Student Spotlight: Five FTC @ UCF Students Attending the 2023 Summit

Student Spotlight: Five FTC @ UCF Students Attending the 2023 Summit

By John Clement

Secretary, STC Florida Chapter

Hello,

The Future Technical Communicators club at UCF is proud to be returning to the STC Technical Communication Summit this year! After some years, last year was the club’s first foray back into attending the conference, and now it is returning with a brand new group which includes five first-time student attendees: Chantal Cyrier, Dominick Chiovari, Cassandra Ortega, Jasmine Boyens, and Delaney Gunnel. They will be representing both FTC @ UCF and the STC Florida Chapter as they attend, and they will be joined by a handful of other STC Florida members while there as well.

Read more about each of our club’s student attendees below!


Chantal Cyrier

What has your tech comm journey looked like so far?

My tech comm experience so far has been fantastic. Tech comm gives me the opportunity to blend several of my interests and talents together. Through my coursework and involvement with FTC and STC, I have learned so much and met many fantastic people. Although this is my first year in FTC and STC, both organizations have already provided me with so many opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

What are you looking forward to about the STC Summit?

As I’m still new in my tech comm journey, I look forward to my first STC Summit to continue my exploration into the industry. I am interested in learning about new areas of tech comm, documentation techniques, and software skills. I also look forward to the opportunity to network and make new connections with STC members.

Dominick Chiovari

What has your tech comm journey looked like so far?

My relatively new breach into technical communication has been fun and productive on an unprecedented level, meeting lots of great new people and learning skills that prepare me for my career. I have enjoyed the courses in the major so far. This is my last semester as an undergraduate, and I will likely go on to tackle a master’s degree in tech comm as well. FTC has been a wonderful experience, and the people in it have helped build my confidence in the field. Because technical communication is so diverse, it gives me a wide set of practical tools to pursue my passions. Though I’m not sure what my particular direction is yet, I would like to write either in the computer industry or for a publisher like Smithsonian.

What are you looking forward to about the STC Summit?

After looking at all the events in the schedule, I’m looking forward to learning a ton of new skills from professionals including modes of communication, improvements in communication styles and other technical communication, and technical illustration. Also, I would like to learn more about XML since they offer that as a session. Lastly, I look forward to networking with people at all levels of the industry.

Cassandra Ortega

What has your tech comm journey looked like so far?

My technical communication journey started while taking courses for my major, Digital Media. I was worried about not being prepared for writing in the workplace. That’s when I discovered tech comm existed, and I added it as a minor to help prepare me. While taking technical communication courses, I became introduced to FTC which I joined to further continue learning about tech comm. My goal is to combine the skills I have learned in both my major and minor to help provide clarity to the tools/documents I work on in the future.

What are you looking forward to about the STC Summit?

I am looking forward to continuing expanding my knowledge in the Technical Communication field. This will be my first time attending the Summit and I hope to gather a better understanding of what is going to be expected in the industry.

Jasmine Boyens

What has your tech comm journey looked like so far?

So far, my tech comm journey has been mostly through classes so I especially look forward to networking and potential real world experience. FTC has made me feel welcomed to tech comm and motivated for a future in the career.

What are you looking forward to about the STC Summit?

I am looking forward to learning more about tech comm, especially in such a welcoming and informative space. I am excited to build new skills and communicate with new people. I graduate soon and hope to gain as much knowledge as possible before this big transition in my life.

Delaney Gunnell

What has your tech comm journey looked like so far?

I have not officially taken any tech comm classes, but I’m looking to minor in the field and am adding some to my fall schedule! Most of my interaction with the industry is through FTC and I am grateful to have this opportunity to get hands-on learning opportunities before I had committed to a minor.

What are you looking forward to about the STC Summit?

This Summit will be my first professional interaction with the field of technical communication. I’m looking forward to doing my part to help out and volunteer, as well as all of the wonderful workshops. I’m particularly interested in all of the information on digital media and science communication.


Our attendees are excited to travel to Atlanta, GA in just a few weeks and find the many unique learning and networking experiences waiting for them. Each student will be volunteering during the conference as well for both the involvement opportunities and to offset their registration costs. If you would like to directly support our students’ trip, please visit our online GoFundMe fundraiser. Donations will go towards the trip costs, and any costs beyond our goal will support future club events and potentially future Summit trips down the line. Shares are just as appreciated.

FTC GoFundMe link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/summit2023

Thank you for reading, and we can’t wait to report back from Atlanta!

All the best,

John Clement

Future Technical Communicators club at UCF

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ucf.ftc

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