Frank Perry, Victim

His football coaches told Palm Beach media he was a “respectful” player — and the whole situation was hard to believe.

“I don’t know if he got himself mixed up in something out there, or if he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, Alfred Shipman told CBS 12. “I don’t understand why this happened to a kid of this caliber.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has not said what the motive was for this crime. We don’t know if it was drug-related, or if Perry was a random victim. KnightNews.com checked with both the Orange and Seminole County jails to see if he had ever been arrested for drugs or anything like that in the UCF area before. He wasn’t. However, he was arrested in Orange County for driving with a suspended license in November 2010.

Joshua Cox, Suspect

KnightNews.com will continue to try and find more information about what led to this fatal shooting near UCF — the second in recent memory.

Meanwhile, those who knew Perry continue to mourn.

“You know its very troubling, just the way this whole generation is going. It just didn’t seem like Frank would end up in that type of situation. He was always a good kid, he was always popular with the ladies, all the guys on the team loved him,” Shipman told CBS 12.

Keyser’s interaction with Idol judge Jennifer Lopez was one of the top stories on Yahoo News all morning long Friday.

Keyser, who is from Pompano Beach and works as a server at Carrabba’s Italian restaurant, has been enjoying support from the UCF community. He’s performed on YouTube before, as you can see in the Gavin DeGraw cover he posted, below, but Idol looks to be his biggest break yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udOK0yCDQUs

When KnightNews.com posted news of a UCF student on Idol last night, more than 100 students liked it on Facebook.

KnightNews.com will continue updating Knights on Keyser’s progress. We’re also working to find people who knew him at UCF. If you had class with him, were his roommate, or neighbor — or can help us find people like that — email us at news@knightnews.com.

UCF’s School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD), along with the Office of Continuing Education, is offering a course called Ways of Seeing: The American Southwest, an Interpretation of Place. The course will be taught by Philip Peters, an associate professor with SVAD.

The course, open to all upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, is being held to help engage students in learning and developing individual creative minds. “With the way the class is structured, we’re looking at kind of the development of the American Southwest,” said Peters.

During the Summer A semester, students will travel to Nevada and the Four Corners region of the United States: Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. While here, students will stay in different hotels and travel to certain destinations including national parks, universities and museums. Upon return, the group will present their artistic work at the City Arts Factory in Downtown Orlando.

The course syllabus states that a main objective for the course is that “students will be expected to produce work in whatever creative discipline they work in that is inspired from their encounters with the places and cultures visited.” Giving students opportunities to engage with their artistic interpretations of actual environments is something that Peters is passionate about. “I’m very interested in how the arts, particularly the visual arts, interact with place [and] environments,” Peters said.

Professor Bruce Janz, Chair of the UCF Department of Philosophy, has traveled on a few of Peters’ excursions and has noticed the difference in classroom learning verse experiential learning. “Being in the field and writing about these things is very different from being in the classroom, I think. And Phil is a master at bringing together his training and ideas that are in the university with actual places; actual experiences [and] history,” Janz said.

For Peters, his intent for students who take this course is that they will gather new viewpoints. “It’s important for me to get students out of the classroom and out of their comfort zones and get them into places. Particularly places they haven’t been.” He calls it going from an ordinary to an extraordinary.

During this course, students will travel to many well-known areas, such as the Grand Canyon, Maynard Dixon Studio and the Hoover Dam, where they will be able to create their own artistic responses to these places through photography, film and art.

John Nelson, who graduated from UCF in 2003, has also followed Peters a few times on the excursions. Nelson traveled to Utah a few times. He’s also gone to Bermuda, a camping trip to Mosquito Lagoon, and helped Peters in pre-production for his trip to India. To Nelson, these courses are unique. He notes that students are raised up in a theoretical and textbook-oriented type environment whereas Peters’ philosophy behind teaching in actual environments engages students in an entirely new way. “You’re stuck behind a monitor all day long. You’re not feeling the sand between your toes, the dirt in your food, the wind in your hair. So then it’s just kind of more of an experiential learning as opposed to textbooks,” Nelson said.

While this trip is meant to be exciting and engaging, Peters cautions students that this isn’t just a sight-seeing trip. “I really want them to interpret the place and look at it— I don’t want postcards, I want an interpretation of place,” Peters said. Throughout the course, students will have assigned readings and watch movie documentaries. “It’s a lot of work to do these trips—I think you don’t get anything unless you’re willing to put something into it. So, you know, the work is worth it,” Janz said.

Students will begin their course in Orlando, where Peters has invited a series of guest lecturers to discuss photography, landscape painting, anthropology and the environmental arts. Students will leave on May 13 and travel to Las Vegas where they will begin the traveling part of the course. The entire excursion will last about 14 days and students will present their work at the gallery on June 21.

The cost of the course is $2499. The price includes: lodging, transportation during their travels, national park and museum entrance fees, guest speaker fees, the gallery show cost, as well as five group meals. Students will have to pay for their transportation to and from Las Vegas, as well as individual meals and other personal activity expenses.

Janz recommends students prepare in advance for this trip. He encourages students to know their equipment and to “have their chops down” before they go. “The students best prepared to deal with this are students who come in with their eyes open and their bility to bring all of their training to bear,” Janz said.

Students interested in this course can contact Phil Peters directly at Philip.peters@ucf.edu or

407-832-0091. Space is limited and a holding deposit is due by Feb. 15.

By: Lily Maxwell

Keyser mentioned that he attends UCF on national TV, getting some publicity for Knight Nation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H3E4JnXLQc

KnightNews.com will continue following this UCF Knight’s progress on American Idol.

Like Us For UCF News Updates on Facebook:

As you can see from the video someone posted on YouTube, judges were impressed. Make sure to like KnightNews.com on Facebook to follow his progress!

Joshua Cox, 23, has been arrested and charged with first degree murder with a firearm, robbery with a firearm and use of a firearm in committing a felony according the the booking report.

Frank Perry,21, was found dead due to a gunshot wound at the Arbour Apartment complex near UCF. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the shooting was drug related.

Cox is being held at the Orange County Jail on Thursday without bail.

Here is a link for more info on the story: http://knightnews.com/2012/01/dead-body-with-gunshot-wound-found-in-ucf-area-apartment-parking-lot/

Palm Beach billionaire John Goodman, who stands accused of driving drunk, plowing into UCF grad Scott Patrick Wilson, then leaving him to die, has reportedly pulled a legal move an adoption attorney told WPEC is “both awful and brilliant.” That attorney suggested it was done in order to shield his assets from a Wilson family lawsuit.

A Polo club founder, Goodman, 48, has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend, Heather Laruso Hutchins, according to reports. They’ve been dating since 2009.

According to The Palm Beach Post, Wilson’s family attorney shares a similar analysis as the adoption attorney. The paper is reporting the plaintiff’s attorney says Goodman is “attempting to shield assets from a civil suit” filed by Wilson’s parents.

“By way of this adoption, John Goodman now effectively owns one third of the trust assets,” the Wilson attorney told the Palm Beach Post. “It cannot go unrecognized that he chose to adopt his 42-year-old adult girlfriend as opposed to a needy child.”

Goodman’s attorney disagrees with the analysis of the other two attorneys. Goodman’s lawyer denies the move is an attempt to shield assets in response to the lawsuit. Instead, according to a statement, it is all being done to protect and grow the assets of the Trust for his two minor children.

“Nothing in this arrangement with Ms. Hutchins is illegal,” read a statement from Goodman’s lawyer. “Everything that has been done by Mr. Goodman was done with the intention to preserve and grow the assets of the Trust for his two minor children, even should he personally be unable to continue his historical role in achieving these goals.”

“The adoption of Ms. Hutchins will have no effect on the civil proceedings as none of the assets of his children’s Trust belong to Mr. Goodman. All of the assets of the Trust have been disclosed to all parties in the current civil proceedings, so any allegation of hiding or secreting of assets is totally false.”

Read the full Goodman attorney statement here.

According to ABC news, West Palm Beach Judge Glenn Kelley described the moves as something that “border on the surreal and take the Court into a legal twilight zone.”

“The Defendant has effectively diverted a significant portion of the assets of the children’s trust to a person with whom he is intimately involved at a time when his personal assets are largely at risk in this case,” the judge wrote.

Again, Goodman’s attorney disagrees with the context in which ABC has characterized the judge’s quote. He provided KnightNews.com with the following excerpts from the judge’s Jan. 26 ruling:

· From Page 1 – “The Court has previously held that the assets owned by the children’s trust may not be considered a part of the net worth, or the financial resources, of Mr. Goodman for purposes of assessing punitive damages.”

· From Page 6 – “Heather Hutchins’ interest in the children’s trust maybe considered in connection with assessing Defendant John Goodman’s financial resources.”

KnightNews.com has been following the story since Wilson died in February 2010, driving home from Orlando to visit the Palm Beach area for his little sister’s birthday. It has sparked outrage among UCF students.

Goodman’s civil trial will reportedly start March 27. Meanwhile, his criminal trial is set to start March 6, where he’ll answer for charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash. He could face 30 years in prison if convicted, according to ABC news.

KnightNews.com will follow the trials and let you know what happens.

First things first, decide on a budget. Figure out how much you intend to spend
and stick to it. We would all love to splurge and buy our valentine a pricey gift but bear
in mind, a gift is rarely valued as much as an experience.

Everyone loves to be ‘wined and dined’ especially on a day dedicated to love.
Instead of spending a fortune at a restaurant, cook a memorable dinner. Buy gourmet
ingredients you wouldn’t normally cook with. Every restaurant on Valentines Day
is packed, loud and the service is usually awful. Skip it and treat your valentine to a
romantic night in. If a certain restaurant has special meaning or significance see if they
have a carry out menu so you can still enjoy the night away from the madness.

If you ‘forgot’ how to cook, don’t worry. Check out the prepared foods section at
Publix near the meat department. Here you can find steak pinwheels with fresh spinach
and mozzarella, bacon wrapped chicken cordon bleu, marinated steak kabobs and so
much more. All of the Publix pre-made items come with instructions so if you burn it
make sure you have Papa Johns on speed dial and order a heart shaped pizza.

Ignore the typical box of chocolates calling your name. In an article titled “From
fancy salt to gourmet trucks, an appetizing look at 2012,” USA Today named artisan
chocolate one of the top food trends for 2012. Look for smaller bars that feature unique
flavors and have a higher percentage of cocoa. One bar may cost the same as a common
supersized bag, but your valentine will not complain about its size when he or she tries it.

Sweet! By Good Golly Miss Holly, a bakery with specialty cupcakes located
in Waterford Lakes Town Center, is offering a special Valentines Day collection
of cupcakes. Each cupcake is embellished with a handmade custom chocolate to
compliment each flavor of the collection. The Valentines Day collection is offered at $18
for one dozen mini cupcakes.

Try and explore other areas around Orlando. Harry P. Leu Gardens will be
hosting a Valentine’s Movie Night featuring “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Admission is only $5
per person and you can bring your own picnic basket and blankets. The Garden will open
at 6 p.m. and the movie will start at 7:30 p.m. During the day admission is $7 and you
can explore 50-acre oasis in the middle of Orlando. Go to www.leugardens.org for more
information.

Park Avenue in Winter Park features one of the most enjoyable walks in Orlando.
Stroll the brick, tree-lined street surrounded by shops and restaurants. Most of the
restaurants will be at capacity but there’s always Starbucks and a vintage candy store.

Make sure to check out the rose garden next to the six-acre park, a frequent wedding
ceremony location due to its charm.

If you’re too busy applauding the fact that you don’t have to worry about anything
above, you should plan a night out. Regardless of relationship status, it’s still a holiday.
You can sit around, watch Christian Slater movies, play video games and pretend you
don’t know what day it is or you can enjoy yourself. Get a group together, split a cab, and
go downtown where you’ll find other people doing the exact same thing.

Remember to buy a card, or make one yourself. Flowers die, chocolate will
mysteriously disappear but a card will always be there to remind your valentine how
much you care. Don’t let you friends feel forgotten, there’s nothing wrong with buying
juvenile valentines for your friends. If all else fails think thoughtfully, speak kindly and
enjoy the people around you.

By: Sophie Grace

Following one of the best recruiting classes in school history last year, UCF football signed 19 players for the 2012 season, with 13 players hailing from the state of Florida.

With the Knights set to join the Big East in 2013, this year’s recruiting class filled a lot of needs with the addition of formidable size, speed and depth. While the names aren’t as high profile as last year, the Knights filled plenty of holes on the roster and prepared themselves for entering a BCS conference.

“We fulfilled our needs. We signed 19. It was an offensive class to start; we brought in lineman, quarterbacks and receivers. I think we brought in a lot of talented players. Defensively, we helped ourselves where we needed to help ourselves,” UCF head coach George O’Leary said.

Headlining the 2012 class was wide receivers Drico Johnson and Dareen Owi, and lineman Chester Brown.

Johnson is a 6’2″, 200-pound hometown receiver who was rated No. 87 nationally at the position by Rivals.com. The Agape Christian Academy product earned Class 2A Second-Team All-State honors last season after leading the Central Florida-area in receiving with 1,052 yards.

Johnson will provide solid height in the receiving corps after the Knights had to rely primarily on smaller receivers last season with Josh Reese (6’0″) and Quincy McDuffie (5’10″) being undersized.

Owi was highly recruited from Miami Norland High School and also brings in much-needed size to the receiving corps at 6’3″. He received interest from big-name schools, such as West Virginia, Wisconsin and Cincinnati after helping Miami Norland win the 2011 Class 5A State Championship. Owi could end up being the star of UCF’s 2012 class.

Brown is currently listed as both on offensive and defense lineman at 6’5″ and 340 pounds. The Samoa-native is ranked 48th nationally at his position by Scout.com and comes in with high praise from Coach O’Leary, who said the lineman told him he can bench press 445-pounds five times.

“I think hes a lineman…He has all the tools. He’s a big person and a great kid. When you watch him on film, he has great food speed, moves really well for a big guy. I could see him playing either side,” O’Leary said.

After losing out on the highly-touted Jonathan Wallace to Auburn after he originally verbally committed to UCF, the Knights still landed two quarterback prospects in Tyler Gabbert and Troy Green.

Gabbert, the brother of Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert, could immediately compete for the starting QB spot with incumbent starter Blake Bortles. The redshirt sophomore sat out last year after spending his freshman campaign at Missouri.

Green is a 6’1″ QB from New York, who was regarded as a top quarterback in the state. He garnered interest from Syracuse and Connecticut after throwing 34 touchdowns his senior season.

With the departure of Jeff Godfrey, the Knights will have an open spot under center that will see a lot of competition as the team enters Spring ball. Although Godfrey, who led the Knights to the 2010 Conference-USA Championship as a freshman, had a somewhat ugly ending with the team, O’Leary didn’t think that affected the program’s Miami-based recruiting.

“Miami Herald said we signed the best receiver out of Miami (Dareen Owi). I think a lot of that stuff with Jeff Godfrey was of his own doing,” O’Leary said. “I don’t think that was the feeling I got when I was running around Miami, talking to the coaches down there in high school.”

Other notable recruits are tight ends Cal Bloom and Blake Davis, as well as WR Taylor Oldham, cornerback Jacoby Glenn, and OT Colby Watson.

Bloom is a 6’5″ TE from Minnesota and a three-sport athlete. Davis is a 6’4″ TE from South Florida, who received interest from Georgia, Maryland, Miami, NC State and Boston College.

Oldham, a 6’1″, 195-pound receiver from Daytona Beach, was listed at No. 17 on Orlando Sentinel’s 2012 Central Florida Super60. He is a versatile player who Coach O’Leary compared to sophomore-to-be wide receiver J.J. Worton. Worton had a stellar redshirt freshman campaign, posting a team-high 531 yards and four touchdowns and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team.

Glenn is a big-play defender who was rated the No. 34 overall prospect on Rivals.com Alabama Postseason Top 40 list and has a chance of replacing star cornerback Josh Robinson, who opted to enter the NFL draft.

Watson is a 6’5″, 310-pound offensive tackle who was noted as one of the most dominating prospects in Northern Florida. ESPN.com rates him as the No. 16 guard in the nation and No. 46 overall prospect in the Sunshine State.

Overall, UCF had a successful Signing Day with the depth and size they added to the roster. The Knights didn’t have one player who was under six-feet tall, and added three top lineman, who were all over 300 pounds.

“We wanted to get some range. We brought in more size at wide receiver, which I thought was needed. We brought in more range at the defensive back. The offensive line average was probably 6’5″ or 6’6″,” O’Leary said. “I thought we did a good job of securing the talent that we were looking for as far as from a height, speed and weight standpoint.”

The Knights will begin the 2012 season on Aug. 30 with a matchup against Akron at Bright House Networks Stadium.

AJ Allmendinger driving the Michael Shank Racing No. 60 Daytona Prototype car past the checkered flag winning the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway on January 29, 2012 (Kurt Rivers/KnightNews.com)

Drivers of the No. 60 Daytona Prototype Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley celebrate in Victory Lane after winning the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway on January 29, 2012 (Kurt Rivers/KnightNews.com)

The No. 60 Daytona Prototype Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley leads the pack during the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway on January 29, 2012 (Kurt Rivers/KnightNews.com)

The Porsche GT3 took the top three spots in the GT class with the No. 44 Magnus Porsche 911 GT3 taking the win ahead of the No. 67 TRG Porsche 911 GT3 by 17 seconds with the No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche 911 GT3 taking third place.

GT class winner No. 44 Magnus Porsche 911 GT3 during the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway on January 28, 2012 (Kurt Rivers/KnightNews.com)

Drivers of the No. 44 Magnus Porsche 911 GT3 after winning the GT class in the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway on January 28, 2012 (Kurt Rivers/KnightNews.com)

Australian guitarist Orianthi performing at the Sprint FANZONE during the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway on January 28, 2012 (Kurt Rivers/KnightNews.com)