Michael Callahan 鈥�05 鈥�09MBA 鈥�17EdD, director of knowledge management, is responsible for every piece of medical education data at 麻豆原创. He鈥檚 also head mascot coach for 麻豆原创 Athletics. He knows the role he coaches well. Callahan was Knightro from 2002-04, when he was an undergraduate student.

鈥淚T and Knightro are similar roles if you think about it,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e both the support team. We do our part to help others do their best.鈥�

Less than 100 students have been Knightro since 麻豆原创 unveiled the yet unnamed golden knight mascot in 1994. 麻豆原创 selects multiple Knightros for each school year to keep up with all the events across campus and the community where the mascot appears. Callahan manages the team for events, which include graduation, news and marketing events, donor meet-and-greets, student festivals, and even weddings and birthday parties.

Tryouts are held in the spring and because Knightro鈥檚 schedule is so packed in the fall. Callahan says he picks students from a variety of majors so they aren鈥檛 all in the same orientation, classes or lab schedules.

Training is both physical and for character development and even includes how to pen Knightro鈥檚 official signature. Callahan estimates that, similar to the athletes they cheer for, Knightros have 20 hours of physical training for every hour they perform.

Among the most challenging physical feats for Knightro, Callahan says is learning to stand atop cheerleaders鈥� shoulders in the classic 麻豆原创 pyramid. (The key is to stand perfectly straight 鈥� like a broom stick. If you wobble like a pool noodle, he says, you fall, he says.)

鈥淚t鈥檚 like a trust fall,鈥� he says, 鈥淭he first time I did it, it was terrifying.鈥�

In addition to handwriting, Knightro has a signature walk, run and poses.

鈥淜nightro is Knightro,鈥� Callahan says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the hero, the big man on campus. He鈥檚 the most recognized person at 麻豆原创. Knightro needs to stand the test of time, so consistency is key. If you had a picture taken with Knightro when you were a 麻豆原创 student and then get another picture taken five years later at an event, it should look like the same Knightro.鈥�

Callahan鈥檚 20-year history with Knightro has forged many special memories. He remembers when Knightro鈥檚 costume was gold-glittered resin and weighed 50 pounds. Today it鈥檚 foam and much lighter at about 20 pounds.

As Knightro, Callahan performed at the Mascot Games in 2004, contributing to the more than $200,000 the event raised by then for New Hope for Kids, a child-based grief support group in Central Florida. To this day, he can recall the cheers as he danced onto the stage at a packed Amway Arena for the event.

When ESPN鈥檚 College Game Day came to 麻豆原创 in 2018, Callahan had to dress broadcaster Lee Corso in the full Knightro costume in just 90 seconds during a commercial break. Dressing the mascot usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.

鈥淲e always say, 鈥楶ractice makes perfect,鈥� 鈥� Callahan says. 鈥淭he week before the game, we must have had 1,000 practices for putting on that costume fast.鈥�

Callahan earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in management information systems and was a Burnett Honors Scholar. He also earned his MBA and doctoral degree in educational leadership at 麻豆原创. He began his career handling IT at the Burnett Honors College and moved to the College of Medicine in 2020.

He and his wife Lauren Callahan 鈥�05, a 麻豆原创 elementary education alum, wrote a children鈥檚 book called Hello, Knightro, where readers follow the mascot around campus as he travels to the stadium for game day.

鈥淵ou see the impact of Knightro in the way people react to him,鈥� Callahan says, 鈥渢he joy and excitement in kids鈥� faces. You see Knightro on buses and billboards and I think, 鈥業 am a piece of that.鈥� 鈥�

The Callahans have three children. And one of their twins, 10-year-old Luke, says Dad must remain head mascot coach until the youngster gets to 麻豆原创 because 鈥淚鈥檓 going to be Knightro, too.鈥�

Electrical engineering doctoral student Ganesh Marasini tests real-life grid control operations in 麻豆原创鈥檚 鈥� a training ground for rising engineers to collaborate, learn and help reimagine the energy grid of the future.

Hundreds of fans celebrated 麻豆原创 men’s basketball’s upset win over No. 3 Kansas at Addition Financial Arena.

麻豆原创 broke ground on the transformational Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion at Lake Nona, which is anticipated to open in 2025-26. The new 90,000 square-foot home of the College of Nursing will help 麻豆原创 graduate more highly qualified, compassionate nurses for the future.

A student practices with a manikin hand at 麻豆原创鈥檚 state-of-the-art in the College of Nursing, which is equipped with advanced medical devices and technology to train nursing students for clinical practice.

Since kicking off the outdoor season with a top 10 national ranking, the 麻豆原创 women鈥檚 track and field team has clocked some of the world鈥檚 fastest times this year.

During the 10th anniversary of 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts 鈥� a聽multi-day festival honoring creative expressions 鈥� artists competed in Creative Clash, a live art event where they raced against the clock to create large-format artwork with markers in front of spectators at Seneff Arts Plaza.

A graduate walks across the stage during a Spring 2024 commencement ceremony that took place in Addition Financial Arena.

Three students dove into their studies while hanging out in their dorm room at the .

A Summer 2024 graduate beams with pride, holding his diploma as he walks across the commencement stage.

Knightro shows off a 麻豆原创 specialty license plate while filming a new at Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy鈥檚 Studio 500. To Knight Your Ride, click here.

麻豆原创 students are conducting groundbreaking research at labs, paving the way for the future of space exploration and innovation.

Two fighter aircrafts flew over FBC Mortgage Stadium during the pregame ceremony for the Family Weekend football game, where the Knights defeated the Sam Houston State University Bearkats, 45-14.

Running back RJ Harvey crossed into the end zone for a touchdown during the Knight’s second home game of the season against Sam Houston.

A student guides TapeMeasure, 麻豆原创鈥檚 semiautonomous dog-like robot, up the steps of the John C. Hitt Library, demonstrating its advanced navigation capabilities for innovative research by students and faculty.

A member of 麻豆原创 Air Force ROTC Detachment 159 salutes while being filmed on campus for , showcasing 麻豆原创 as a place for those who dare to invent the future.

Annika Emmett, a health sciences student, and Limbitless Solutions intern and past bionic arm recipient, tries on a bionic arm, showcasing its advanced technology that empowers children with limb differences.

This year, 麻豆原创 Downtown, in partnership with Valencia College, celebrates five years of educational excellence. The campus has welcomed more than 7,000 students and awarded 10,300 degrees since opening in 2019.

Two space scientists operate a rover on the world鈥檚 largest simulated lunar surface, located in 麻豆原创鈥檚 Exolith Lab. The lab鈥檚 Lunar Highland Regolith Test Bin was developed in partnership with the Florida Space Institute to support space exploration research.

Before the 麻豆原创 Knights took on the Colorado Buffaloes, two cheerleaders interacted with a young 麻豆原创 fan during Knight Walk at IOA Plaza, the lively pregame tradition where fans, the marching band, and the cheer and dance teams rally together to welcome the football team before kickoff.

麻豆原创鈥檚 cheer team amped up the crowd as the Knights took on the University of Cincinnati Bearcats at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

Rapper NLE Choppa performed at Concert Knight presented by 麻豆原创 Homecoming at Addition Financial Arena.

The cheer team hyped up the crowd with a high-energy stunt routine before students charged into the Reflecting Pond to catch homecoming rubber ducks at Spirit Splash.

Knightro surfed over a crowd of students at Spirit Splash, 麻豆原创鈥檚 biggest homecoming tradition.

During Spirit Splash, Knightro even secured a cowboy-themed rubber duck, celebrating this year鈥檚 theme: Cowboys vs. Aliens.

Knightro posed with a constellation-themed SpaceU cape in front of a giant moon backdrop at 麻豆原创鈥檚 2024 SpaceU Luncheon, honoring the university鈥檚 ties to space exploration and innovation.

麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright stands next to rocket engines while touring facilities during a visit to NASA鈥檚 Kennedy Space Center.

As a professor emeritus of , I announced the games for the first five years of 麻豆原创 football starting in 1979.

Announcing over the Tangerine Bowl (now Camping World Stadium) public-address system at that time was rather challenging. I often enlisted my children to help as spotters to identify players, and it took getting used to hearing your voice on a five-second delay. It was so distracting you had to concentrate on what you were saying and not on what you were hearing. On one occasion, I announced that the football was 鈥減laced on the 51-yard line.鈥� I got a few stares from fans wondering just where the 51-yard line might be.

Launching New Traditions, Mascots and Half-time Performances

I was also asked to arrange for the pregame and halftime shows for home games. The assignment was exciting, rewarding and very comical at times because we were taking baby steps.

That first year I pleaded with every high school band director in the area to participate. When options were sparse, I even enlisted a security-dog demonstration from Patrick Air Force Base.

When we staged our first home football game against Fort Benning, there was no marching band, no salary for our coach, and just a few brave cheerleaders.

That first year I pleaded with every high school band director in the area to participate. When options were sparse, I even enlisted a security-dog demonstration from Patrick Air Force Base.

My directions for this task came from the athletic director Jack O鈥橪eary under the watchful eye of then President Trevor Colbourn, the driving force behind the 麻豆原创 football program.

Of course, Colbourn had to take the cautious, administrative view that probably included avoiding risks of liability, which meant turning down the halftime plan for a Cypress Gardens ski-show performer to sail around the stadium.

Probably the most awkward situation occurred when we were playing Morehouse College, whose marching band was going to be at the game but not scheduled to perform at halftime. We planned for our own jam-packed halftime, which was to conclude with words by Colbourn. Before the halftime began, I was surprised to see the Morehouse band forming on the sidelines and then begin to move onto the field. Our staff was doing everything it could to stop them, to no avail.

It turned into a chaotic mess. After the band performed and left the field, we had little time left for 麻豆原创 to do much of anything. Our part of the halftime program was a disaster. There was just a little time for Colbourn鈥檚 remarks, and a delay of game penalty was imposed on 麻豆原创 at the start of the second half.

The folks at Disney were more than willing to help with the 麻豆原创 football program in a number of ways. They even offered to construct a new 麻豆原创 mascot suit for our 1980 football season. Our ideas were very knightly, so I recommended 鈥淪ir-Wins-A-Lot鈥� for the mascot, and the name stuck 鈥� at least for a time. Colbourn even knighted our new mascot as Sir-Wins-A-Lot before a home game.

The title worked well for a few games, up until we ran into a few losses. Later on, having a mascot named Knightro served us better.

An FSU Connection

In 1982, former FSU Coach Bill Peterson arrived to be the new athletic director. Working with Peterson was quite a kick for me. As an FSU alumnus, I knew all about his igniting the Seminoles into a major football powerhouse and the part he played in nurturing FSU鈥檚 traditions.

There were a number of aspects of 麻豆原创鈥檚 early football launch that included assistance from those Seminoles from Florida State. Despite the fact that they beat the Knights 46-14 in our one 1995 meeting on the gridiron, their influence on our football program was noteworthy. Two of our early athletic directors had been FSU coaches, with Gene McDowell being the first All-American player at FSU.

The late actor Burt Reynolds, a former running back for the Seminoles, also gave an assist to the rising 麻豆原创 Knights football program. I was honored to serve as master of ceremonies for one of the annual 鈥淣ight of Knights鈥� fund-raising auctions in downtown Orlando in 1989. It was a lavish, black-tie, televised affair attended by a host of community notables. It also became a key event in the history of the football program as we collected more than $300,000 for 麻豆原创 sports that evening.

Building a solid football program takes time, commitment and some very careful, right steps.

The program was all about convincing the 麻豆原创 community of the importance of football to the development of our school at large, a concept championed by Colbourn. In my opening remarks I played a portion of the Notre Dame fight song. The audience recognized it immediately 鈥� and that was my point. It was familiar to them because a school then of only 9,000 had achieved worldwide recognition through its extraordinary profile in the sport of football.

Adding glitter to that big night was an appearance by Reynolds and wife Loni Anderson (whose son-in-law was a 麻豆原创 assistant football coach at the time). The couple added a donation: a black stallion to carry our Knight mascot.

Building a solid football program takes time, commitment and some very careful, right steps. Above all, it takes a lot of dedicated, unselfish, optimistic people who can give the fans something of value to watch. As a witness during those early formative years, I think we saw just that.

We owe so much to those many supporters who have encouraged the program with their ideas, their participation and their pocketbooks.

麻豆原创 will host Big Red Buses from One Blood outside the Student Union on Monday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Monday, June 27, 麻豆原创 will host a larger blood and platelets drive with several Big Red Buses from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium. More details about this event will be available soon.

Throughout the past few days, students, faculty, staff and even many with no connection to the university have waited outside of the Student Union and inside Bright House Networks Stadium where One Blood鈥檚 Big Red Buses collected donations.

Blood is desperately needed by local hospitals in the aftermath of Saturday鈥檚 tragic shooting outside Pulse nightclub, with some victims needing multiple transfusions.

On Monday, June 20, President John C. Hitt made an early visit to the bus outside the Student Union and a memorial of candles and gold roses laid upon the 麻豆原创 seal.

Knightro and student-athletes from the Knights鈥� men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams greeted and thanked donors as they waited. SGA President Chris Clemente, police officers and the children of some 麻豆原创 employees handed out water bottles and popsicles to help keep people hydrated while they waited patiently.

Domino鈥檚, Smoothie King, Pizza Hut and Sonny鈥檚 surprised volunteers and donors with free food and drinks. And even Bodhi, the therapy dog for 麻豆原创 Counseling and Psychological Services, stopped by offer his support.

After donating blood, many went inside the Student Union, where candles and gold roses were laid upon the 麻豆原创 seal. Others signed multiple cards, boards and letters expressing their sorrow and support for Orlando. Some hugged each other, some cried quietly and some took photos.

Please visit OneBlood.org for the latest information about blood drives on campus.

The June 4th visit marked the second consecutive year that 麻豆原创 was selected as a stop during a weeklong tour of institutions in Florida and Georgia. As part of the 麻豆原创 visit, guidance counselors were treated to an information session in the Duke Energy-麻豆原创 Welcome Center, a photo-op with Knightro, and a lecture on beer entitled 鈥淭he History of Civilization in a Six Pack.鈥� The lecture, which included a tasting and pairing course, was presented by 麻豆原创 faculty member, Ed Measom, Rosen College of Hospitality Management鈥檚 Anheuser-Busch Beer & Wine Lab. Guests were then joined by Abraham Pizam, dean of Rosen College, along with several faculty and staff for a banquet dinner in the Disney Dining Room.

Eddie Lavigne, president of AutopistaAmericas, is no stranger to 麻豆原创. He鈥檚 worked alongside representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions before and called 麻豆原创 a 鈥渂ig school with personal charm.鈥� 麻豆原创 will join forces with Autopista again in August when a member of the admissions recruitment team will travel to Puerto Rico for 10 days of college fairs, high school visits and outreach.

Events like the 鈥淩everse Tour鈥� are just one part of our strategic efforts to build brand awareness, promote 麻豆原创鈥檚 academic opportunities, educate students and parents, and develop relationships with key 聽influential members聽to continue to recruit the best and brightest students to the 麻豆原创.

In the months leading up to the national competition, Knightro has been to the northernmost football field in Alaska and to Hawaii. The squeezable, lovable miniature likeness of 麻豆原创鈥檚 mascot has also simulated doing a bungee jump and swam with sharks at an aquarium (at least the photos look as much).

Locales on his travels include Fargo, N.D.; Vantage, Wash.; Branch, Ark.; Feeding Hills, Mass.; Shreveport, La.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Gatlinburg, Tenn.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Mount Vernon, Iowa; North Kingston, R.I.; and Fremont, Calif. Just to name a very few. And all in the name of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at 麻豆原创.

Next weekend, 麻豆原创 is hosting the Science Olympiad National Tournament for the second time in three years. Expected to draw more than 10,000 students, family members, coaches and teachers, it鈥檚 the largest team STEM competition in the country and the culmination of more than 280 regional and state tournaments. A total of 120 teams from all 50 states and Japan will consume roughly 95 percent of the campus during the competition.

Knightro was tabbed as tournament ambassador.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary event, the 麻豆原创 College of Engineering and Computer Science created a sort of pass-the-torch adventure, reminiscent of the torch carrying that precedes Olympics. Ten packages containing Knightro and a customized banner were sent to 10 starter destinations with specific instructions for students to take photos with Knightro, post them to the then send聽the 麻豆原创 mascot聽on his way. Roughly 90 destinations in 30 states were mapped out based on recommendations from state tournament directors, as teams were still competing for the right to advance to Orlando.

The result: Knightro posed with some of the nation鈥檚 brightest middle- and high-school students in unique settings.

Ultimately, the big winner is 麻豆原创, according to Terrell Hodges, senior information specialist in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, who organized Knightro鈥檚 itinerary. 鈥淭he whole purpose of this was to get the brand out there, the 麻豆原创 name. Now 麻豆原创 is in their brain.鈥� The hope, she adds, is that some of those outstanding students will choose 麻豆原创 for college.

The anticipation continues to build, cites Mike McKee, associate director for the undergraduate programs in the 麻豆原创 College of Optics and Photonics and co-director of the Science Olympiad National Tournament. 鈥淎fter 2012, we heard a lot of good compliments about the job we did,鈥� he says. 鈥淧eople were very impressed about how beautiful the campus was, how big it was and the resources that were available. There is a awareness of 麻豆原创 from 2012.鈥�

Hodges and McKee can also thank Knightro.

Notably, the guest speaker for the Olympiad is Joe Kittinger, a former Air Force fighter pilot who has since become a pioneer in aviation adventure. He and Knightro can no doubt share stories.

The annual pre-Homecoming game pep rally will begin at 1 p.m. Friday. This year, ESPN2 will be on hand to capture the festivities.

Those who can鈥檛 make it to Spirit Splash can watch the event live via a Google+ 鈥淗angout on Air.鈥� Spirit Splash will be broadcast .

Spirit Splash has been hailed as the best university tradition in the state by Florida Leader magazine for college students. In 2011, the event received the best campus tradition award from the National Association for Campus Activities.

Homecoming activities conclude Saturday when the 麻豆原创 Knights take on the Houston Cougars at 7 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium.Campus will open for tailgating at noon, and this year鈥檚 Homecoming king and queen will be crowned during the game鈥檚 halftime.

More information about game day parking, tailgating, student shuttles, park-and-ride services and more is available at .

Albert Zolin was born in Arizona and graduated from Seminole High School in Lake Mary. He helps with residence hall security patrols at night as a member of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Residence Hall and Apartment Patrol program. He also is a Student Conduct Review Board member. He hopes to earn a master鈥檚 degree in business at the University of Colorado or King鈥檚 College of London.

Since Knightro doesn鈥檛 talk, we asked Zolin to give us the inside scoop on everything from his most memorable moment to the most unusual request he鈥檚 had from a fan.

Tryouts are coming up this weekend (see the bottom of the Q&A for details). What does it take for a student to be a top-notch mascot?

Commitment and a sparkling personality. Knightro is everywhere. 聽He visits schools, hospitals, 5K charity runs, philanthropic events and even weddings. Not to mention 麻豆原创 football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and volleyball matches. You have to be pretty outgoing, because mascots do everything over the top. A good mascot doesn鈥檛 worry about looking stupid in front of a stadium full of people. You have to go out there, keep the energy level high and not hold anything back.

How do you learn to be a good mascot?

Every summer, the spirit team (Cheer, Dance and Knightro) attends a camp at the University of Alabama. At the mascot camp, you are coached by professionals and given time to practice interacting with other mascots. We also have a weekend over the summer when we start preparing for football season by practicing all of the mannerisms that make Knightro, well Knightro. In the end, experience is the greatest teacher.

What kind of training/workout routine do you follow?

Cardio is key since Knightro is always high-energy wherever he is — especially at football games. It鈥檚 hot and Knightro sprints up, down, back, forth, and all around that field. I like to dance as well. It comes in handy since most events usually have some type of music playing.

What鈥檚 worse for Knightro? A 95-degree Saturday afternoon or torrential rain?

That鈥檚 a tough one. The costume soaks up water like a giant sponge. Torrential rain, like what happened at the Marshall game in 2011, can make the costume pretty heavy. However, a 95-degree Saturday is far worse. It gets hot in that costume; on a 95-degree day it is easily 120 degrees for whomever is in costume. On top of that, Knightro doesn鈥檛 stop during football games. He has to be a ball of energy the entire time.

What is the most unusual request you鈥檝e ever had?

At a wedding, the best man gave Knightro the bride鈥檚 wedding ring. When it came time to exchange rings and the groom asked his best man for the ring, he pretended that he had lost the ring and couldn鈥檛 find it. Then the band started playing the 麻豆原创 fight song and Knightro came running down the aisle with the ring in hand. That has to be one of the most original ways to give your future wife her wedding ring.

What鈥檚 your favorite Knightro memory?

One of my favorite memories is our trip to Ohio State for the 2011 NCAA Women鈥檚 Basketball Tournament. The day before the game, we were touring the football stadium and taking photos while pretending to play football. I attempted to tuck and roll, but I did a little too much tuck and not enough roll because I jumped straight up and landed on my shoulder. I got right back up and kept walking but then felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. I didn鈥檛 mention it to anybody and said my arm was OK to make sure I didn鈥檛 miss the opportunity to perform at an NCAA tournament game. When we got back to Orlando, I went to the doctor, and it turns out that pop was my collarbone snapping in half. All I can say is, 鈥淲orth it!鈥�

If you could play any mascot other than Knightro, who would it be and why?

The Oregon Duck. I would be lying if I said I wasn鈥檛 a little jealous of all the national attention that Duck gets. Speaking of which, Knightro needs an ESPN commercial.

Knightro is known for his style. What鈥檚 his favorite outfit?

Knightro has a bunch of great outfits, but my personal favorite is probably the Matador outfit he wears when we play USF. I also like to dress as Santa and ice skate at Light up 麻豆原创.

How do you clean that costume?

We fill a 30-gallon drum with cold water and then dunk all of the costume pieces and stir them around for a while. After we pull the costume out, we let it air dry for a few days.

Who has inspired you the most during your time at 麻豆原创?

I can鈥檛 imagine where I would be without the help and mentorship of caring members of the 麻豆原创 faculty. I have been lucky enough to have six classes with Professor Dan Novatnak and choose him as a professor every chance I get. Professor Novatnak teaches his classes with a level of enthusiasm that engages everyone in the room. Every time I leave his class, I feel a little bit smarter and a little more enlightened about my future. He taught me that you will never work a day in your life if you do what you love, and that has inspired me to pursue my dreams.

What class has been your favorite and why?

Without a doubt, my favorite class has been Game Design Workshop. I am following the Game Design track of the Digital Media BA and eventually want to make video games for a living. Game Design Workshop is a class where you spend the semester developing one of your original ideas into a fully functional video game. It鈥檚 an amazing class that gave me confidence I made the correct career choice.

What it will mean for you to graduate next month with your dad?

My father has always been there for me with advice, encouragement and intelligence. Without him, or his advice, I don鈥檛 know how long I would have lasted in college. Getting the opportunity to graduate at the same time as my dad will be a unique and special moment that I will never forget.

Knightro Tryouts Information:

Students are invited to audition to suit up as Knightro. No experience is required. An audition meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 5, and tryouts will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the Burnett Honors College on the main campus. For more information, contact Team Knightro Coach Michael Callahan at 407-823-2143 or Michael.callahan@ucf.edu

Sitting at over five feet tall, the ecofriendly statue was created to help encourage recycling and other environmentally-friendly initiatives throughout the 麻豆原创 Rosen College campus.

鈥淲e wanted to create something that would inspire other 麻豆原创 students to be more green around campus,鈥� explained Aline Fenelon, one of the seven Student Outreach Services (SOS) staff members who helped fashion the recycled Knightro statue. 鈥淪ince we don鈥檛 have the real Knightro on the Rosen campus, we thought it would be a great idea to recreate him out of recycled materials.鈥�

Fenelon, along with the other SOS staff members, collected over 125 plastic bottles and cereal boxes from students around campus, and used chicken wire and spray paint to create the Knightro replica. In total, the recycled statue took eight hours of labor to construct.

鈥淭he recycled Knightro statue symbolizes how 麻豆原创 students can find creative and fun ways to reuse recyclable items and not just throw them away,鈥� said Fenelon. 鈥淲e鈥檝e also recently held demonstrations to teach other students how to turn old t-shirts into scarves, and how to create folders and planters out of cereal boxes.鈥�

Fenelon explains that these new ecofriendly initiatives are a continuation of campus-wide efforts to make 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College more environmentally friendly.

In the spring of 2010, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College launched a year-long effort to reduce its consumption of water, electricity and natural gas, which led to $30,000 in savings of utilities. Since then, 麻豆原创’s Rosen College has continued to improve upon its ecofriendly efforts and expects to yield similar savings this year.

For more information on green initiatives at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College Hospitality Management, please e-mail SOSRosen@ucf.edu.

The Pre-Tailgate Rally was themed to get students excited for the start of the football season and build campus spirit with the playing of the 麻豆原创 fight song and having a special appearance from Knightro. The students enjoyed interactive games, refreshments, many prizes, plus 1,000 LINK points for freshmen students.

One student commented, 鈥淭his was a very fun event 鈥� and I learned about a lot of programs that I wasn鈥檛 aware of 鈥� thanks for having this program.鈥�

The event was held on September 1 at the Tower III residence hall lobby and was hosted by the Sophomore and Second Year Center, in collaboration with Burnett Honors College and Housing and Residence Life.

SSYC is a department in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.