“Disney Aspire has been a dream come true for me and my family,” says Honka, who earned a at last weekend’s commencement. “I am fortunate to have parents who are willing to go the extra mile for my future. At the same time, my parents have already done so much for me throughout my life. I wouldn’t want to put the weight of graduate school on their shoulders.”

Honka is one of the first 18 UCF students to graduate under Disney Aspire. The Program offers free tuition for Disney employees at a select number of colleges and universities across the country. UCF joined the network of institutions in May 2019, making more than 300 local Disney employees, including Honka, eligible for the program this Fall.

Building on the success of the initial launch of 34 undergraduate and master’s degree programs — including 10 that are fully online — UCF and Disney officials recently made the decision to expand the program’s offerings. When students return for the Spring 2020 semester, UCF will be making more than 70 of its existing degree programs eligible for tuition coverage under Disney Aspire.

The collaboration is a natural fit between UCF and Disney since both institutions are powerful economic engines in Orlando and across Florida. It also strengthens UCF’s already recognized position as one of the nation’s most affordable and best-value universities.

Next summer, Honka will pursue an MBA degree from UCF. A Disney employee since October 2018, she will continue working at Disney as a lounge concierge. Much like her final semester of undergraduate study, Honka’s graduate school tuition will be fully covered.

In the years to come, Honka plans to travel extensively — possibly as a flight attendant — immersing herself in as many foreign cultures as possible. Her long-term career aspirations include opening a Disney theme park or a Disney hotel internationally, a lofty goal that Honka has embraced wholeheartedly.

Honka also has embraced the rigors of graduate school at UCF. Even with Disney Aspire, she knows that continuing her education while working fulltime will not be easy, and she looks forward to the challenges. She says that this stage in her life has taught her a great deal about herself, both personally as well as professionally. Wherever her life’s ambitions take her, Honka says that she will always have a receptive ear for her parent’s wisdom.

“I lean on my parents for their advice and guidance,” says Honka, who remembers entering college as an elementary education major and realizing that wasn’t her calling. A period of self-reflection and several in-depth conversations with her mother led her to Rosen College and a career geared toward her life’s passions for travel and people.

“Literally, in my very first class as an education major, I knew in my heart that teaching wasn’t for me. That was a pretty tough moment,” says Honka, who was attracted to Rosen for its reputation for being one of the best colleges for hospitality. “My mother was amazing during that time, reassuring me that I wasn’t bound to the major, and that I could make a change to whatever was in my heart. That’s the type of support that I want from them.”

This new expansion adds 38 UCF programs in fields such as business, hospitality and engineering, and increases the total online programs from 10 to more than 40, including 13 fully online graduate certificates. [See below for the full list of degree offerings.]

Since UCF joined the Disney Aspire network this past May, 320 Disney hourly employees, more than half of whom were already UCF students, are taking classes for free this fall. The most popular programs are hospitality management, entertainment management, event management, hospitality and tourism management, and business administration.

Starting Spring 2020, a total of 72 UCF programs will be available to Disney’s 90,000 full- and part-time hourly employees who have at least 90 days of service, helping them reach their career goals.

°Őłó°ů´ÇłÜ˛µłóĚýUCF Online, Disney employees locally and nationwide have access to high-quality educational degrees that offer flexibility and accessibility from anywhere in the country.

With more than 53,000 Florida-based Disney employees, Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando is the largest single-site employment location for The Walt Disney Company and is convenient for Florida-based employees to attend UCF. Through UCF Online, Disney employees locally and nationwide have access to high-quality educational degrees that offer flexibility and accessibility from anywhere in the country.

When the collaboration was announced in May, George A. Kalogridis ’76, president of Walt Disney World Resort and a UCF sociology graduate, said the program “will provide our Cast Members with even more options to create the futures they imagine.”

The UCF-Disney collaboration is a natural combination because both are strong economic engines in the state. The program also boosts UCF’s visibility as one of the nation’s most innovative, affordable and best-value universities.

Disney has partnered with Guild Education to help administer the Aspire program. Guild provides higher-education opportunities for working adults.

Another sponsorship agreement started last month when Walt Disney World Resort became the official theme park, water park resort and cruise line destination of the UCF football team. The agreement includes shared marketing opportunities, game promotions at home football games and Disney signage inside Spectrum Stadium.

To sign up or learn more about the Aspire program, Disney employees can visit .

Program list accurate as of October 9, 2019. Contact Guild Education to find out the latest program details.

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

• Biology
• Biomedical Sciences
• Business Economics (BSBA)
• Communication and Conflict*
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Construction Engineering
• Criminal Justice*
• Digital Media
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Elementary Education
• Emerging Media
• English*
• Entertainment Management
• Environmental Engineering
• Environmental Studies
• Event Management
• Film
• Finance (BSBA)
• Health Informatics and Information Systems*
• Health Sciences
• Health Services Administration*
• Hospitality Management*
• Industrial Engineering
• Information Technology
• Integrated Business
• Interdisciplinary Studies*
• International and Global Studies*
• Legal Studies*
• Management (BSBA)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nursing RN (RN to BSN) *
• Photography
• Political Science*
• Psychology*
• Radio/Television
• Restaurant and Foodservice Management
• Secondary Education
• Statistics
• Theatre Studies

Master’s Degree Programs

• Business Administration (MBA)
• Civil Engineering (MSCE) *
• Civil Engineering, Smart Cities (MS) *
• Civil Engineering, Structural (MS) *
• Civil Engineering, Transportation (MS) *
• Civil Engineering, Water Resources (MS) *
• Criminal Justice*
• Digital Forensics*
• Emergency and Crisis Management*
• Engineering Management*
• Environmental Engineering*
• Hospitality & Tourism Management*
• Industrial Engineering (MS) *
• Industrial Engineering (MSIE) *
• Master of Public Administration*
• Mechanical Engineering*
• Nursing*

Graduate Certificate Programs

• Applied Operations Research*
• Destination Marketing Management*
• e-Learning Design, Development & Delivery*
• Event Management*
• Healthcare Simulation*
• Hospitality and Tourism Technologies*
• Instructional Design*
• Instructional Design for Simulations*
• Professional Writing*
• Project Engineering*
• Quality Assurance*
• Systems Engineering*
• Theoretical and Applied Ethics*

*Denotes programs available fully online.

Disney is now the official Theme Park, Water Park, Resort and Cruise Line Destination of the team.

“Walt Disney World Resort and UCF share a commitment to making Central Florida a key destination for sports,” says Faron Kelley, vice president of Disney Sports. “With this agreement, we hope to reach even more of Knight Nation.”

The multiyear agreement includes shared marketing opportunities, in-game promotions at UCF home football games and Disney signage inside Spectrum Stadium. It also extends the existing relationship between UCF and Disney which have joined together as part of the Disney Aspire education investment program.

In May, UCF was added to the Disney Aspire network of schools, which offers free tuition to eligible hourly Disney employees and employees, making it easier to pursue their dreams and fulfill their career ambitions.

“As Orlando’s hometown college football team, we are thrilled to be teaming up with Disney to add a touch of magic for fans at Spectrum Stadium,” says UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Danny White. “Additionally, this agreement enables UCF to have the most unique student-athlete experience in the country as every year all of our student-athletes will have the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World Resort.”

The collaboration strengthens UCF’s position as one of the nation’s most affordable and best-value universities.

Tickets are available for fans to attend upcoming UCF home football games and be a part of the magic.