Centric Magazine at UCF

11/12/2020

As we close out the semester and you need something to read over the break, check out our last digital story of this issue of Centric! Staff writer Celina Mori interviewed and dove into the life of Paulette Schank. Schank served as a nurse anesthetist at the start of the pandemic while also taking classes at UCF. As for the future — besides the opening of the nursing school in Haiti — Schank has always relished what the younger generation has to bring in terms of ideas and different perspectives. Yet, she wants to demonstrate to her students nursing is more than just another job and they should connect with their patient.

“It’s your ability to connect with your patient before you ever separate them back into the OR,” Schank said. “It’s just the essence of nursing.”

11/12/2020

The last holiday photo shared by staff is our digital manager Chelsea and her mom.
Chelsea said, “ I look at this photo and it reminds me of how hopeful I am during Christmas. I want everyone to remember that though this has been a difficult and unconventional year to remember it’s also been one of growth. Please stay safe as you go home to family this holiday season and be sure to indulge in the good times. Spread love and holiday cheer, happy holidays!”

10/12/2020

Happy holidays everyone!! Staff writer Ysa had some kind words to share as we approach the holiday season.

“❄️🎄Though we are in the midst of a pandemic, I hope everyone has a beautiful time celebrating the holidays. My hope is that we will eventually be able to celebrate the season with our loved ones. When that time comes, remember to hug everyone a bit tighter! Happy Holidays! 🎄❄️”

09/12/2020

In honor of the holidays our staff wanted to share some photos and stories!

Our staff writer Jenna said, “A normal Holiday Season for my siblings and I includes many visits to Seaworld to look at all the Christmas Lights around the park and this year has been no different. I think our favorite part is visiting Christmas Land after riding all the rollercoasters and having our annual ‘How this year went and what our New Years resolutions are’ chat over a cup of hot chocolate.”

04/12/2020

At the UCF Downtown campus there are many different neighborhoods and districts that surround it. There is the Central Business District where companies such as Suntrust bank are located and high class luxury apartments.

Then there’s the City District which houses various types of entertainment expanding from restaurants to bars or going to see a live musical performance.

Lastly, there is the newest installment of downtown called Creative Village which is where the UCF Downtown campus is located. However, behind the campus is one of Orlando’s oldest historic neighborhoods called Parramore.

To read more about this development and what UCF and Valencia Downtown Council are doing to provide opportunities for Parramore citizens during COVID-19, visit Centric at NSM Today. [✏️: Celina Mori, 📸: Heather Smith and Nick Leyva]

01/12/2020

Teachers everywhere are trying to adapt to remote and distance learning while keeping up with their personal lives.

“Being a teacher, you have a very important job to society,” UCF alumna Alison Augustyni said. “You get to directly affect the community that you are in and that you serve. The reason why I became a teacher is because education is important and every child should have access to a quality education. Education is power.”

To read more on the stories of teachers during this time, check out this story under the Centric tab on [✏️: Lexi Vasquez, 📸: Alison Augustyni]

30/11/2020

While most sports teams have had to forfeit their seasons this year because of COVID-19, two UCF students are refusing to throw in the towel.

Zac Grant, junior hospitality major, and Joe Ugolini, senior hospitality management and professional tennis management major are co-hosts of the podcast UCF Sports Talk.

The podcast gives listeners game perspectives from the angle of players, commentators and referees. Grant said he and Ugolini have wanted to produce this podcast for a while but never had time until Florida’s ‘Stay at Home Order.’

To read more of their story visit Centric . [✏️: Jenna Ehrlich]

23/11/2020

You sit in your room for hours googling how to create a bomb cover letter and what exactly needs to be on your resume, just to realize you’re more confused than when you started.

Whether it’s how to find an internship or how to create a resume, UCF alumni Justin Nguyen provides the “cheat codes” of college with his podcast called Declassified College.

"My goal is to share these cheat codes with students like yourself," Nguyen said. "But also with students with my background, the immigrant parents or first generation students who don't have that advice to fallback on at home."

To read this story visit Centric at NSM Today!

[📸: Tania Sims ]

20/11/2020

✨ This is the final installment of our Quarantine Ink series✨

In uncertain times during the COVID-19 pandemic, some people took quarantine as a sign to live life to the fullest. Junior human communication major Erin Wentley said that she got quarantine ink because she not only wanted these tattoos for a while but wanted to “live life to the fullest.”
“I was feeling very impulsive because everything else about this year has made me feel very uncertain,” she said. “We’ve been in pandemic mode for so much of this year... it shows us that we shouldn’t waste our youth.”
So far, Wentley has gotten four tattoos during quarantine. The first tattoo she got in the beginning of May was the minimalistic square logo of English alternative-rock band, The 1975. Just two months later, she got the renowned hands from Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” tattooed above her knee to represent her love for art. Wentley even got a guitar inked on her shoulder — which is an exact replication of one on singer Harry Styles’ body.
In the beginning of September, Wentley got a more personal piece tattooed above her other knee — a string of violets, her mother’s favorite flower. The artwork consists of three violets connected by vines; two are placed together on one side of the vine while the other stands alone.
“The two that are together represent my parents,” Wentley said. “The one that’s still connected and a little further away is me, and above that, there’s another one connected and still blooming.”
The blooming violet consists of five petals; three which represent Wentley’s cats that have passed away and two which represent her living cats.
[✏️: Samantha Olson, 📸: Courtesy of Erin Wentley]

19/11/2020

The upcoming release of the mag is almost here ✨

18/11/2020

✨This is the second installment of the Quarantine Ink series✨

On the other side of things, senior mathematics major Cassie Kirkpatrick has taken quarantine as a sign to expand upon their artistic ability. Although they started giving stick-and-poke tattoos to themself almost two years ago, they have also tattooed a few of their friends during quarantine. On Friday, Nov. 13, Kirkpatrick actually started to give themself a new tattoo. Kirkpatrick said that the general concept of stick-and-pokes has fascinated them since they were in middle and high school.
The stick-and-poke tattoo method consists of hand-poking ink into the skin without electric tools. The popularity of this method has increased due to its do-it-yourself approach and quarantine has opened up the opportunity for people to get creative.
“I’m interested in tattoos in general, but my favorite part about stick-and-pokes is the accessibility of it and being able to do it whenever,” Kirkpatrick said.
📸📝

Their clients include friends in their inner circle, so Kirkpatrick said they didn't wear masks as they had already been exposed to each other. However, Kirkpatrick said that they are open to adhering to COVID-19 guidelines if they were to take on new clientele.
[✏️: Samantha Olson, 📸​: Courtesy of Cassie Kirkpatrick]

17/11/2020

✨This is the first installment of our Quarantine Ink series✨

On Monday, Nov. 9, freshman art history major Sofi Mendoza decided to get some quarantine ink at Homesick Tattoo Studio and Gallery in Oviedo.
Mendoza said she got tattooed during quarantine because she had an “itch” to change her appearance and that the parlor adhered to COVID-19 safety guidelines while practicing social distancing. Mendoza, who wore two face coverings to be extra safe, was one of two customers in the space during her appointment.
“Even without the pandemic, tattoo parlors are some of the cleanest places on earth with good reason,” Mendoza said.
The needle hit the back of her forearm and created an outlined portrait of a childhood companion — her Maltese, Ricky.
“I just wanted to have a part of him with me forever because he’s always been there for me, especially in my hardest times,” Mendoza said.
She shared that Ricky had gotten “really sick” during quarantine and that the reality of him potentially passing away pushed her to get a tattoo as an homage to her four-legged friend.
[✏️: Samantha Olson, ​📸: Camila Swanson]

15/11/2020

A UCF student walks around campus wearing dark blue trousers, a light blue button up with the sleeves rolled up just a bit, a delicate tank underneath for layering and some white shoes. To complete the look, he accessorizes with a pearl necklace and some vintage sunglasses.

Freshman interdisciplinary studies major Ian Elmowitz, has not let online classes disrupt him from carefully curating his distinctive outfits.

“Dressing up makes me feel productive during the day and gives me a sense of efficiency. It just makes me feel like I did something,” Elmowitz said.

To read more of how students are combatting the Zoom era of fashion, check out on [✏️: Nathalia Beltran]

14/11/2020

We styled our Centric shirts with inspiration from Harry Potter characters. Go follow us on TikTok if you haven’t already to see more! ✨

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJxJUPcC/

You’re a wizard Centric ✨

12/11/2020

Music before COVID-19 was something we all took for granted. Whether it was going to rehearsal or a concert, it was never given a second thought as to how precious that would be.

Ever since the beginning of 2020, musicians have been required to be more creative than ever. Whether it is creating special masks that help the players keep safe while practicing trumpet or socially distanced concerts at the park.

“When COVID hit, it was a bit of a mad scramble to figure out what we should do moving forward,” UCF school of music assistant professor Alex Burtzos said. “But I’m happy to say, I’m very proud of the students for how they’ve handled the situation. The students have been motivated, they’re doing excellent work, and have adjusted really well to the new changes.”

To read more visit on [✏️ 📸: Nico Garces, Keyun Wang]

10/11/2020

Centric is in pre-press with our graphic designer Anthony Felix! Here’s a photo of two of our leaders Camila and Sam, alongside our adviser Professor Brunson!

26/10/2020

Centric has some incredible stories to tell of resiliency. Can you guess what this one’s about?

15/10/2020

All was calm in Memphis, Tennessee as a little girl around the age of four was playing with paper dolls that were given to her by her grandmother.
She would cut out clothes for her dolls and later place them in a catalog to sell.
Fast forward and that little girl, Emily Davis, turned her pretend business into a reality with Lemonly’s Bakery. To read more visit on [✏️: Celina Mori, 📸: Courtesy of Emily Davis]

07/10/2020

“I’ve always made art since I was little and I have also been passionate about the environment and being as eco-friendly as possible so I decided to combine the two and make art,” Erika Didden, a junior pre-veterinary major and Colourtivity Etsy shop owner said.
Didden takes everyday items people normally toss away and upcycles these materials into works of art. She upcycles items such as newspapers and plastic.
“The bigger lesson here is that no matter what the challenges are, that a positive and determined mindset can bring success even during the most difficult times,” Erik Didden, her father said.
To read more visit on [✏️: Jenna Ehrlich, 📸: Courtesy of Erika Didden]

02/10/2020

Lastly, meet our Managing Editor Sam! ❤️
Fun fact: “I’ve accrued a collection of movie tickets since 2008. Some titles include the Hannah Montana concert movie, Grown Ups, Black Panther and A Star is Born.”

02/10/2020

Meet our Digital Manager, Chels!
Fun fact: “In my free time I sing, paint and write a lot of poetry. One of my aspirations in the future is to publish my poetry.” 📜

02/10/2020

Meet our Art Director Camila!
Fun fact: Her favorite thing to do on her off time is go to concerts. Her top two are Thirty Seconds to Mars and One Direction. 🎶

02/10/2020

Meet one of our staff writers, Celina! 💕
Fun fact: “When I’m not writing articles I’m too busy obsessing over Netflix, books, Disney, and broadway musicals.”

01/10/2020

Meet staff writer Ysa! ✨
Fun fact: “I realized I wanted to be a journalist after watching, ‘13 Going on 30’ as a little girl. Now, I just want to shed light on individuals who aren’t fortunate enough to tell their own stories.”

01/10/2020

Meet one of our staff writers, Nico!
Fun fact: “Enjoys long walks on the beach.”

01/10/2020

Meet staff writer Keyun!
Fun fact: “I have a particular fascination with winter Alaska and pop music from the '80s and' 90s.”

30/09/2020

Meet staff writer Garrett!
Fun fact: He’s been to 5 different European countries. 🌍

30/09/2020

Meet one of our staff writers, Tania!
Fun fact: The 70s is her favorite era. ✨

30/09/2020

Meet staff writer Bailey!
Fun fact: “I recently started my own book review blog which focuses on showcasing the literary works of black writers.” 📖✏️

30/09/2020

Meet one of our staff writers, Jenna! 🎄
Fun fact: “Because if you can’t tell my favorite holiday is Christmas because just like journalism I love the gift of giving and showing people how much I care about them. Also just like my outfit, when I commit to something (such as a story) I will give it 110%. I love making people feel the way I do on Christmas morning with my story telling.”

29/09/2020

Meet staff writer Nathalia! 💕
Fun fact: She has a pet rat ✨

29/09/2020

Meet one of our staff writers, Lexi!
Fun fact: “I love the ocean and the beach. Being around that area helps ease my mind and makes me feel at peace.” 🌊✨

29/09/2020

It’s time to introduce our staff here at Centric! First up is one of our staff writers John.
Fun fact: “I have a podcast that you’d have to threaten me to tell people about.”

07/02/2020

Check out this awesome feature about Centric in Nicholson's latest newsletter!! 💖💖

Centric magazine is all about the students — created by students about students for students. The magazine is produced as a project of the JOU 4447 Magazine Editing & Production course, offered for students every fall since 2011 and led by professor Rick Brunson. Each issue beautifully spotlights ...

18/12/2019

Centric’s digital flip book edition of our fall issue is now available. We are so excited to share all of our amazing stories with you!

Centric is UCF's award-winning, student-produced campus magazine that spotlights interesting, inspiring, innovative people in the university community who are making an impact on their part of the world. It is produced by students enrolled in the JOU 4447 Magazine Editing & Production course in UCF'...