn’t be more true for Angela Lenkner, 44, who decided to complete her bachelor’s after being laid off from her job of almost eight years at a security company. While this new chapter in Angela’s life was focused on education, she also was looking for a job that

Gator Grad Finishes What She Started and is Now a Business Owner

Whether it’s on the beach volleyball court or in her career, Katherine Cook, 35, has always had a passion for helping others succeed. When Katherine first started at the University of Florida right after high school, she wasn’t quite sure how to combine passion and education. While studying at UF, Katherine landed a job with

Celebrating Student Fathers: UF Alum Inspires Colleagues to Earn Their Bachelor’s Degree

Bringing a strong work ethic and a keen attention to detail to every task are two values Eric Struble learned from his father. As a cabinetmaker, Eric’s father made sure to apply both to his craft, and Eric now applies them to every aspect of his own life as well. As a father, a husband,

A Gator’s Perspective: A Military Spouse’s UF Online Experience

Now, more than ever, online learning has made earning a bachelor’s degree possible from anywhere in the world. For Tori French, a UF Public Relations Alum, the idea of finishing her bachelor’s while living in Europe was not on her agenda when first starting classes as a residential student at the University of Florida. However,

UF Fire & Emergency Services Alum Receives Fire Inspector of the Year Award

Hardworking, forward-thinking, intelligent, and self-motivated are just some of the characteristics that describe Brett Dunckel, a Broward County Fire Prevention Officer (FPO) and University of Florida graduate. Although Brett has achieved a lot in his over twenty-year career in the fire service, including being named Fire Inspector of the Year by the Florida Fire Marshals

First Gator Graduate through UF Online’s Employer Partnership with Disney Aspire

Making dreams come true was just one part of Kent Stein’s job at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. As an entertainment cast member at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park, Kent, 23, also had a big dream of his own outside of work – earning a bachelor’s degree.

A Gator’s Perspective: An International Student’s Experience in UF Online

As the fully-online pathway to a University of Florida degree, UF Online welcomes students from around the world to earn a nationally-ranked education right from their home. With 25 fully online degree pathways, students worldwide can join the Gator Nation without compromising quality due to their location. UF Online is proud to have Gators in

A Family of Gators: Mother and Daughters Attend the University of Florida at the Same Time

Attending the University of Florida is a family affair for the Vetter family. Marissa Vetter, 55, has been a Gator at heart since her oldest daughter, Madison, was accepted into the University of Florida for her bachelor’s in animal sciences. Marissa never imagined that a few years later, she would be attending the University of

Category: Student Stories