We are America鈥檚 Space 海角直播. And we celebrate UCF Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what鈥檚 next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

Anniversaries remind us of everything we鈥檝e achieved, and of everything still possible. They tell us that to step forward, sometimes we must look back.

On the 10th anniversary of the Space Game, this year鈥檚 draw upon NASA鈥檚 beginnings and honor the courage it took to stand on the precipice of our greatest frontier.

The design was heavily influenced by the astronauts of NASA鈥檚 earliest human spaceflight missions Mercury, Gemini and Apollo during the 1960s when the university was founded.

John Young, an Orlando native, is the only astronaut to have flown during the Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programs. He received an honorary degree as the featured guest speaker at the university鈥檚 first commencement ceremony in 1970, two years before he became the ninth person to walk on the moon.

Learn more details about the Mission X Space Game uniforms at .

The Space Game is now one of the signature events of a larger Space Week held at the university.

UCF Space Week

Oct. 25 marks the start of the second UCF Space Week, a university-wide celebration of all the ways Knight Nation boldly pushes space forward. The observance highlights UCF鈥檚 vital role in advancing space research, supporting Florida鈥檚 fast-growing space economy, and preparing the next generation of explorers, engineers and entrepreneurs.

This year’s space week features summits in partnership with the National Space Society and The Economist, a space-themed drone show, the inaugural UCF Innovate Day and more.

2026 Space Game Matchup

The football team will face Baylor in the 10^th anniversary of the annual Space Game on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Tickets are available for purchase at .

UCF students can attend the game for free. A complete guide to student ticket information can be found at .

A double-barreled T-shirt launcher that can fire shirts higher than the 60-foot walls of Acrisure Bounce House.

A decked-out golf cart, rescued from its fate at the salvage yard and repurposed instead into Knightro鈥檚 preferred mode of transportation.

A 3D-printed, robotic Citronaut piloting a spaceship that blasts AC/DC鈥檚 Thunderstruck through surround-sound speakers.

And set to make its debut later this year, a powerful projection spotlight designed to summon Knightro onto the field 鈥� his own version of Batman鈥檚 iconic bat signal.

As the students explain the ins-and-outs of these custom innovations 鈥� all built in university labs with tools, technology and machines at their disposal 鈥� facility manager Pete Alfieris stands off to the side with a dash of pride on his face.

鈥淩emember what Pete stands for,鈥� the longtime UCF staff member calls out. 鈥�Preparing engineers through e诲耻肠补迟颈辞苍.鈥�

They collectively groan, but in a tone that clearly shows they cherish this man and his dad jokes.

鈥淚f you graduate from [UCF鈥檚] engineering college without meeting Pete, you didn鈥檛 really go to the engineering college,鈥� says Caden Peters 鈥�26, a computer engineering alum who co-created the Knight signal. 鈥淗e really shows that anyone can make an impact. You don鈥檛 have to be a professor. You don鈥檛 have to be an advisor. He鈥檚 the facilities manager of the engineering building. And he still has such a strong impact on the college and inspires so many students. There鈥檚 really no one like him.鈥�

Alfieris oversees daily operations, lab safety and security for UCF鈥檚 College of Engineering and Computer Science buildings since he took the role in 2008. Nowhere in his job responsibilities does it list mentoring and collaborating with students.

Yet for the past five years, since the football season ticket holder was first inspired to introduce a T-shirt launcher at UCF football games, Alfieris has been the driving force behind the growing partnership between the college and UCF Athletics, pitching his ideas to elevate the game-day experience for fans.

The partnership reflects what UCF does best: connecting classroom learning with real-world experience. As SpaceU, UCF Athletics provides a fitting stage for students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science 鈥� the nation’s No. 1 supplier of talent to the aerospace and defense industries, according to Aviation Week Network 鈥� to apply their academics and flex their skills.

鈥淔or years I have seen the potential in these students,鈥� Alfieris says. 鈥淎 lot of them go on to work at SpaceX, NASA, Blue Origin, L3 Harris, Northrop Grumman. They鈥檙e so smart and talented.鈥�

The students are always on board to oblige in bringing his visions to life because he believes in them; sometimes more than anyone.

鈥淭here are only a few people here that I would say even scratch the surface compared to Pete when it comes to their belief in students,鈥� says recent mechanical engineering grad Ayden Jordan 鈥�26, who also created Knightro鈥檚 signal. 鈥淧ete believed in us from day one.鈥�

Peters interjects: 鈥淒ay zero.鈥�

That belief and hard work have led to some of the most engaging moments in UCF football鈥檚 game day experience today.

The Idea That Started it All: A T-Shirt Launcher

Austin Harkins 鈥�24 鈥�26MS had listened through two weeks of senior design project ideas, waiting for one worth claiming. The year-long group projects require engineering students to design, build and present a functional prototype before graduation.

Then his professor said two words: T-shirt launcher.

鈥淵ou could just see everyone鈥檚 ears kind of perk up around the room,鈥� says Harkins on a call from Texas, where he鈥檚 currently working as a mechanical design engineer for L3 Harris. 鈥淚 grew up in Oviedo, Florida. My parents went to UCF. I couldn鈥檛 tell you how many UCF football games I鈥檝e been to. I thought, 鈥榊eah, I鈥檓 doing this.鈥� 鈥�

Harkins led one of the teams to score the project. Mechanical engineering graduate student Luciana Carreras 鈥�25 led another.

Over the next several months, both teams designed launchers capable of firing dozens of shirts into the stands during the brief 30-second window they鈥檇 have on the field between plays.

When the prototypes were ready, Carreras and Harkins brought them to the football stadium in the summer for a test run in front of UCF Athletics鈥� game day operations staff.

鈥淚 think [UCF Athletics] had some hesitations, which I understand because they didn鈥檛 know who we were,鈥� Alfieris says. 鈥淲e were launching [T-shirts] all over the field 鈥� one even went out of the stadium 鈥� and [UCF Athletics staff] all looked at me and said, 鈥極h, we鈥檙e definitely doing this.鈥� 鈥�

While the athletic department staff has worked hard to build and protect traditions that span generations of Knights fans, they always embrace trying new things.

鈥淚 think some of UCF鈥檚 best qualities have always been a spirit of collaboration and an attitude of, 鈥榳hat if we try鈥�?鈥� Pete and the engineering students embody that completely,鈥� says Alex Cesarano, associate athletics director for brand experience. 鈥淲hat they鈥檝e delivered over the last few years is a testament to what鈥檚 possible when we have a strong partnership between the university and athletic department. We are immensely grateful for all they鈥檝e added, and continue to add, in service of our fans and student-athletes鈥� experiences.鈥�

Beyond practicality, the teams took design aesthetic into account.

Harkins鈥� launcher resembles a rocket, a nod to UCF鈥檚 SpaceU identity. Carreras鈥� team chose a double-barreled design that maximizes the number of shirts they could launch before leaving the field.

鈥淚 never went to a football game until I had to launch this thing,鈥� Carreras says. 鈥淏ut seeing it out there on game day and seeing the excitement from everyone, it鈥檚 great to leave something behind, especially when it鈥檚 a place that you鈥檝e gotten education from, and you鈥檝e found your friends and a life around the campus.鈥�

Knightro鈥檚 Wheels

Once word spread that Alfieris and the engineering students were behind the T-shirt launchers, the UCF spirit team wanted in.

Knightro head coach Michael Callahan 鈥�05 鈥�09MBA 鈥�17EdD, who also serves as director of knowledge management for UCF鈥檚 College of Medicine, invited Alfieris to tour the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village and discuss future collaborations.

As they drove around in a standard golf cart with Knightro on board, Alfieris couldn鈥檛 help but notice the mascot clinging to the seat.

鈥淜nightro was holding on for dear life, and I looked at Michael and said, 鈥楬ow come Knightro doesn鈥檛 have his own cart?鈥� 鈥� Alfieris says. 鈥淗e looked at me and said, 鈥楪ood question.鈥� 鈥�

Without a dedicated budget or funding, Alfieris has gotten good at being resourceful. He scoured the university鈥檚 surplus property system database, which offers discounted equipment and items in need of repair. One person鈥檚 trash is another鈥檚 treasure.

He found a cart in serious need of electrical work to run again. He turned to the looking for some talent.

Josh Alper, then a first-year mechanical engineering student, answered without knowing a single detail about what he was showing up for.

Alper, who is primarily self-taught, rewired the cart鈥檚 electrical system and fixed the battery charger. He installed LED lighting, four surround-sound speakers and a custom 鈥淏ounce Button鈥� horn to the tune of Zombie Nation鈥檚 Kernkraft 400. He even rigged a 鈥淜nightro phone鈥� that pauses the music for Team Knightro to interact with fans while tailgating. When the phone is placed back on the receiver, the music immediately resumes at maximum vibe levels.

鈥淚 was a new student who basically knew nothing about the school, and in my first few weeks, Pete was touring me around and introducing me to lab managers and faculty,鈥� Alper says. 鈥淚 was able to use 3D printers and tools in the . I鈥檝e gone to football games and shot the T-shirt cannon, which was a really cool experience for my first football season. Working with Pete has opened so many doors.鈥�

Here Comes Citronaut

Alfieris鈥� next big idea was a robot. Mechanical engineering student Andrew Anderson thought Citronaut seemed like a logical choice.

Anderson, who has completed professional internships with Pegasus Partner Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort refurbishing high-profile rides, spent a year creating what the team affectionately refers to as 鈥淐itronaut鈥檚 Thunderstruck鈥� 鈥� a 3D-printed Citronaut piloting a spaceship that rolls through campus blasting AC/DC鈥檚 hit song.

The project began as an oversized foam cube measuring roughly 5 feet on each side.

鈥淔iguring out how to safely cut the foam and see it take that saucer shape, it felt like I was working at Disney,鈥� says Anderson, who has dreamed of developing theme park rides since he was 9 years old.

The team equipped the spaceship with tilting and movement capabilities and an accelerometer to give it a sense of flight.

Meanwhile, computer science major Melanie Allen became Alfieris鈥� go-to team member for precision work. She designed, laser cut and 3D-printed the Citronaut figure to fit snuggly in his spaceship.

鈥淚鈥檝e taken advantage of our machine shop, our 3D printers, laser cutters [and] the 5-axis CNC machine to make aluminum parts. I didn鈥檛 think I would ever be good at painting, and now I know how to paint. So I think a lot of these experiences have given me skills that really make me stand out,鈥� Allen says.

Citronaut鈥檚 Thunderstruck debuted at the 2025 Mission IX Space Game as part of the pregame march to the stadium and was an immediate hit.

鈥淎 lot of kids were really excited when they saw it, and fans wanted to take pictures with it. It was fun to be part of the march and know that I helped create something that looks cool and something that people want to interact with,鈥� Allen says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel like I was just another student commuting and taking classes. I felt like I was making a difference and actually contributing to the university.鈥�

Coming Soon: Knightro鈥檚 Own 鈥楤at鈥� Signal

One of Alfieris鈥� most theatrical, ambitious ideas yet is expected to debut this year thanks to Peters, Jordan and the other three engineers of their senior design project team.

Similar to Batman鈥檚 鈥渂at signal,鈥� the team designed a custom cylinder-shaped light projector capable of summoning Knightro into action to amp the crowd.

鈥淲e faced a lot of questions and doubt when we pitched this for senior design. Could the physics actually work out? Will [the light] actually project at that far of a distance?鈥� Jordan says. 鈥淲hen you have a good team, anything is possible. And we believed we could make the impossible happen.鈥�

The biggest hurdle came early.

The specialized lights required for the design cost $700, leaving Jordan unsure if the project would ever get off the ground.

A week later, his team got an email that the lights were in, purchased by the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from the budget dedicated to supporting senior design projects.

鈥淧ete worked his magic,鈥� Peters says.

Engineering this from a concept drawing into an actual functioning contraption was no small feat.

The high-powered lights generated enough heat to require radiators and a water-cooling loop. The team also developed an innovative method to display the projected image by using a laser cutter to burn away the coating on mirror slides. And ensuring safety throughout their design, down to the emergency stop button, was paramount.

When their first successful test happened at 3 a.m. on the side of Engineering II, the first person they told was Alfieris.

鈥淚 remember walking up my apartment stairs that night thinking, I want this feeling for the rest of my life,鈥� Peters says.

Funds and hours in a day are the only things holding back Alfieris and the students at this point. They have a few more ideas and projects in the works that they鈥檙e eager to share with Knight Nation when they鈥檙e ready.

Alfieris says he鈥檚 grateful to his supervisor, College of Engineering and Computer Science Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and NCAA faculty representative Manoj Chopra, for allowing him to engage with the students in these ventures. It鈥檚 been one of the greatest gifts of his career.

鈥淎ll [the] stuff that I wanted to do is coming to life, and it鈥檚 so much fun,鈥� Alfieris says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have any kids, so they鈥檙e like my kids. I get that proud parent moment when they come to me and say, 鈥楾hank you.鈥� And I’m like, 鈥榃hat are you thanking me for?鈥� And they say, 鈥榊ou helped me. You were just always there.鈥� And it just makes me feel really good. It really does.鈥�

There鈥檚 a moment during every game day at Acrisure Bounce House that David Hansen pauses for a little perspective.

For the last two decades since he helped open the gates and usher in the sell-out crowd for the stadium鈥檚 opening day in 2007, he has climbed to the highest row in a corner next to the student section to take in the view of the 40,000-plus in front of him.

鈥淚 wanted to see the big picture,鈥� says Hansen, who served several roles key for UCF Athletics from 2006-24 and now is the director of the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village and general manager of Knights Plaza Retail and Entertainment District. 鈥淕ame day brings people together. I鈥檝e heard so many stories of alums that live 10 minutes from each other, but their lives are busy 鈥� kids are going to school, they鈥檙e going to work, they鈥檙e traveling and never get to see each other than game day.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the one time that we put everything else aside. That鈥檚 the great thing about sport and why the stadium and our athletics village have been so instrumental to our culture and rise as a university.鈥�

Hansen joined UCF in 2006 as senior associate athletics director for internal operations and was responsible for executing the stadium operational plan to bring game day to life on campus for the first time.

As the Bounce House celebrates its 20th season, Hansen reflects on the impact it has had on Knight Nation and the community at large.

Sprint to the Start

On Sept. 15, 2007, the stadium welcomed 45,622 through its gates for the kickoff against 海角直播 of Texas. Hansen, who had been in constant motion since before sunrise, rushed to the field just in time for the national anthem and flyover.

He recalls seeing longtime athletics administrator Art Zeleznik with tears streaming down his face.

鈥淚 know everyone felt that way in the stadium at that moment. This university had been wanting this day for years, and we were all hit with the realization that it was finally really happening,鈥� Hansen says. 鈥淲e’re about ready to kick off game No. 1. That was special.鈥�

Beyond constructing the stadium, the operational blueprint was just as crucial to make game day on campus a reality. From parking logistics to implementing a credentialing system to managing traffic flow to public safety and everything in between, UCF personnel were navigating uncharted territory.

鈥淲e had a really good, young stadium operations support staff, but we had never hosted a major college football game before,鈥� Hansen says. 鈥淎 lot of places get a several year runway for this. We had barely a year to put it together.鈥�

After the game, Hansen put together a five-page list of items that would need to get addressed or corrected before game two.

鈥淚 never had a list that long again,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was impossible to fully rehearse ahead of the opener, and there were several unknowns. But we knew it was going to be that way. We just had to work together and do our best. We鈥檝e learned a lot in the last 20 years of executing game days at the scale and magnitude of the Bounce House, and it has been a truly collaborative effort between athletics, the university and community partners to build Orlando into a Power 4 town.鈥�

An Interactive Stadium

The legend of the 鈥淏ounce House鈥� was born as the seconds ticked off the scoreboard clock in the lead up to kick off while fans bopped to Zombie Nation鈥檚 Kernkraft 400.

Hansen felt Roth Tower moving. He saw people having fun with it. He also saw questions in their eyes.

鈥淚 made some engineering friends real quick who said, 鈥楾his is normal. This is really more of a bridge than a building structurally, so it’s designed to move like this.鈥� That made me feel better,鈥� he says.

The stadium has evolved through the years, but it continues to be the Bounce House 鈥� so much so that is has now become a part of the stadium鈥檚 official name.

鈥淚 call it an interactive stadium. Fans can actually get it to move and most stadiums you can鈥檛 do that,鈥� he says. 鈥淗aving the home field advantage played a big part in the team earning multiple conference championships, a series of elite bowl games and ultimately inclusion in one of college football鈥檚 premier leagues. Our fanbase has grown into one of the most passionate and disruptive in the country. And the on-campus stadium was a big facilitator of that.鈥�

Athletics Village Is Born

Most places would consider opening one stadium enough of an undertaking. Most places are not UCF.

In the same week the football stadium opened, the 10,000-seat basketball and event facility, Addition Financial Arena, living spaces for 2,000 students and the surrounding Knights Plaza with 80,000 square feet of retail space opened their doors, too.

鈥淭he Athletics Village has become a true entertainment and retail district and a great destination and asset for the university,鈥� Hansen says. 鈥淭oday, a lot of universities are building those for the first time. We launched ours 20 years ago.鈥�

Now that the Roth Tower project is complete thanks in large part to Orange County鈥檚 $90 million investment, Hansen鈥檚 top priority is revamping the Knights Plaza district.

鈥淲e are working to noticeably enhance that area and make it more of a destination, not just for game day, but for every day,鈥� Hansen says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got some special plans for that.鈥�

The Vision

When the stadium opened, UCF was in its infancy of Conference USA, but the university and athletics department envisioned one day reaching the top echelon of collegiate athletics. So the stadium and Athletics Village were strategically planned to evolve as UCF did.

Over the years, we鈥檝e seen transformations to match our rise to the Big 12 with the addition of the Carl Black and Gold Cabana, field cabanas, the Stadium Club, west stadium loge seating, the new Nicholson Plaza and more.

鈥淎 lot of stadiums around the country can鈥檛 do those things because they are older concrete structures that just can’t change without massive cost or overhauls,鈥� Hansen says. 鈥淗ere we can. We just proved it again with the new Roth Tower.鈥�

Game Day and Career Ready

Over the last 20 years, the Athletics Village has built community and provided student-athletes with opportunities to showcase their talent while representing UCF worldwide. The village has also served as an extension of UCF鈥檚 mission to equip students with the knowledge, skills and aptitudes that align with the workforce of the future, offering paid opportunities to gain industry experience.

Ryan Gustafson 鈥�25 is just one of many success stories. He was a freshman majoring in biology who needed extra cash when he applied to a part-time job for the athletics facilities, events and operations team. The decision radically shaped his future.

He found purpose and switched his major to event management. In addition to learning from a , he gained practical experience in producing UCF Knights鈥� events and coordinating with some of the biggest brands in athletics.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a culture here that people want to stay and do their part to make it the best.鈥� 鈥� Ryan Gustafson 鈥�25

He has supported the Roth Tower project since it broke ground. He has worked hand in hand with the United States Tennis Association at its national campus in Lake Nona where UCF鈥檚 尘别苍鈥檚 and wo尘别苍鈥檚 tennis teams compete. When FIFA needed training sites in Orlando for its 2025 Club World Cup, Gustafson was one of the go-to personnel on hand to support the elite international soccer clubs using our facilities.

By the time he graduated in December 2025, he had made the most of the opportunities he experienced as a student and earned himself a full-time position as a UCF facilities, events and operations coordinator.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a culture here that people want to stay and do their part to make it the best,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 always told myself I would end up at UCF, and getting an opportunity right out of college was a dream.”

Two decades ago, UCF opened an on-campus stadium that embodied the ambition of a spirited university and the belief of its fanbase. Today, the opening of the new Roth Tower marks the next chapter in that story, celebrating the rise of Knight Nation, UCF鈥檚 trajectory as the youngest institution in a Power Four conference and the momentum still ahead.

The Roth Tower project, made possible by a $90 million commitment of Tourist Development Tax revenues from the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, represents a pivotal addition to the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village that strengthens Orange County as a premier destination for sports tourism and community engagement.

鈥淭he new Roth Tower would not be possible without Orange County鈥檚 $90 million investment, and we are deeply grateful to Mayor Demings and the Board of County Commissioners for their belief in UCF,鈥� says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淭hat investment, together with the commitment of our donors, fans and community, helped make this next chapter of the Bounce House possible. Today, we are delivering a community asset designed to bring people here, bring them back and create lasting value for Orange County.鈥�

Born to Bounce

Since its opening in 2007, Acrisure Bounce House has allowed UCF to showcase the momentum and trajectory of one of the country鈥檚 fastest-growing universities.

For years the idea of an on-campus stadium at UCF was a dream that many had said could never come true. UCF President John C. Hitt and several prominent UCF supporters, including the tower鈥檚 namesake, Jerry and Susan Roth, saw the vision of what an on-campus stadium could be. They believed the football program and a stadium could help elevate the university and its brand.

In the last 20 years of the Bounce House, UCF has captivated audiences on nationally televised primetime broadcasts; welcomed premiere college football shows 贰厂笔狈鈥檚 College GameDay and 贵翱齿鈥檚 Big Noon Kickoff; hosted conference championships that catapulted the Knights to New Year鈥檚 Six bowl games; and has become a not-to-be-missed atmosphere in college sports.

The new Roth Tower represents another important investment in our continued rise.

A Tower With a Story to Tell

Thoughtful planning went into the design elements and functionality of the new tower.

The new space allows more opportunities beyond game day to welcome alumni, partners and visitors for corporate meetings and retreats, weddings and events, and even rocket launch viewing opportunities of nearby Kennedy Space Center, whose Launch Complex 39A aligns with the stadium鈥檚 50-yard line.

Stronger media and broadcast spaces will help showcase UCF nationally and open possibilities for hosting other premiere sporting events and concerts. The strategic layout and structure will make operations and logistics safer, smarter and more efficient.

The tower also serves as an extension of UCF鈥檚 mission to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and aptitudes that align with the workforce of the future, offering paid opportunities to gain industry experience in areas including facility and event management, game day operations, broadcasting and production, brand management and strategic communications.

The details are uniquely UCF, with nods to the university鈥檚 roots as America鈥檚 Space 海角直播 and its location in one of the most desirable tourist destinations globally.

A new concept in luxury seating, the open-air, semi-private Sky Suites on the north and south wings of the tower鈥� take advantage of Orlando鈥檚 average of 233 sunny days per year. Floor-to-ceiling windows serve as the east and west walls of the central suite space on the third floor for optimal views of the field and athletic village.

The stadium鈥檚 art collection is growing with two custom murals that pay homage to the UCF story and the university鈥檚 relationship to Orange County designed by artist Harry Foreman 鈥�18, a graphic design and emerging media management graduate. These complement several installations around the concourse already that include Knightro, wings of Pegasus (the university鈥檚 official seal), UCF鈥檚 Big 12 ties and Orlando.

Building What鈥檚 Next

Roth Tower will create memorable experiences for visitors and reinforces UCF as another reason people choose to come to Orange County and come back.

While the tower is a huge step forward for UCF Athletics, it is not the finish line, says UCF Director of Athletics and Vice President Terry Mohajir, who has worked to implement facility enhancements throughout the village since he arrived in 2021.

鈥淥ur fans gave this stadium its identity 鈥� and kept the faith as UCF climbed from one level of collegiate athletics to the next,鈥� Mohajir says. 鈥淥ur responsibility now is to keep matching that belief, by giving our student-athletes every opportunity to succeed, competing for championships, delivering a Power Four-caliber experience and continuing to build the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village into one of the greatest destinations in college sports.鈥�

The UCF football team opens the 2026 season against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at .

鈥淚t鈥檚 a perfect day to bounce in Orange County, Florida.鈥�

The Roth Tower project, made possible by a $90 million commitment of Tourist Development Tax revenues from the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, represents a pivotal addition to the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village that strengthens Orange County as a premier destination for sports tourism and community engagement.

When the investment was greenlit in 2023, university and athletics administration knew they wanted to add to the stadium鈥檚 art collection, which already features several installations around the concourse that include Knightro, wings of Pegasus (the university鈥檚 official seal), UCF鈥檚 Big 12 ties and Orlando.

UCF commissioned Harry Foreman 鈥�18 to deliver two murals that pay homage to the UCF story and the university鈥檚 relationship to Orlando and Orange County. To execute the installation in the week leading up to the tower鈥檚 unveiling, Foreman utilized virtual reality technology as part of his process and enlisted the help of fellow alumni: Nicole Lind 鈥�11, a Burnett Honors Scholar who graduated with a degree in an elementary education, and Paulaiden Minerva 鈥�15, who earned his bachelor’s in marketing through the program.

Foreman studied graphic design and emerging media management and previously completed murals for the UCF Downtown and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management campuses.

鈥淲hen I was a student I always had so much fun on games days,鈥� Foreman says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 magic being back here.鈥�

The Florida native, who now splits his time between Orlando and Denver, has been an active contributor to the Central Florida鈥檚 arts scene for years. He recently was selected to be part of the City of Orlando鈥檚 Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge, Art Pollination 鈥� a prestigious opportunity as Orlando was one of eight cities selected for the $1 million grant out of more than 150 submissions from around the country.

Acrisure Bounce House is his third football stadium mural project. He previously completed installations for the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars.

鈥淚 always knew I wanted to paint big,鈥� he says.

Here he shares more about his latest creation.

What excited you about this project?

The campus personnel were so willing and excited about my ideas and style that I brought into this that it was almost a perfect match. I led with fun first and then presented some safer ideas. And they said, 鈥淣ope. We want the fun.鈥�

I鈥檓 grateful and appreciative that I鈥檓 creating in a way that is so well received by so many people. Especially with the way we鈥檙e doing these murals with minimal color and a gold approach, I think it鈥檚 a style that has an elevated look while also having this fun, bubbly, childlike feeling, which is perfect for a football stadium on game day.

Where did you pull inspiration from for the two murals?

A staple in a lot of my mural work is my 鈥渙range blossom gang.鈥� They are fun, smiling orange characters that I will sprinkle in throughout a lot of my murals. They act almost as the glue that keeps other imagery and assets like together. They appear in both murals.

For the UCF-themed mural, we have my signature doodle collage style. We鈥檙e in the Bounce House, baby. So I tried to have this flowy, bubbly movement with the clouds. I wanted it to feel like it was light and airy.

With regards to Easter eggs, when I was a student, I did artwork around Orlando and I would do this little emanating whoopsie daisy flower. I snuck it into a postcard stamp. The manatee celebrates Central Florida鈥檚 natural springs, which is in my opinion, one of the most magical parts about the entire state. I also snuck in a variation of the rubber duck for Spirit Splash.

For the Orange County mural, it is centered in an Art Deco theme and is an ode to how the university is entwined with Orlando. From the downtown corridor to our relationship with the hospitality sector around I-Drive to space and UCF鈥檚 engineering and technology roots. And we wanted to include a message to what helped make this possible: 鈥淚n appreciation of Orange County, Florida, whose continued belief, support and investment will welcome millions through these gates to bounce.鈥�

How do you apply virtual reality technology in your process?

I first started using the VR headset to project my artwork on walls last year. There are many different ways to get your art on your walls through grid systems, sketching freehand, projectors and now through headsets. In this circumstance, I have another mural next week. I鈥檝e got to get in and out. I didn’t want to wait till the nighttime to use a projector. What鈥檚 great about the headset is no matter the time of day, you are able to work and operate, and forecast your artwork on a wall.

It鈥檚 a really weird, immersive and amazing technology. If you got vertigo like I do, tread lightly. As I鈥檓 wearing it, I’m constantly thinking, 鈥榃e are in the future.鈥� 鈥�

How did your UCF experience help you hone your craft?

鈥淏eing at UCF pushed me to be great.鈥� 鈥� Harry Foreman 鈥�18, muralist

My UCF experience was not just a four-year degree. I used nearly every offering UCF had 鈥� I was in different clubs, at the gym all the time. I was in the engineering lab using the laser cutter for a lot of my school projects. My experience was almost competitive nurture in a sense, learning in a school setting with so many talented creatives around me. Being at UCF pushed me to be great and taught me how to be a shape shifter.

I already was running a business while in school. I immediately graduated and went right into freelancing, and the Orlando community and UCF network at large welcomed me right when I needed it. I booked amazing jobs right out of school. The UCF Downtown project, I would say, is still some of my most impactful work that gets me jobs to this day.

I never in a million years thought murals would allow me to be traveling all over the nation. I鈥檓 about to buy my wife a house. It鈥檚 a great time to be a muralist. It鈥檚 the best job in the world.

What does it mean to you to be able to give back to your alma mater and Orlando in this way?

It鈥檚 so special. As a student, and even as an artist, there鈥檚 no textbook for success, no single game plan for how to do things. The fact that I get to paint and create in spaces like this, I hope it can inspire the next student. I hope they see this and they say, 鈥淭hat is so cool. I want to do that,鈥� because whenever I saw someone doing it, that was my first response.

If you鈥檙e a student that is worried about the creative world that we鈥檙e entering into, as long as you鈥檙e pushing yourself to make great work, everything you could ever want is already there waiting for you. Orlando as a canvas is the best place to blossom. It was for me.

This guide is a resource to help you develop a sense of belonging, find community and build lifelong friendships while studying at UCF.

Marquee Events

Whether you鈥檙e studying at UCF Downtown, the , Rosen College of Hospitality Management or the main campus,聽聽you鈥檒l have plenty of opportunities to get involved.

Some signature events have become beloved UCF traditions聽with not-to-be-missed programming:

• Pegasus Palooza, UCF鈥檚 annual welcome week, greets new and returning students to campus with a variety of events including notable headliners at Comedy Knight and Concert Knight.

• UCF Homecoming聽Week,听蹿别补迟耻谤颈苍驳听Spirit Splash,聽kicks聽off聽Monday,聽Oct. 19,听补苍诲听concludes聽with the UCF football team鈥檚 matchup against BYU on聽Saturday,聽Oct. 24.

• Space Game, a football game unlike any other in the nation, pays tribute to our UCF鈥檚 roots as America鈥檚 Space 海角直播. This year鈥檚 matchup against Baylor on Friday, Oct. 30, marks 10 years of the Space Game.

• , held each spring at聽聽Orlando鈥檚 Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, showcases the artistic talents of UCF鈥檚 faculty and students in performances, exhibitions, presentations and interactive experiences.

• Gather Luncheon,聽a聽community-building event in the spring hosted by聽Wellness & Health Promotion Services and Dining Services,聽聽brings hundreds of students聽together聽聽for聽a free, three-course meal.

Recreation, Intramurals and Sports Clubs

In addition to its fitness and recreation facilities, the Recreation and Wellness Center has longstanding intramural and sports club programs that allow students to form friendships and win championships, sometimes on the brightest of stages.

The RWC鈥檚 intramural sports program welcomes all UCF students, especially those who are new to Orlando and haven鈥檛 met enough peers to form their own team. Thanks to its free agency feature, individuals ca聽be matched up with others or be paired with an established team.

The sports club includes 45 different sports, encompassing everything from judo to lacrosse to wakeboarding and have produced some of UCF鈥檚 most notable alumni. Gold medalist Phil Dalhausser 鈥�02, who played club volleyball while pursuing his business degree, and bronze medalist Kristen Thomas 鈥�16, who began her rugby career聽as a theatre studies major聽at UCF,聽both went on to聽represent聽Team USA聽at聽multiple Summer Olympic Games.

For more information, visit聽.

Registered Student Organizations

UCF offers more than 650 registered student organizations spanning academic, professional, cultural and spiritual, social and recreational, and sports interests.

KnightConnect聽is UCF鈥檚 official involvement platform where students can explore聽these organizations or even create a new one.聽Each organization has its own page with meeting times, contact information,聽and ways to get involved.

Visit the聽聽to find the organization right for you.

Greek Life

The fraternity and sorority experience has long been a part of campus life. Since the 1970s, fraternities and sororities have been providing spaces of belonging for students to grow together during their collegiate years.

Currently our UCF Greek community is comprised of 47 organizations, which all share the values of scholarship, leadership, service and brotherhood/sisterhood.

For more information visit聽.

UCF Athletics 鈥� Knightmare Society and Marching Knights

UCF is a member of one of the premiere conferences in the nation, the Big 12. From聽Fear the Fronds聽to聽Zombie Nation, the student section鈥檚 energy is聽an integral part of the game day atmosphere聽and gives the Knights a distinct home field (and court) advantage.

All full-time UCF-enrolled students (except UCF Online) are eligible for free tickets to home sporting events. Please note: all seating is first-come, first-served and admission is not guaranteed. For more information, especially for football and 尘别苍鈥檚 basketball student tickets, please visit .

罢丑别听 is an organization built and run by UCF students and supported by UCF Athletics. Joining the official group has its perks, including football tickets automatically loaded to members鈥� Ticketmaster accounts, a dedicated fast pass entrance at all UCF 尘别苍鈥檚 basketball games, and first access to post-season student ticket claims.

Students can also contribute to game-day experiences by joining聽, a more than 390-member marching band student organization that performs at pregame shows, halftime shows, pep rallies and聽other聽fan-fest聽events. By creating the soundtrack for these dynamic events, the Marching Knights serve as one of the most vibrant and visible forces for school spirit.

Engage in聽Research

Undergraduate research provides opportunities to build a learning community with faculty and fellow students聽while engaging聽in meaningful work that聽develops聽solutions聽for聽challenges facing our communities,聽industries聽and the world.

In addition to forging connections with peers and mentors, this聽practical experience聽allows students to聽build their professional resumes聽before聽they graduate.

, UCF鈥檚 annual university-wide celebration of research and creative scholarship showcases graduate and undergraduate research. The week is scheduled for March 29 through April 2, 2027, featuring presentations, exhibitions and other events showcasing student research.

For more information on how to get involved with undergraduate research, visit聽.

贰虫辫濒辞谤别听翱谤濒补苍诲辞

UCF students live in one of the most vibrant destinations in the world, Orlando.聽Whatever your interest, Orlando聽likely has聽it:聽theme parks,聽elite聽sporting events,聽electric festivals,聽Michelin-rated restaurants,聽nearby聽coastlines听补苍诲听natural springs.

Orlando is what you make it, and there are ways to experience it all on a student budget.

罢丑别听聽offers聽discounted聽tickets to various attractions, including Walt Disney World, Universal聽Orlando聽and Kennedy Space Center.聽Every spring semester, UCF students聽enjoy聽free, exclusive access to Universal Islands of Adventure as part of Universal Knights.

聽gives Knights of all experience levels opportunities to go on hiking and camping trips at nearby springs, learn to surf, paddle through bioluminescent waters and more.

Several cultural museums in the area offer free entry,聽including聽the聽 on the main campus,聽Rollins Museum of Art聽and Mead Garden in nearby Winter Park,聽and the聽Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida聽in Maitland.聽罢丑别听acclaimed聽Orlando Museum of Art聽offers free entry on the third Thursday of each month聽as part of its Access for All initiative.

Held annually at the start of the fall semester, Visit Orlando鈥檚 Magical Dining offers a chance to sample some the area’s exceptional restaurants at a fraction of the normal cost. Savor three-course, prix-fixe dinners聽 鈥� including at Aurora at the on-campus The Celeste Hotel 鈥� for just $40 or $60 per person from Aug. 14 鈥� Sept. 30, 2026.

In September, one month before the Knicks tipped off their 2025-26 season, White was promoted to manager of event presentation at Madison Square Garden. From hosting New York鈥檚 first NBA Finals game in 26 years to the Knicks鈥� unbelievable 29-point comeback in Game 4 to the celebratory ticker-tape parade on Manhattan鈥檚 streets that drew an estimated 2 million fans, the UCF aerospace engineering alum had a front-row view and played a supporting role to the team鈥檚 success this year.

鈥淢adison Square Garden and the Knicks organizations have brought so many people across the world together, and getting to be a part of that kind of impact will really change your perspective forever in the best way possible,鈥� White says.

White, a former Burnett Honors Scholar and UCF dance team member, finally had a moment to breathe to share about her experience.

You serve as manager of event presentation. What does a day on the job look like?

Event presentation is everything that happens on the court during a game that is not the actual basketball game. This includes our in-game entertainment such as our Knicks City Dancers and 7th Ave Hype Squad as well as our halftime performances, in-game fan contests, T-shirt tosses, and other elements like on-court presentations and recognitions.

I was first hired as a coordinator in 2021, and over my time with the team, I have taken on more responsibilities. I now fully manage all 40 members of our 7th Ave Squad in addition to serving as the floor director for all in-game elements during Knicks games.

You earned your degree in aerospace engineering. How did you end up in sports business?

This is a bit of a wild pivot. I grew up dancing my entire life and was a member of the UCF dance team. I loved having the ability to keep dancing while earning my degree. When I graduated college and got a full-time role in the defense industry and later the tech industry, I found a way to keep dancing with the Orlando Magic dance team. I had so many positive experiences during my three seasons working for the Magic and got to travel with the team numerous times to participate in NBA global events. I worked my 9-5 during the day and then headed to the arena at night for rehearsals and games and found myself enjoying my role in the professional sports industry more than my full-time job.

I chose to go back to school to pursue a degree in sports business so that I could properly transition into the industry. I pursued a degree in global sport business from New York 海角直播 while continuing to work full-time in Orlando and was fortunate to travel to New York City and Tokyo for educational residencies.

In 2020 I landed a remote internship with Madison Square Garden and was able to meet so many passionate members of the MSG sports team. I maintained the professional connections I had created during my time in the program. About five months after my time as an MSG student associate ended, I applied for my dream role with the Knicks event presentation team, and the rest is history.

How did your experience at UCF play into your success today?

鈥淢y time at UCF as a student-athlete pursuing a rigorous degree taught me invaluable lessons in perseverance, time management and self-motivation.鈥� 鈥� Olivia White 鈥�16

My time at UCF as a student-athlete pursuing a rigorous degree taught me invaluable lessons in perseverance, time management and self-motivation. I got to dance at every UCF football and basketball game, perform at the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, compete in Universal Dance Association Nationals every January, and perform at numerous events in the community, including Orlando Magic halftimes. Getting to take part in all of these incredible experiences at such a young age, while also having to balance school and part-time jobs prepared me to thrive under pressure and become comfortable in chaotic environments.

This season is one for the record books. What are some of your most memorable moments?

This season was my favorite season yet. There were so many moments that will stick with me forever. The historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 is something I鈥檒l never forget. If this postseason run taught me anything, it鈥檚 to never count the Knicks out 鈥� and this belief never failed me.

A few of my other favorites include getting to celebrate on stage at Radio City Music Hall when the Knicks secured their first championship in 53 years and getting to hold the NBA Cup back in December when the Knicks brought home their first hardware of their historic season.

When you do eventually look back on this season, what do you think are going to be your biggest takeaways from the experience?

My biggest takeaway from this entire season is definitely just pure gratitude. It鈥檚 not lost on me how lucky I was to have a front row seat to one of the most historic runs in professional sports, especially with one of the most iconic franchises of all time. And to get to be a part of something so meaningful in a city like New York at a venue like Madison Square Garden, is literally a dream that I will forever be thankful for.

What is the hardest decision you had to make that has led you to where you are today?

Packing up my life in Orlando and moving to New York to pursue a whole new career. I have always been a risk-adverse individual, so giving up the familiarity and comfort of my hometown for place as big as New York City was a huge decision for both me and my then boyfriend, now husband, Logan Cloak 鈥�17. As hard of a decision as it was, I would make it 100 times over and am so thankful every single day that I took that leap out of my comfort zone.

This year鈥檚 tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations 鈥� United States, Canada and Mexico 鈥� and the first to include an expanded field of 48 teams from across the globe. Eleven U.S. cities will host 78 matches June 11 鈥� July 19, including the championship match in New York and third place playoff in Miami.

This historic event coincides with the United States鈥� 250th anniversary聽and marks the first time since 1994 the country has hosted the 尘别苍鈥檚 World Cup.

Here鈥檚聽a look at some of the Knights bringing this event to life.

Izzy Angel 鈥�23

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚听颈苍听丑耻尘补苍听肠辞尘尘耻苍颈肠补迟颈辞苍

Role:听惭别诲颈补听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听补苍诲听蝉别谤惫颈肠别蝉
FIFA location: Atlanta

I will be supporting media logistics, guiding photographers and press to designated areas, and facilitating press conferences and interviews. One of the biggest ways UCF prepared me for this opportunity was through its emphasis on networking, collaboration and real-world experience. That mindset opened doors to internships, jobs and experiences that helped me gain confidence in putting myself out there and connecting with people.

It鈥檚 been really fulfilling to meet people with completely different backgrounds and life experiences who are all coming together over a shared passion. Being part of something on such a global scale and feeling that sense of community has been incredibly special.

Brendon Boseja 鈥�25

Bachelor鈥檚 in聽integrated聽business

Role:聽Senior聽coordinator,聽Client Group Management聽Accreditation
FIFA site: Miami

At UCF, I learned to network and make many connections in the industry and to continue these relationships. This has especially helped me throughout FIFA, especially since my main job is to communicate with every stadium involved in the tournament. Working for a sports organization as big as FIFA has been a dream of mine, and to be involved with an event like the World Cup is surreal to think about.

Taylor Culver 鈥�23 鈥�26MSBM 鈥�26MBA

Bachelor鈥檚 in kinesiology
惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master鈥檚 in business administration

Role:聽Event聽executive, FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Houston

鈥淏ecause of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through UCF, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.鈥�

My role is to help create and execute large-scale fan experiences that bring the energy of the World Cup to life outside of the stadium. Being able to contribute to an event of this magnitude is both humbling and motivating, and I know it will be one of the most impactful experiences of my career. UCF prepared me for this opportunity by putting me in real-world sports environments early and constantly challenging me to grow as a leader. Through the program and my experience as a recruiting assistant for UCF Athletics with the football team, I learned how to operate in fast-paced environments where organization, communication and adaptability are critical. Because of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through UCF, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.

Daniel Garzon 鈥�23 鈥�24MSBM 鈥�24MBA

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚听颈苍听别濒别尘别苍迟补谤测听别诲耻肠补迟颈辞苍
惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master鈥檚 in business聽administration

Role:聽Workforce聽integration聽senior聽coordinator,聽Tournament Operation Center Services
FIFA site:聽Miami

I started my journey at FIFA as an intern with the volunteer management team shortly after graduating from the DeVos Sport Business Management program in 2024. As a recruitment coordinator, I spearheaded communications and recruitment strategy while sourcing and scheduling thousands of candidates. Now in my new role, I will be in the heartbeat of the headquarters of the tournament, fulfilling operational needs for all departments while manipulating data to make informed decisions for all the venues during the World Cup.

Risako Karasawa 鈥�21

Bachelor鈥檚 in entertainment management
Graduate student majoring in sport business management

Role: VIP Tour Coordinator/Translator
FIFA site:聽Dallas

I serve as the primary point of contact for a VIP delegation from Japan. My responsibilities include coordinating transportation and logistics, providing interpretation and translation support, and ensuring a seamless experience throughout the visit. Combining my passions for sports, entertainment and hospitality, this opportunity feels like the perfect intersection of everything I love. Through both the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the DeVos Sport Business Management Program, I have gained practical experience through hands-on opportunities working with professionals across the industries in event planning, guest experience, sponsorship and stakeholder management that prepared me for this incredibly exciting opportunity.

William Mendez 鈥�26MSBM 鈥�26MBA

惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master鈥檚 in business聽administration

Role: Team protocol liaison officer
FIFA site:聽Miami

I will provide operational support as a main point of contact for the teams鈥� protocol representatives, managing VIP/VVIP seating, ticket distribution and logistics. I鈥檓 truly excited to be part of an event of this magnitude because FIFA 鈥�26 goes beyond sports by bringing people together across cultures from all over the world.鈥疶he DeVos Sport Business Management program at UCF has played a major role in preparing me for this moment, giving me the hands-on experience and confidence I need to contribute to an event of this scale.

Colin O鈥橳oole 鈥�26MSBM 鈥�26MBA

惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master鈥檚聽in business聽administration

Role: Accreditation center coordinator
FIFA site:聽Boston

I grew up watching the World Cup and always dreamed of being part of the most watched sporting event in the world. My experience in the soccer industry through both professional and volunteer roles gave me a strong foundation, and the DeVos program broadened my perspective. It exposed me to the business side of the industry, while simultaneously connecting me with incredible mentors and peers, ultimately giving me the confidence and network to land this opportunity with FIFA.

Connor Pank 鈥�17

Bachelor鈥檚 in聽management

Role:听罢别补尘听蝉别谤惫颈肠别蝉听惫别苍耻别听辞蹿蹿颈肠别谤
FIFA site: Tampa, Florida

The sport business management minor at UCF offered plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience in the industry. My junior year, I was fortunate enough to land a season-long internship at Orlando City Soccer Club in the game day operations department, which then turned into a full-time position with seven amazing seasons of constant growth and experiences that I am forever grateful鈥痜or.

Being involved in a FIFA World Cup has been a personal goal of mine since my early days with Orlando City SC, when we hosted a U.S. Soccer vs.聽Panama World Cup Qualifier聽ahead of the聽2018 FIFA World Cup.聽Every team聽participating聽in the World Cup chooses a designated home base,聽which includes the team hotel, training聽site聽and other operational support facilities as needed. My role is centered around acting as FIFA鈥檚 primary operational lead on-site for Cabo Verde鈥檚 home base in Tampa to ensure a seamless, world-class experience.

Annie Quaile 鈥�06

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚听颈苍听尘补谤办别迟颈苍驳

Role:聽Venue聽manager,聽FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Atlanta

I act as the bridge between FIFA, Atlanta and the commercial and operational partners delivering the Fan Festival experience. My role focuses on coordinating event聽logistics, operations, guest experience, VIP and talent management, and partner integration while ensuring FIFA brand standards are upheld throughout the event.

One of the biggest takeaways from my experience at UCF was learning how to balance creativity,聽leadership聽and problem-solving under pressure, which is聽essentially the聽foundation of live event and operational management.聽The FIFA World Cup is one of the few truly global experiences that brings together people from every background,聽culture聽and country around a shared passion.聽All of聽the planning, coordination and operational work happens behind the scenes for months, so finally seeing people from around the world聽gathering together, celebrating and creating memories is incredibly rewarding.

Andres Sifontes 鈥�24

Bachelor鈥檚 in communication

Role:聽Coordinator, Accreditation Documentation and Training Operations
FIFA site: Houston

I joined the FIFA team in September 2024, supporting preparations for both Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026. In my role now, I oversee Accreditation Center operations in Houston, assist volunteers, and ensure that key stakeholders 鈥� including partners like Coca-Cola, Adidas and Visa 鈥� receive proper credentials. UCF鈥檚 communication program, and especially my聽Communication Research Methods听笔谤辞蹿别蝉蝉辞谤 , equipped me with the tools I continue to apply every day in my role at FIFA by teaching me how to communicate effectively, carry myself professionally, and think strategically.

Since graduating, my goal has been to contribute to the growth of soccer in the United States. This passion has always been part of who I am, and UCF helped me build the foundation to pursue it professionally. After graduation, I worked with Inter Miami CF, and now with FIFA, I鈥檝e been fortunate to play a role in supporting the continued development of the sport. I truly believe we are about to witness unprecedented growth for the game in this country. I hope that at the end of my career, I can look back and say I contributed to that growth 鈥� and that it all started at UCF.

Dennis Sprenkle 鈥�01

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚听颈苍听辫辞濒颈迟颈肠补濒听蝉肠颈别苍肠别

Role:聽Director of聽workforce听补苍诲听human聽resources
FIFA site:听惭颈补尘颈

My team oversees the employee journey from recruitment to offboarding across the three host countries (Canada, Mexico and the U.S.) and 16 host cities. We are responsible for everything from workforce planning, training, visa management, benefits, payroll, employee uniforms and just about every other aspect of human resources.

I have always had a keen interest in global political and business affairs, which is why I studied political science with an emphasis on international relations at UCF. Working for a governing body like FIFA in many respects is akin to working for the United Nations. 鈥� In order to be a successful leader in a global organization like FIFA, it is critical to have an open mind to effectively collaborate, plan and execute the largest sporting event in human history. My education and experience at UCF as a leader in Student Government certainly laid the foundation and has helped prepare me for this opportunity.

Ryan Taheri 鈥�24

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚听颈苍听蹿颈苍补苍肠别

Role:听奥辞谤办蹿辞谤肠别听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听尘补苍补驳别谤
FIFA site: Dallas

I grew up watching the World Cup with my family. Now, I occasionally stop for a second and realize how special it all is to be working behind the scenes on the operational side of the tournament. A big part of what I do in my role is coordinate with different functional areas like transportation, catering, accommodations, uniforms and venue operations to ensure the workforce is supported and operations run smoothly.

鈥淯CF pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts.鈥�

A lot of the role comes down to staying organized, communicating clearly and solving problems quickly. UCF pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts. Looking back now, I don鈥檛 think I realized at the time how much of my experience at UCF directly prepared me for working on something as large and complex as a鈥疐IFA 鈥�26.

Alejandro Tarazona 鈥�22

Bachelor鈥檚 in integrated business

Role:听惭补苍补驳别谤,听罢谤补颈苍颈苍驳听厂颈迟别听痴别苍耻别听罢谤补苍蝉辫辞谤迟
FIFA site: Miami

I鈥痮versee transportation operations and鈥痩ogistics鈥痑t all 75 training sites across U.S., Canada and Mexico 鈥� including shuttles, loading zones, team busses and their fleets, and parking lots for media, volunteers and guests. I grew up in Lake Nona and had an opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a Division II school in Florida, but financially, it just didn鈥檛 make sense for my family and me. Instead I enrolled at Valencia College and earned my degree through the .

UCF gave me the technical skills I needed for my managerial position now, like creating financial analysis for labor rates across 16 stadiums that鈥痺e鈥檒l鈥痓e using in U.S., Canada and Mexico. As a former soccer player and as someone鈥痺ho is鈥痮bsessed with the sport, working for one of the biggest and best sports organization in the world has been a lifelong goal.鈥疶his experience has taught me to consider redefining what鈥檚 possible and keep setting goals.

Tomas Upegui 鈥�22

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚听颈苍听颈苍迟别驳谤补迟别诲听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉

Role:听贵濒别别迟听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听补苍补濒测蝉迟
FIFA site: Miami

Growing up playing soccer, being involved with FIFA in any capacity is something I never imagined would become reality, especially this early in my career. I am supporting transportation and depot operations across all 16 host cities, contributing to transportation operations involving VIPs and trophy movements. Studying business taught me how to work efficiently in fast-paced environments and quickly adapt while balancing multiple responsibilities at once, which directly translates to my role.

One of the most exciting parts of this experience has been realizing the true scale of the FIFA World Cup and seeing firsthand how much coordination happens behind the scenes to make an event of this magnitude successful.

The UCF baseball team learned it is headed to the NCAA Auburn Regional while at a team-bonding pool party, hosted by head coach Rich Wallace 鈥�04鈥檚 uncle, who lives next door to the UCF rowing facility on Lake Pickett.

鈥淸We talked to the guys and thought] we鈥檙e in Orlando, might as well get out in the pool and sunshine and enjoy this thing, do it the UCF way,鈥� Wallace says. 鈥淚 think the guys are excited for the challenge.鈥�

The regional will run Friday, May 29 to Monday, June 1 at Auburn鈥檚 Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama.

Baseball is one of 10 UCF programs to compete at an NCAA postseason regional or championship event in 2025-26, joining聽尘别苍鈥檚听补苍诲听wo尘别苍鈥檚 soccer, indoor track & field,聽尘别苍鈥檚 basketball, 尘别苍鈥檚 and wo尘别苍鈥檚 tennis, wo尘别苍鈥檚 golf, softball and rowing. The 10 NCAA appearances ties for the most in UCF history with the 2018-19 athletic year.

Postseason Outlook

UCF earned the No. 2 seed in the four-team regional and will open play against the No. 3 seed NC State Wolfpack on Friday at 6 p.m. ET. The winner of the game will advance to meet the winner of Friday鈥檚 earlier matchup between the No. 4-national seed Auburn and Milwaukee.

All games of the 64-team field are available on the ESPN family of networks.

The final eight teams to advance out of the Super Regional round will head to Omaha, Nebraska, for the 79th Men鈥檚 College World Series at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. The Men鈥檚 College World Series starts Friday, June 12.

UCF鈥檚 Road to the NCAA Tournament

For the second time in three years, the UCF baseball team has earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA appearance will mark UCF鈥檚 second under third-year head coach聽聽and the program鈥檚 14th NCAA Regional appearance in program history.

UCF is one of six Big 12 programs to be selected to the tournament. The Knights head into the postseason with a 31-21 overall record and set Big 12 era records in both conference wins with 19 (19-11) and league series wins with seven.

The Knights’ 19 league wins mark the most since 2005 when UCF was a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The qualification marks the first time the Knights have advanced to the NCAA Championship in back鈥憈o鈥慴ack years since making five straight appearances from 2015-2019 thanks to their dynasty of American Athletic Conference titles.

Rowing is one of 10 UCF programs to compete at an NCAA postseason regional or championship event in 2025-26, joining聽尘别苍鈥檚听补苍诲听wo尘别苍鈥檚 soccer, indoor track & field,聽尘别苍鈥檚 basketball, 尘别苍鈥檚 and wo尘别苍鈥檚 tennis, wo尘别苍鈥檚 golf, softball and baseball. The 10 NCAA appearances ties for the most in UCF history with the 2018-19 athletic year.

Postseason Outlook

The Knights are looking to build off their Top 15 finish last year 鈥� the highest in program history.

The NCAA Division I Wo尘别苍鈥檚 Rowing Championships are comprised of 22 teams and provides three events (I Eights, II Eights and Fours), each covering a 2,000-meter course. Each team is required to field two boats of eight rowers each and one boat of four rowers.

The event opens with heats on Friday, May 29, followed by semifinals on Saturday and finals on Sunday. UCF鈥檚 boat seedings and heat sheets for day one are:

• First 4+: UCF鈥檚 highest鈥憇eeded crew enters at eight. The Knights will race in Heat 1 against No. 17 Columbia, No. 9 Brown, No. 2 Stanford and No. 13 Miami, competing out of lane four.
• First 8+: Seeded 10th, the Knights line up in Heat 2 with Boston, No. 3 Texas, No. 8 California and No. 14 Ohio State, racing from lane two.
• Second 8+: Slotted as the 17-seed, UCF will face No. 11 Syracuse, No. 2 Stanford, No. 1 Tennessee and No. 14 Ohio State, launching from lane one.

UCF鈥檚 Road to the NCAA Championship

UCF has been ranked in the top 25 all season, climbing as high as No. 11 on the road to repeating as Big 12 champions.

In her third season at the helm of the program, UCF head coach Mara Allen was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. She has led the Knights to first-place finishes in all but one race this season.

Junior kinesiology major Brigitte Kappler was named Big 12 Rower of the year, keeping the honor in Orlando after senior Hannah Lovejoy claimed the distinction last year. Lovejoy, who graduated with her accounting degree earlier this month, went on to be recognized with Order of Pegasus this year.

Freshman mechanical engineering major Madison Lovejoy was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after competing in the Black and Gold鈥檚 top two boats for the entirety of the spring season.