Here are the highlights that shaped an unforgettable year.

Daring to Boldly Invent the Future: Florida鈥檚 Next-Generation Preeminent 海角直播

UCF met the 12 metrics required to earn the Preeminent State Research 海角直播 designation from the Florida Board of Governors, the highest designation for state research universities. This landmark achievement highlights sustained progress in student success, research and more 鈥� affirming UCF鈥檚 leadership in advancing opportunity and impact in Florida and beyond.

UCF Opens Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona, Fueling a Talent Pipeline and Healthcare Innovation

UCF opened the鈥疍r.鈥疨hillips Nursing Pavilion鈥痮n the Academic Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona 鈥� a 90,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. The pavilion expands immersive simulation technology and interdisciplinary learning spaces, enabling UCF to graduate more nurses ready to serve communities across the region.

Pegasus Partners Expand with BNY and Lockheed Martin

This year saw strategic growth of UCF鈥檚鈥疨egasus Partners鈥痯rogram, with major collaborations forged with global financial services company BNY and aerospace and defense leader Lockheed Martin. The BNY co-located educational innovation hub on UCF鈥檚 main campus 鈥� the first of its kind in Florida 鈥� brings experiential learning and cybersecurity education directly to students. Additionally, the expanded Lockheed Martin partnership will grow the highly successful College Work Experience Program and expand research in vital areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and hypersonic technologies.

Elevating Impact Across Space

As America鈥檚 Space 海角直播, UCF deepened its influence across the space sector this year, highlighted by the inaugural UCF Space Week that took place Nov. 3-7. The university-wide celebration showcased all the ways Knight Nation is advancing space research, supporting Florida鈥檚 fast-growing space economy, and preparing the next generation of explorers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The observance also marked the debut of the SpaceU Awards, which celebrated eight honorees 鈥� two students, three faculty, two organizations and a record-setting astronaut 鈥� for pushing the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible in space development, discovery and exploration.

UCF鈥檚 impact also extended into human health in space. Two internationally known鈥�痚xperts 鈥� William Powers and Jennifer Fogarty 鈥� joined the College of Medicine鈥檚 faculty as part of UCF鈥檚 new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine that will lead鈥痳esearch and technology development for improving health in extreme environments such as space.

As the top talent provider to the nation鈥檚 aerospace and defense industries, UCF also launched a new online space MBA program to meet the expanding needs of the booming space industry on Florida鈥檚 Space Coast and around the world. The 24-month part-time graduate business program focuses on space commercialization, business strategy and innovation, preparing graduates to lead in high-impact roles across the commercial space, aerospace, government, startups and emerging tech industries.

UCF Launches Institute of Artificial Intelligence to Advance Research, Talent Development Across Disciplines

UCF launched the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, a new university-wide initiative bringing together top faculty, industry partnerships and cross-campus collaboration to position the university as a national leader in AI. The institute will also support UCF鈥檚 AI for All Initiative, which integrates AI into teaching and learning across disciplines, ensuring students graduate with the ability to use AI effectively in their careers.

Honoring Excellence on Founders鈥� Day

UCF鈥檚 annual Founders鈥� Day honored the outstanding achievements of the university鈥檚 employees, faculty and students. Hundreds of Knights were recognized for their鈥痚xcellence and impact鈥�� among them鈥�Pegasus Professors鈥疪oger Azevedo, Fevzi Okumus and Yan Solihin; Medal of Societal Impact honoree Mohamed Abdel-Aty; Reach for the Stars honorees鈥疉mrita Ghosh, Leland Nordin, Yogesh Rawat and Kelly Stevens; and 37 Order of Pegasus inductees 鈥� the university鈥檚 highest student honor.

Epic Universe Launch Provides Immersive Learning Opportunities at UCF

Universal Orlando Resort鈥檚 highly anticipated new theme park, Epic Universe, opened its gates this spring, and Knights played a role in bringing it to life. Located less than a mile away, UCF’s 鈥� ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education (CEOWORLD magazine) 鈥� turned Epic Universe into a living case study for hands-on learning in hospitality, themed experience, engineering and beyond. While the park attracts millions of guests with its immersive worlds and attractions, it鈥檚 also transforming hospitality education for Rosen College students, building a direct talent pipeline into the park and developing a workforce ready to lead the industry.

Introducing John Buckwalter, UCF鈥檚 Next Provost鈥�

Following a competitive national search, John Buckwalter was appointed UCF鈥檚 next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. He and his wife, Amalia, officially joined Knight Nation on Aug. 1. Buckwalter brings more than 20 years of experience in academia to UCF. He most recently served as provost at Boise State 海角直播, where he led transformative interdisciplinary initiatives and championed student achievement. He succeeds Provost Michael D. Johnson, who retired this summer following 35 years of service to UCF.

Knights Shine in Athletics

UCF Athletics delivered unforgettable moments this year 鈥� from the rowing team claiming its first Big 12 Championship in program history, to men’s soccer’s conference title, to men鈥檚 tennis clinching its , to 82-78 victory over Hofstra at Additional Financial Arena that sparked the best start (8-1) in head coach Johnny Dawkins’ tenure.

Together, We Unleashed Impact: Thank You, Knight Nation, for a Transformational Day of Giving 2025

Knights made a collective impact for another record-breaking celebration of all things Black & Gold. raised more than鈥�$14.8鈥�million鈥�� a 63% increase from last year and the most in university history.鈥疻ith鈥�10,472鈥�gifts, inspired donors across the globe rallied together for the community-driven effort 鈥� fueling UCF鈥檚 academic programs, life-changing scholarships, groundbreaking research and more. These contributions were made across all 50 U.S. states, as well as globally, including Australia, France, Panama and the United Kingdom.

鈥淐entral Florida is my home, and I鈥檇 like to be part of this community for as long as I鈥痗an,鈥� he says.

That plan fell into place when he landed鈥痑 job at Lockheed Martin, a UCF Pegasus Partner, just weeks after graduating with his bachelor鈥檚 degree in May.鈥疕is鈥痭ew role鈥痑s an electro-optical engineer associate in Lockheed Martin鈥檚 Orlando Missiles and Fire Control division involves developing new imaging systems 鈥� a project that comes with its own challenges.

鈥淭hese systems make use of sensors specific to the mission,鈥� says Lopez-Zelaya, who is part of the 83% of career-ready UCF alumni who help fuel Florida鈥檚 workforce. 鈥淲e鈥檙e concerned with how these sensors generate images, so we take the optics and other sources of noise into consideration.鈥�

That鈥檚聽exactly the skillset he honed during his time at聽the聽UCF College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL). In addition to engineering and physics concepts, CREOL students learn the hands-on methods necessary to build optical and electro-optical systems 鈥� allowing them to contribute to technological developments that benefit humanity. Lopez Zelaya says he now puts that training to use every day.

鈥淪omebody who doesn鈥檛 have an optics and photonics background can鈥檛 truly engage in these discussions,鈥� he says, 鈥淏ecause they don鈥檛 understand the basics of what is actually happening in these systems.鈥�

Lopez Zelaya鈥檚 early career success is a continuation of the legacy he built during his聽undergrad聽years. Between classes that taught him MATLAB, display technology, image聽processing聽and semiconductor devices, he got involved as an undergraduate student research assistant. He also volunteered at Grace Medical Home, served as president of the IEEE Photonics Society student聽chapter聽and served on UCF鈥檚 President鈥檚 Leadership Council. His dedication to both professional development and his fellow students led to his induction into Order of Pegasus, the most prestigious award UCF bestows upon students.

Lopez Zelaya says聽UCF鈥檚聽culture of creating lifelong learners prepared him well for his next steps at Lockheed Martin.

鈥淓verybody is willing to learn something new about optics,鈥� he says, adding that聽he鈥檚聽often a source of聽expertise聽for questions that arise in the field.

Lopez Zelaya鈥檚 quick transition illustrates the value of the talent pipeline聽CREOL supplies to the Central Florida photonics industry.聽As a valued, longtime member of CREOL鈥檚 Industrial Affiliates Program, Lockheed Martin鈥檚 partnership has strengthened both the available opportunities for students and collaborative research efforts that aim to聽benefit聽the industry at large. And as a new聽Pegasus Partner聽with UCF, Lockheed Martin鈥檚 investment in the future will make impacts far beyond CREOL鈥檚 walls,聽building on聽a longstanding and pragmatic focus on talent pipeline.

With a 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, CREOL鈥檚 students are in a unique position to have a small-college experience at a big university. Lopez Zelaya says聽he鈥檚聽glad to have found a similar sense of community at鈥疞ockheed Martin.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a misconception that new technologies mostly emerge from startups, but a lot of them are being developed here,鈥� he says. 鈥淒evelopment is fun 鈥� taking鈥痑 concept and making it into a working product.鈥�

Lopez Zelaya says he鈥檚 proud to put those skills to use in his hometown, and for a company that鈥檚 leading the way in emerging optical technology 鈥� positively contributing to Central Florida鈥檚 economy along the way.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best ways to make an impact here,鈥� he says.

The $5 million, five-year commitment reimagines how universities and global enterprises can work together to prepare the workforce of the future, leveraging collaborations to enhance career readiness for UCF students, as well as talent development and acquisition for BNY.

At the heart of this collaboration is the 8,400 square-foot Next-Gen Cybersecurity Technology and Operations Center Lab (CTOC Lab). This dedicated space on UCF鈥檚 campus will host an experiential learning course, Introduction to Applied Technology in Banking.

This hands-on course, led by BNY executives, teaches students how to translate their technical skills learned from coursework to industry applications. It also includes a special topics seminar course, guest lectures, adjunct instruction and more.

鈥淢y favorite part has been the people,鈥� says Katrina Gumerov, a computer science major at UCF, who is participating in the course this semester. 鈥淭here are so many BNY leaders who fly in from all different kinds of industries within the company. And we also have great leaders who are here every week. It’s a very mentorship-style environment where I’m never afraid to ask questions. Having that support behind me has been incredible.鈥�

This marks a milestone in realizing UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright鈥檚 vision of co-located industry and academia collaboration. It will give UCF students real-world experience with one of the world鈥檚 most respected financial institutions, while leveraging the university鈥檚 faculty excellence, research power, and startup-like agility to anticipate market and technology disruptions in fintech and wealth management.

鈥淯CF is built to work at the intersection of opportunity and innovation,鈥� 聽Cartwright says. 鈥淥ur Pegasus Partnership with BNY brings that to life, creating a dynamic environment where talent, ideas and industry converge together, as we accelerate the future of finance and technology.鈥�

鈥淏y working with UCF, we鈥檙e deepening and broadening our connection to Central Florida, home to our Lake Mary office,鈥� Chief Executive Officer of BNY Robin Vince, says.

鈥淭his collaboration is an opportunity to help build a workforce ready to succeed in the rapidly changing technology landscape 鈥� which in turn helps our local community grow and thrive.鈥� 鈥� Robin Vince, BNY CEO

Upon completing the initial course, students will progress through a semester of advanced coursework in application development and infrastructure engineering using real-world examples. High performers will聽be invited to apply for summer internships during their senior year with the goal of being hired as full-time analysts at BNY after graduation.

The inaugural CTOC Lab class launched in the fall with 27 students, and BNY expects to continue enrolling an additional 25-30 new students into the program each semester.

鈥淭his is such an exciting evolution of our work with UCF,鈥� says Chief Technology Officer at BNY Sabet Elias. 鈥淲e鈥檙e bridging the gap between the classroom and the workforce and getting in front of the bright talent cultivated at UCF. Together, we鈥檙e committed to giving back to our community, nurturing these innovative minds, identifying curricular gaps and equipping students with the skills to drive the industry forward.鈥�

Investing in Students and the Future

BNY鈥檚 investment extends beyond the classroom. BNY has committed to be platinum partners for the College of Business for the duration of this agreement, including support for case competitions, student activities and enhanced recruiting opportunities.聽Through the BNY Scholars program, UCF Burnett Honors College students will be selected to receive scholarships to support their academic journey. Additional investment is also being made in student cybersecurity initiatives, including Hack@UCF and the internationally acclaimed Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition (CP3) Team.

Additional initiatives include unique Meet the Firm on-campus events designed to elevate BNY鈥檚 profile and strengthen talent recruitment across all disciplines; lifelong learning and training for BNY employees through facilitated executive education; and professional development to complement the聽company鈥檚 internal resources.