By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer
The National Center for Simulation (NCS) welcomed members back for its annual Membership Night on Jan. 15 in the Research Park area near the University of Central Florida campus.
Designed as a casual social gathering, the evening gave members an opportunity to reconnect after the holidays, strengthen relationships and celebrate their continued support of the organization while engaging with colleagues from across the simulation community.
George Cheros, president and chief executive officer of NCS, said the event was designed to recognize members’ contributions while fostering meaningful connections across the community.
“This event is about appreciation and connection,” Cheros said. “Our members are the foundation of what we do, and Membership Night gives us the chance to thank them while creating space for meaningful industry conversations.”
Before the evening’s event, UCF’s Institute for Simulation and Training (IST[LG1] ) welcomed visitors for an open house tour of its labs. The open house invited local business leaders to see examples of research and experience the immersive tools IST has developed.
With more than four decades of experience, UCF IST develops cutting-edge technologies that address complex challenges across defense, health care, energy and smart systems.
Carolina Cruz-Neira, executive director of the Pegasus Research Institute and interim executive director of UCF IST, highlighted the value of Membership Night and emphasized how it fosters connections.
“Events like this allow our community to see firsthand how research is shaping the future of simulation,” Cruz-Neira said. “We want to thank NCS for its continued partnership and for bringing together members to celebrate collaboration and innovation in our field.”
The evening’s program featured announcements about upcoming NCS events and initiatives, along with catered food and a raffle that allowed several attendees to walk away with gift cards and prizes.
Neal Finkelstein, Ph.D., chief operating officer of NCS, thanked attendees for joining the event, emphasizing how their involvement supports both the organization and the broader simulation community.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who came out tonight,” Finkelstein said. “Your engagement helps build connections and fosters the collaborations that drive innovation across modeling and simulation.”