UCF Partnership Motivates Youth and Students

Boys Town of Central Florida youth recently received many exciting outings thanks to a partnership with the University of Central Florida (UCF), headed by Lauryn Migenes, UCF College of Business professor and Central Florida Board Member.  

Seven years ago, Migenes discovered a project that would bring real-life experience to her students and benefit Boys Town of Central Florida youth. Each year, Migenes’ business students are assigned a service learning project where they must raise money to put on an event for Central Florida youth. Not surprisingly, the students get just as much out of the project as Boys Town does.  

“This partnership between UCF and Boys Town of Central Florida benefits the student participants in many ways,” said Migenes. “The College of Business students are afforded a first- hand opportunity to become actively involved in their community and gain knowledge of how nonprofit organizations function. Students provide a valuable service to the organizations and their recipients, and practice teamwork, communication, leading change and creative thinking through the organization and participation of their service learning projects.” 

This semester, three teams held car washes, bake sales, bussed tables and reached out to businesses for non-monetary donations to give the youth fun outings.

Team Bizzie Beez raised more than $800 to take Central Florida youth on a bowling outing, the Active Athletes raised more than $1,000 to provide a field day and UCF basketball outing for the shelter and residential children, and Cornerstone Enterprises earned over $1,000 in monetary donations and more than $3,000 in non-monetary donations to take long-term residents and Family-Teachers on a day trip to Universal Studios Theme Park.

Of course, the youth enjoy just being with a group of college kids as well. “The youth learn by example from these college students,” said Terry Knox, Boys Town Central Florida Development Director. “They are positive role models and being around them encourages our youth to want to one day attend college.”