Through the years, volunteers have provided about $600,000 in services to the community on the annual day to give back, said Iqra Bhatti, the student coordinator for this year鈥檚 event at about two dozen venues around Central Florida.

This year about 1,300 to 1,500 students, alumni, faculty and staff members are expected to sign up to serve, she said, adding to the already 22,000 hours of work donated to help local individuals and agencies the past nine years.

鈥淲e like to say at Volunteer 麻豆原创 that we have an impact on the community just by taking the day to provide for others what we have for ourselves,鈥� said Bhatti, an Orlando senior majoring in health science.

Projects are divided into different categories: health, environment, education and literacy, hunger and homelessness, youth and mentoring, and animal awareness. Volunteers should meet at CFE Arena on campus by 7:30 a.m. so they can be transported to the various work sites such as Clean the World, Mustard Seed of Central Florida, Center for Independent Living, and Oakland Nature Preserve. The event is scheduled to end at 1 p.m.

Volunteers can do things as varied as planting trees and shrubs, packing shelf-stable meals, cleaning tombstones, making cards for hospitalized children, recycling hygiene products, and numerous other projects.

Something new for volunteers this year will be a 鈥渇ield day鈥� of games in the CFE Arena for children with autism. Volunteer 麻豆原创 is working with The Autism Society of Greater Orlando to organize the day.

If you鈥檙e registering a group of at least 10 to work at the same site, organizers ask that you sign up everyone at the same time.

Knights Give Back is just one part of Volunteer 麻豆原创鈥檚 projects. The group has a variety of events and programs throughout the year for students to gain knowledge and experience, and connect with volunteer opportunities of their interest. V麻豆原创 works with more than 200 community organizations to expand the agency鈥檚 outreach.

鈥淲hy do we do this? Four hours of time truly impacts the community,鈥� Bhatti said. 鈥淧lus, you learn what you want to see the world become. It鈥檚 a lot about helping others and self-discovery.鈥�

After a morning of fun in the arena, volunteers were transported to sites all over Orlando. One of the sites, Project Bithlo, had students partnering with United Global Outreach to enhance Transformation Village in an effort to uplift an under resourced community. Voessica Bonney, lunteers assisted with the vegetable and butterfly garden, painted a mural, and helped with the aquaponics system maintenance.

Rosen College and Hospitality Management campus students served at the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, where they assisted with shelter upkeep, making mobiles for the cats to play with and associating with the shelter animals.

One of the most popular events was the on-campus 鈥淎bilities Field Day鈥� hosted in partnership with the Autism Society of Greater Orlando. The event welcomed children with different abilities to experience all the fun of a field day in a safe, controlled environment where they can play with different sensory activities.

鈥淰olunteering and making an impact on the children and their families was very rewarding, but I found that the educational aspect of the project was the biggest thing for us to take away,鈥� said Jessica Bonney, 麻豆原创 junior. The Chi Omega member went on to explain, 鈥淭he entire V麻豆原创 staff did a great job of explaining the barrier between society and those who have Autism. We were challenged to break the social stigma within our own lives as well as within our community.鈥�

The project is estimated to generate more than $115,000 in community impact.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got volunteer teams of 麻豆原创 faculty members, classes, clubs, sports teams, Greek life, as well as individual students and groups of friends that just all come together to go out and make a difference in the Orlando community as Knights,鈥� said Volunteer 麻豆原创 student director, Annabelle Gonzales. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see that sort of drive for positive impact amongst the Knight community.鈥�

Since 2007, Volunteer 麻豆原创 has hosted Knights Give Back as a way to engage 麻豆原创 in service to give back. The event has more than doubled its attendance since 2008, seeing up to 1,200 attendees in recent years. It鈥檚 not just the Central Florida community that reaps the benefits of this event; Knights Give Back goes statewide and national as regional campuses and alumni chapters participate in volunteer projects in their cities. Last year saw Knights Give Back service projects in five states.

Knights Give Back participants at the 麻豆原创 main campus will gather at 7:30 a.m. at the CFE Arena for entertainment, a photo booth, an appearance by Knightro, a DJ and a dance performance by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Knight-Thon. Breakfast, bus transportation to and from the volunteer sites, and T-shirts also will be provided for volunteers.

For registration and other details, click or contact David Oglethorpe, communication coordinator at the Office of Student Involvement, at 407-823-0548 or davido@ucf.edu.

The day is Knights Give Back, an annual 麻豆原创 tradition that encourages members of the 麻豆原创 community to volunteer and make a difference in Central Florida.

Since 2007, 麻豆原创 volunteers have spent more 16,000 hours working on community service projects through Knights Give Back. During last year鈥檚 event, more than 1,000 Knights committed their Saturdays to taking part in various service projects in the area.

Some of this year鈥檚 麻豆原创 volunteers will:

In addition, members of the 麻豆原创 Alumni Chapter of Chicago will volunteer with the Chicago Parks District. Activities will include planting gardens, mulching trees and other various park improvements.

For a full list of this year鈥檚 Knights Give Back volunteer projects, visit .

Green was born in Long Beach, Calif., and lived in several states while growing up. a Psychology major, she plans to graduate in December and then pursue a master鈥檚 degree in Applied Learning and Instruction at 麻豆原创. She eventually wants to attend medical school.

Why did you choose 麻豆原创?

麻豆原创 felt right! I had the privilege of being offered many scholarships to fine universities, but in the end the people at 麻豆原创 made the difference. 麻豆原创 has a phenomenal sciences program, an up-and-coming medical school, a growing athletics department and an honors program which created a small-school environment in the midst of the extraordinary size of the university. 麻豆原创 has everything! Moving to Orlando and coming to 麻豆原创 is one of the best decisions I have ever made!

How has serving on the President鈥檚 Leadership Council helped you?

The council is made up of the most phenomenal students at 麻豆原创; each person has a unique story and vision for the rest of their lives. You are constantly compelled to strive for more. Furthermore, Dr. (Nancy) Marshall and Ana Petkov create an environment that teaches you to be self-confident. The council has allowed me to build many connections with other student leaders on campus and to get to know many of 麻豆原创’s administrators.

What has been your favorite class at 麻豆原创? Why?

Windows to the World with Dr. (Alvin) Wang was so incredibly practical, and it focused on becoming a well-rounded person and discovering what being well rounded meant for each student. The class was approximately 10 students, which allowed for amazing discussions.聽 Dr. Wang encouraged curiosity, openness and individuality.聽 He also brought in other professors from different disciplines to help teach life skills such as interviewing. This class has helped prepare me for graduate school and my professional career.

Who are the most important role models in your life?

Christ is my most important role model. His life and story are the foundations of everything I strive to do. My parents also have served as great examples of what hard work will produce. They are sources of wisdom and demonstrate how to live a life full of generosity and love.

You tried out for USA Volleyball鈥檚 Women鈥檚 National Team this spring. What was that experience like?

The experience was eye opening. I was competing with the best college players in the country and training at facilities that have housed some of the world鈥檚 best athletes! It was such a great opportunity to work with many of the National Team coaches. I hope to go back again this spring.

You and a dozen other student-athletes participated in a special Knights Without Borders trip to Panama this spring. How did the trip to Panama change your life?

Watch a about the trip.

I saw so plainly was what love was. In Panama, orphanages serve as the foster care system, except it is more localized. At these orphanages, seven to 12 children live with an 鈥渁unt鈥� or housemother who is a woman who essentially serves as the children鈥檚 mother. These women were truly my inspiration. In some homes, there were many children with mental disabilities. I saw women who gave day after day for these children and even with all they had to care for, they welcomed neighborhood kids whose parents did not get home until late. Those women are so amazing.

We were also able to experience the culture by staying in local Panamanian hostels. Many of us shared one room, which expedited the bonding process! On the trip we also were able to get to know the culture. We visited the Panama Canal, ate traditional Panamanian food and learned different styles of Latin dances. The trip was an amazing cultural and service experience.

What are the keys to your success in the classroom?

We have a full schedule all year long. It takes careful planning and creating a system that works for your life to be successful. I personally am helpless without my iCal application (linked to all my Apple products) and my Moleskin planner. Also, for me it is so important to remember my goal of becoming a doctor. I constantly remind myself that to achieve my goal of helping children, I have to be successful in the classroom.

If you could play any sport other than volleyball, what would it be?

Track and field is my first love. I started running competitively in the second grade. I cannot describe it, but when you are running fast, there is something surreal about it. You feel as if your are flying. I absolutely love it! Running will forever be my stress reliever.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

I love to cook! My favorite thing to do is to cook for people I love. When I was younger, I was a Food Network junkie. I used to sit for hours and watch all the different shows and get inspiration for new dishes to try. This makes holidays really special for me because it is a time that my whole family gets together and cooks.

On road trips, how do you and your teammates pass the time?

All of us love to listen to music! It is so funny, but if you were to be a fly on the wall during a trip, we are all either sleeping, doing homework or have our headphones on.

The Knights Give Back, 麻豆原创’s annual campuswide day of service, has been a tradition since 2007. The goal is to bring 麻豆原创 Knights together for one day to make a difference in the Central Florida community.

On October 15, Volunteer 麻豆原创 held its fifth annual Knights Give Back with over 1,000 students, alumni, faculty and staff including, for the first time, volunteers from 麻豆原创鈥檚 Regional Campuses, volunteering at 22 sites throughout the Central Florida community.

Participants provided a number of services to the community, from helping to clean the Wekiva River, restoring a local natural area in Oviedo and setting up a festival for the residents of Winter Park Towers to volunteering at Give Kids the World.

鈥淭his event helps to ignite the volunteers鈥� passion for service. Knights Give Back allows participants to really see the impact they can make on the lives of their neighbors,鈥� said Mark Baker, Knights Give Back site leader at Give Kids the World.

The event serves as a way to promote civic engagement between 麻豆原创 and Orlando and helps to build partnerships with local non-profits. In the five years the program has existed, Knights Give Back has provided over 3,000 volunteers, participated in almost 11,000 hours of service, and saved Central Florida over $219,200.

A 麻豆原创 tradition since 2007, Knights Give Back will send volunteers to more than 20 sites around Central Florida. More than 1, 500 students, faculty and staff members and alumni are already registered to participate in 麻豆原创鈥檚 largest official day of service.

Volunteers will gather in the morning at Memory Mall on 麻豆原创鈥檚 main campus and take buses to their volunteer sites. Throughout the day, they will learn more about the organization they are assisting through information sessions, facility tours and hands-on experiences.

Knights Give Back promotes civic engagement while building partnerships and making a difference in the Central Florida community. It is sponsored by the Student Government Association, Volunteer 麻豆原创 and the Office of Student Involvement.

鈥淜nights Give Back shows students, faculty and alumni how much one day of service can make a difference,鈥� said Rachel Brill, Volunteer 麻豆原创鈥檚 student director. 鈥淭he event empowers those who participate to give back to the community while creating a spiral effect of service, giving back and promoting civic engagement.鈥�

This year鈥檚 participants will perform tasks such as:

-Canoeing and cleaning the Wekiva River with Keep Seminole Beautiful.

-Cleaning bronze and concrete sculptures at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens in Winter Park.

-Assisting in the beautification of the community garden at the Chiles Academy school in Daytona Beach.

-Cleaning and sanitizing classrooms at the Orlando Day Nursery.

-Gardening and decorating for upcoming Halloween events at the Central Florida Zoo.

-Helping Pet Rescue by Judy with animal care, office duties and painting.

-Mulching and creating a walkway for the 麻豆原创 Arboretum’s community garden.

More than 650 volunteers participated in Knights Give Back, 麻豆原创’s annual campuswide day of service. They worked at nearly 20 sites in Orange, Seminole, Brevard, Volusia, Lake and Pinellas counties.

For the first time, Knights Give Back included a service project outside of Florida. The Dallas-Fort Worth Alumni Chapter helped with a cat adoption project in Texas.

Since the tradition began in 2007, 麻豆原创 volunteers have provided several thousand hours of service on behalf of social services, the arts, animals, the environment and other causes.

“The event was a success, and everyone had a great time,鈥� said Marlon Gut铆errez, a senior business major and the student director for Volunteer 麻豆原创, which coordinates Knights Give Back. 鈥淲e look forward to adding new sites and increasing the number of volunteers next year.鈥�

STUDENT-LED SERVICE PROJECTS INCLUDED:

— Cleaning and painting the auditorium at the Chiles Academy, a public charter school for pregnant and parenting teens in Volusia County. The group included about 15 麻豆原创 Daytona Beach students and staff and faculty members.

鈥淭he school administrators were extremely appreciative, and it was a rewarding opportunity for us to give back to the less fortunate in our community,鈥� said Linda Bradley, assistant vice president of Academic Affairs and director of the Daytona Beach campus.

— Canoeing and cleaning the Wekiva River.

— Playing sports with youths served by Boys Town Central Florida. Most of the volunteers in this group were student-athletes on 麻豆原创’s baseball and track-and-field teams.

— Helping Pet Rescue With Judy coordinate a pet adoption fair at Waterford Lakes.

— Building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Cocoa.

— Helping to set up “The Celebration of Soul” festival in Lake County and assisting with floats for the parade.

ALUMNI-LED SERVICE PROJECTS INCLUDED:

— A clean-up effort in the Parramore area coordinated by the 麻豆原创 Black and Hispanic Alumni Chapter.

— Preparing a meal for the Ronald McDonald Share-A-Meal project. Most of the volunteers in this group were from the 麻豆原创 Rosen College of Hospitality Management Alumni Chapter.

–Cleaning Melbourne Beach. Most of the volunteers in this group were from the Space Coast Alumni Chapter.

Knights Give Back promotes civic engagement while building partnerships and making a difference in the Central Florida community. It is sponsored by the Student Government Association, Volunteer 麻豆原创 and the Office of Student Involvement.

About 800 volunteers have signed up to participate in Knights Give Back, 麻豆原创鈥檚 annual campuswide day of service. They will work from about 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at more than a dozen sites in Orange, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard counties.

Since the tradition began in 2007, 麻豆原创 volunteers have provided nearly 3,500 hours of service on behalf of social services, the arts, the environment and other causes.

鈥淓ach year we seek to include more sites that will create a fun and enriching experience for our volunteers,鈥� said Marlon Gutierrez, a senior business major and the student director for Volunteer 麻豆原创, which coordinates Knights Give Back.

Volunteers this year will:

— Canoe and clean the Wekiva River.

— Clean and paint the auditorium at the Chiles Academy, a public charter school for pregnant and parenting teens in Volusia County.

— Play sports with youths served by Boys Town Central Florida. Most of the volunteers in this group will be 麻豆原创 student-athletes.

— Help Pet Rescue With Judy coordinate a pet adoption fair at Waterford Lakes.

— Build homes with Habitat for Humanity in Cocoa.

Knights Give Back promotes civic engagement while building partnerships and making a difference in the Central Florida community. It is sponsored by the Student Government Association, Volunteer 麻豆原创 and the Office of Student Involvement.

Students, faculty and staff went to organizations such as Greyhound Pets of America, where they cleaned the area that housed the dogs; washed muzzles and collars; spent time with the greyhounds; and toured the facility. Another group worked with Seminole County Lake Management, where they planted native plants and removed invasive plants at Spring Lake. Other service sites included: A Gift for Teaching, Give Kids the World, Quest’s Camp Thunderbird, Society of St. Andrew, and the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens.

The participants at each site ranged from 12 to 85 volunteers depending on the needs of the organization they were working with. Alumni, faculty, staff, student organizations as well as students participated in this event. Upon the return of all the busses, the Office of Student Involvement’s Volunteer 麻豆原创 hosted an event, 鈥淕ive Back Bash,鈥� in which all participants enjoyed pizza and drinks, and listened to music provided by the Knight-Cast DJ.

鈥淜nights Give Back is a short-term commitment with a long-term impact,鈥� commented Volunteer 麻豆原创 Student Director Jessica Schwendeman. Volunteer 麻豆原创 staff stated they were proud of the Knights Give Back event, and hopes to see it grow in years to come.

The Office of Student Involvement is in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.