For 25 years, members of have shared a powerful belief: investing in 麻豆原创 is ultimately an investment in students and the lives they鈥檒l lead.

Through planned gifts such as bequests, estate plans and retirement assets, society members extend opportunity far beyond a single generation. Their support fuels scholarships, research and academic programs that prepare students to meet the evolving needs of industry and community.

In 2025 alone, planned gifts accounted for nearly one-third of all charitable support to 麻豆原创.

The society is named for 麻豆原创鈥檚 founding president, Charles Millican, a visionary who built the university with the future firmly in mind. During his tenure, Millican transformed 1,227 acres of Central Florida scrubland into an institution designed to support the space race and prepare students for careers in engineering and computer science. He championed what would become the Central Florida Research Park and helped shape 麻豆原创鈥檚 enduring ambition to reach for the stars.

Today, that vision lives on through more than 500 members of The Charles Millican Legacy Society 鈥� and through the students whose futures are shaped by their generosity.

A World of Possibility

Thiago Maillo鈥檚 path to a bachelor鈥檚 degree wasn鈥檛 linear 鈥� but it was driven by something unwavering: the pursuit of greater opportunity.

After his first year studying medicine at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Maillo realized he wanted a different future. He saw higher education in the United States as the place to build it. Just three months after applying to Valencia College, he moved to Florida and later .

“Scholarships have made all the difference. They鈥檝e made it possible for me to achieve my dreams.” 鈥� Thiago Maillo, biomedical sciences major

Today, he鈥檚 a Burnett Honors Scholar and biomedical sciences major on the neuroscience track, with a minor in psychology. He鈥檚 conducted research at the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab, completed an internship with ThinkNeuro and serves as an undergraduate teaching assistant in Genetics and Embryology. He鈥檚 also found community as president of the Argentinian Student Association.

鈥淏eing at 麻豆原创 was my goal from the start,鈥� says Maillo, who plans to pursue a doctoral degree in cognitive neuroscience. 鈥淚 love being a Knight. Scholarships have made all the difference. They鈥檝e made it possible for me to achieve my dreams 鈥� and pave the way for my two siblings to follow in my footsteps.鈥�

Reimagining What鈥檚 Possible

Shannon Hankinson didn鈥檛 follow the traditional path to 麻豆原创 鈥� she created her own.

A Tampa native and single mother of two, Hankinson spent years leading teams at Target before realizing that success and fulfillment aren鈥檛 always the same. Determined to change course, she saved money, left her job, earned an associate degree at Eastern Florida State College and transferred to 麻豆原创, becoming the first in her family to pursue a four-year degree.

“Donors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.” 鈥� Shannon Hankinson, electrical engineering major

Now a senior electrical engineering major, she has seized several opportunities at 麻豆原创. She completed two semesters in the , joined the Society of Women Engineers and works as a research assistant in 麻豆原创鈥檚 Radiation Effects Exploration Laboratory. There, she studies semiconductor reliability, hardware design and embedded systems under Assistant Professor Enxia Zhang. Through the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement program, she also gained hands-on experience with the U.S. defense sector.

This spring, Hankinson will graduate debt-free 鈥� supported by scholarships, research funding and a fellowship that鈥檒l carry her directly into a 麻豆原创 master鈥檚 program. A doctorate is next.

鈥淥ne of my goals was to show my children that it鈥檚 never too late to do what you want to do with your life,鈥� Hankinson says. 鈥淒onors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.鈥�

A Lasting Legacy

On May 2, 麻豆原创 celebrated the 25th anniversary of The Charles Millican Legacy Society. The milestone coincides with , which builds on the university鈥檚 commitment to accelerating student success, advancing research and driving societal impact.

On May 2, 麻豆原创 celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Charles Millican Legacy Society. .

鈥淭his university was founded to serve the next great frontier 鈥� America鈥檚 space race 鈥� and it鈥檚 support from dedicated individuals like our Charles Millican Legacy Society members that continue to power our innovators, educators and researchers as they move that mission forward,鈥� says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president of Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the 麻豆原创 Foundation. 鈥淔rom driving the latest advances in AI to creating next-level immersive experiences and sparking breakthrough medical research, 麻豆原创 is building a future others have only imagined 鈥� one that this society鈥檚 namesake would be proud to see.鈥�

Maillo is forging new frontiers for his family. Hankinson is showing her children what鈥檚 possible when you start again.

They aren鈥檛 outliers. They鈥檙e what happens when students with extraordinary drive meet extraordinary support.

This is the true legacy of 麻豆原创, of Millican and of the society members: students with the confidence to go further, supported by those who believe they can.

More than 80 donors who have included the university in their estate plans were honored at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and thanked for their commitment by Jeff Moore, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, and others.

Moore, who helped launch the 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts festival four years ago, is also a member of the Millican Society. He and his wife established the Jeff and Mindy Moore Endowed Music Scholarship at 麻豆原创. 鈥淢y legacy gift is scholarship, in an area about which I am extremely passionate 鈥� music, and specifically percussion 鈥� at a place in which I believe: 麻豆原创,鈥� he said.

Remembering the festival鈥檚 goal 鈥� to extend the arts and make an impact on the community 鈥� Moore expressed his appreciation for society donors who similarly 鈥渦nderstand the importance of playing an active role in improving lives.鈥�

The Charles Millican Legacy Society is named in honor of 麻豆原创鈥檚 founding president. Two years ago, which would have been Millican鈥檚 100th birthday year, a goal was set to add 100 new members by the end of the IGNITE fundraising campaign.

Planned gifts are an important part of IGNITE, a multi-year fundraising effort to raise $500 million for the university by mid-2019. They currently make up $62 million of the campaign鈥檚 $365 million attainment.

If you’d like to speak to someone about making a planned gift, please contact Kathleen Hagerty, at Kathleen.Hagerty@ucf.edu聽or call 407.882.1237.

Charles serves in his current role, as well as founding director, of GrayRobinson, where he continues to practice full time in the 270-plus lawyer firm.

He鈥檚 served as city solicitor for the City of Orlando, chairman of the Florida State Turnpike Authority, chairman of the Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida, and chairman of the 麻豆原创 Foundation (now trustee emeritus), as well as in many other leadership positions.

After winning the 1964 gubernatorial campaign, Florida Gov. Haydon Burns asked his campaign chair, Charles, what he wanted.

鈥淣umber one, I want a new university,鈥� he said. And, Burns promised it to him, along with his other list of requests, which included an east-west expressway, a Board of Regents term for a dedicated campaign worker, and his suggested state road board member, among others. Charles didn鈥檛 ask for anything for himself.

Burns fulfilled every promise except one. After reading in a newspaper that he appointed someone else to the state road board, Charles called and questioned him. He answered: 鈥淐harles, getting a new university authorized, implemented and appropriated is not easy. I made a deal with the most powerful man in the legislature, Speaker of the House E.C. Rowell, who said he could get it done only on the condition that his best friend was appointed as a state road board member.聽I had to make a deal, and I鈥檓 sorry about that. That university was your first choice, and that鈥檚 what I had to do.鈥�

Charles considered it聽an excellent trade-off.

Once聽Florida Technological University (now 麻豆原创) finally came to fruition,聽Charles聽was instrumental in the in the selection of former President Charles Millican, and聽current President John Hitt, and even introduced The Burnett Honors College鈥檚 namesake, Al Burnett, to the university.

As a prominent attorney and a major figure in the community, he聽has remained one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 strongest advocates.

The Champions Award has only been given out three other times, to the following recipients:

Read more stories about alumni at ucfalumni.com.

The Millican Society, named for 麻豆原创鈥檚 founding president, was established in 2000 and recognizes those individuals who make a planned gift commitment to benefit聽麻豆原创 and its students. 鈥淲e appreciate the support of all of our donors, but Millican Society members鈥� support is especially meaningful because it so significantly impacts 麻豆原创鈥檚 future,鈥� said Donald Hale, director of Gift Planning at the 麻豆原创 Foundation.

President Hitt reflected on the society鈥檚 namesake, the late Dr. Charles Millican, with whom he shared a special friendship. He called Millican a 鈥渢rue pioneer whose creative vision, trailblazing spirit and clear resourcefulness inspired many.”

Hitt thanked donors for their commitment to to 麻豆原创’s long-term advancement and said that Millican would be happy to see so many people who believe in “the good work that he began and that we are doing, and will continue to do, at 麻豆原创.

“As members of the Millican Society, you are envisioning the future of 麻豆原创 and planning for its success, just as Charlie did early on,” said Hitt聽. In addition to decades of visionary leadership, Millican and his wife, Frances, also left an enduring legacy to 麻豆原创 in their own estate.

Society members were also treated to a talk and tour聽from MIRC director, Dr. Enrique Puig, who shared the history and goals of the magnificent state-of-the-art facility.

For more information on Planned Giving, visit:

鈥淗e had a way about him that made an impression on everyone he met. He recognized the importance of everyone, and he made you feel that way,鈥� said Jeff Grasty, whose father served as a vice president under Millican and whose children came to know Millican and his wife, Frances, as grandparents.

鈥淲e should all be really proud to say that he was a part of our family, and we should plan on telling his story over and over again.鈥�

Several hundred people gathered inside the Student Union on Monday to celebrate Millican鈥檚 fatherly love for 麻豆原创 students and his dedication to what he helped transform into the nation鈥檚 second-largest university.

Millican, 94, died Dec. 1, at his Central Florida home. That day marked the 45th anniversary of his appointment as president of Florida Technological University, which would later become 麻豆原创. Millican had told friends earlier this year that he would like to spend Christmas with Frances, his wife of 64 years who died last December.

鈥淗e was a role model for us all, and the picture of a life well-lived,鈥� said Roger Pynn, a 麻豆原创 graduate and Distinguished Alumnus Award winner who is president of the Curley & Pynn public relations firm.

Pynn first met Millican when he was a student, and the two became close. Pynn said he was proud when Charles Millican asked a few months ago if he could introduce him as his 鈥渁dopted son鈥� at a doctor鈥檚 appointment.

Pynn also recalled a recent honor that Millican told him was one of the proudest moments of his life.

On Oct. 22, he stood before some of the university鈥檚 most distinguished graduates to accept the Champion鈥檚 Award from the Alumni Association at the annual Black and Gold gala. Although Millican had typed up his notes on an old electric typewriter, he delivered the 14-minute speech entirely from memory.

鈥淎s we drove home that evening, he told me it was his highest honor. He was so very proud of 麻豆原创 graduates,鈥� Pynn said.

That powerful speech was Millican鈥檚 last public presentation.

Millican was chosen by the Florida Legislature in 1965 to help plan and build what was then called Florida Technological University. He had a budget of $75,000, an office above a drugstore in downtown Orlando and marching orders to make it happen.

With Frances by his side, Millican worked magic, turning 1,227 acres of scrub and bushes in East Orlando into a university to train future aerospace engineers and computer programmers.

Because the university that finally opened to 1,948 students in 1968 offered 35 degree programs in five colleges — not just aerospace engineering and computer science as first envisioned — the name of the school was later changed to the 麻豆原创.

Today, more than 56,000 students attend 12 colleges at 麻豆原创.

Charles Gray, who spoke on behalf of the community, said that Millican always had the university on his mind. He called Millican a visionary who designed the campus鈥� innovative concentric circle design to accommodate growth and selected the powerful Pegasus as the university鈥檚 emblem.

鈥淐harlie and Frances enabled our community to achieve a dream of greatness,鈥� Gray said. 鈥淲e are on the exciting journey of that never-ending quest for even greater achievement. Thank you, Charlie.鈥�

Millican鈥檚 contributions have led to economic development, education and partnership, helping to establish the region as one of the nation鈥檚 largest economies. He was also an ever-present public servant who taught in the College of Business and kept an office at the 麻豆原创 Foundation after leaving the president鈥檚 office in 1978.

鈥淗e never left his beloved university,鈥� said 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt. 鈥淔ew universities have enjoyed the lifelong passion that he invested in 麻豆原创.鈥�

Born in Wilson, Ark., on Oct. 9, 1916, Millican was a Southern Baptist minister. His strong faith guided him throughout his life and supported him as he embarked on the journey to establish 麻豆原创.

The ceremony included the reading of some of his favorite bible passages and the singing of his most beloved hymns. The Millicans鈥� pastor, Rev. Shaun King from College Park Baptist Church, recalled how Charles Millican recently gave him one of his 鈥渃rown jewels,鈥� a bible he received from the Bellevue Baptist Church when he was ordained as a minister in 1938.

It was also announced at the celebration that a pair of stars in the Pegasus Constellation have been named after 麻豆原创鈥檚 first couple. Certificates commemorating the stars were at the front of the Pegasus Ballroom, one on each side of Millican鈥檚 casket.

The ceremony concluded with the 麻豆原创 Jazz Chamber Group playing 鈥淲hen the Saints Go Marching In鈥� while President鈥檚 Leadership Council students served as honorary pallbearers leading the casket out of the ballroom.

鈥淚 think Charlie and Frances would have loved everything about this moment,鈥� said Rick Walsh, a 麻豆原创 graduate, chair of the Board of Trustees and a friend of the Millicans for 40 years.

Millican鈥檚 legacy will live on on the special , where viewers are invited to post comments in remembrance. Donations in memory of President Millican can be made to the .

Millican, who likened the challenge of building what would become the nation鈥檚 second-largest university to climbing Mt. Everest, died Dec. 1 at his Central Florida home. He was 94.

麻豆原创 has created the special for the viewing and posting of comments in remembrance. Donations in memory of President Millican can be made to the .

Considered the father of 麻豆原创, Millican was chosen by the Florida Legislature in 1965 to help plan and build what was then called Florida Technological University. He had a budget of $75,000, an office above a drugstore in downtown Orlando and marching orders to make it happen.

“When I thought about all that needed to be done to open by the fall of ’68, it scared the living daylights out of me,” Millican said in 1998.聽 “A half a minute later, I realized I had to take it step-by-step, day-by-day to put all the pieces together.”

“It was sort of like having the opportunity to climb Mt. Everest.”

麻豆原创 President John Hitt credited Millican for having the foresight to see how much 麻豆原创 could achieve.

“Martha, I and the university have experienced a great loss,” Hitt said. “Few universities have enjoyed the kind of lifelong passion that Charlie Millican invested in 麻豆原创. From my earliest days as president, I have not only enjoyed his friendship but also appreciated his wise and generous counsel.”

“His constant support and sage advice have inspired us all as we strive to build the great university he envisioned.”

“Charlie Millican was a genuinely decent man with a big vision,” added Rick Walsh, chair of the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees. “My goodness — look what he started. He was an educator, minister, leader and my friend for nearly 40 years. We will miss him terribly but celebrate a life well lived.”

A special vision

Upon accepting the task of opening FTU, Millican worked magic, turning 1,227 acres of scrub and bushes in East Orlando into a university to train future aerospace engineers and computer programmers. He was the inspiration behind 麻豆原创鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science, which was a first in the state at the time. It was visionary, just like the design of the campus that Millican championed.

Millican, a former dean of business at the University of South Florida, set up the campus as a series of concentric circles, a design that allows visitors to walk to any part of the core campus in no more than seven minutes and helps keep traffic flowing.

Because the university that finally opened to 1,948 students in 1968 offered 35 degree programs in five colleges — not just aerospace engineering and computer science as first envisioned — the name of the school was later changed to the 麻豆原创.

Today, more than 56,000 students attend 12 colleges at 麻豆原创.

Those who knew Millican say he loved education and wanted to make sure he knew what students were going through. That’s why he created 麻豆原创’s tradition of holding several commencement ceremonies each year so all students could have their names read aloud and the opportunity to cross the stage.

“He handed me my degree and then he became not only a role model but a father to me,” said Roger Pynn, a 麻豆原创 graduate and Distinguished Alumnus Award winner who is president of the Curley & Pynn public relations firm.

“Charles Millican had as great an impact on Central Florida as did Walt Disney. The university he founded has become the economic and intellectual engine of our region, and hundreds of thousands have achieved not only an education but great opportunity because of what he did. His was truly a life well-lived … true to his faith, loyal and loving as a husband and successful at every endeavor.”

Millican left the president鈥檚 office in 1978, returning to his first love of teaching. He taught in the College of Business until 1981. Until suffering a major heart attack in 2001, Millican was an active president emeritus and special assistant to the president of 麻豆原创.

Not one to let a heart attack stop him from pursuing his dreams, Millican devoted himself to helping to advance the work of philanthropy at 麻豆原创 and kept an office at the 麻豆原创 Foundation, where he advised on special projects.

Today, visitors approaching Millican Hall pass a statue of the founding president erected in 2009, paid for by alumni and other donors who named it “Reach for the Stars” to commemorate the motto Charles Millican selected for the university.

“Charlie dreamed, but he also worked — worked very hard — and he molded his dreams into reality,” Hitt said during the dedication ceremony for the statue. “We follow in the footsteps of a humble man of strong faith, a private man who has created a lasting legacy, and a public servant whose wisdom and counsel continue to benefit us all.”

Special exhibit

A special exhibit of photos and memorabilia celebrating President Millican will be displayed in the 麻豆原创 Library through Jan. 31. The exhibit is near the entrance to the Library鈥檚 Special Collections and University Archives office on the fifth floor. Visit for the Library’s hours.