The University of Central Florida student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) hosted the 2026 Student Leadership Summit (SLS) on the UCF main campus for the first time in the history of the student organization. Earlier this month, students had the chance to explore numerous career prospects and meet professionals in transportation engineering.
Students were met with the possibility of talking to experts of all career levels, both face-to-face and through panel discussions to learn valuable advice. The summit consisted of speaker sessions, panel discussions and a career fair. Panel discussions and speaker sessions involved several different topics related to transportation engineering alongside professional development for students in the industry. The career fair focused on helping students network with transportation companies for those interested in the field.
Because the networking event was exclusively planned by students, Heidi Focht, the co-chair of the summit, says UCF’s student chapter experienced what it means to work an event such as this one.
“Our team worked tirelessly during the months leading up to the event to ensure it ran smoothly for everyone,” Focht says. “Planning this event also made me realize the value of a dedicated team. It made me grateful to the rest of the planning team for their hard work.”
From venue reservations to catering orders to merchandise design and coordinating to acquire sponsors and more, the student chapter got a lot of experience communicating with vendors and interested parties. Many of the sponsors and speakers were recommendations from advisors in the ITE Florida-Puerto Rico District as well.
The student-led event has aimed to inspire future generations since its first summit at the University of Florida in 2018. Focht explained that the UCF student chapter has been attempting to expand and evolve over the years. Allowing young professionals this opportunity to bring new members close together could help promote ITE’s mission to UCF students.
“Since I joined the student chapter in 2022, we have doubled our membership, and we want to continue to grow,” Focht says. “Personally, I have previously attended the SLS events at UF and FAU and had an amazing time, so I wanted the opportunity to share this experience at UCF.”
- Written by Hannia Gonzalez