Now CATER is expanding its mission and its reach as it shifts from a center within the College of Engineering and Computer Science to an official university center, effective July 1. This new iteration of CATER includes structured goals for faculty success, advancing new industry and national lab partnerships and the development of new research and testing facilities for students and faculty.

“Florida has an unparallel industrial ecosystem that includes turbomachinery companies, space propulsion companies and aviation companies,â€� Pegasus Professor and Trustee Chair Jayanta Kapat says. “CATER works at the intersection of these technologies and strives to provide the best training to Â鶹ԭ´´ students who will work for these organizations, capable of providing them with fast and quality technical solutions.â€�

Fostering Faculty Mentorship

Â鶹ԭ´´ sets up its faculty for long-term success, in part, through quality mentorship.

As part of Kapat’s plan, core senior CATER faculty members will mentor incoming assistant professors who join CATER as core faculty members until they receive promotion and tenure. Throughout the process, junior faculty will receive guidance on the grant funding process and networking as well as student recruitment and advising.

CATER’s current interdisciplinary faculty expertise includes mechanical and aerospace engineering, and modeling, simulation and training.

“The typical faculty career is 20 to 30 years, and we want our faculty to stay successful over that period of time,� Kapat says. “None of this is taught in a university as a course. So in CATER we have created a very intense one-to-one mentorship plan that worked well in the previous version of CATER so that core members can sustain productivity over their entire faculty careers.�

Redefining the Research Focus

To be considered or to remain a core member of CATER, senior faculty will need to continuously meet specific metrics such as annual research expenditures, total annual awards, the number of mentored graduate students, number doctoral graduations, publications, etc.

CATER won’t expand beyond 15 core members and 10 research faculty members, while keeping its focus on various research applications, such as hypersonics and national security, energy and sustainability, advanced air mobility, and space power and propulsion.

“These are the areas where we contribute to the university’s overall strategic initiatives that President Alexander N. Cartwright implemented as part of ±«°ä¹ó’s strategic plan,â€� Kapat says. “So this is our contribution to the university’s strategic goals.â€�

The faculty are already working on several research projects to support CATER’s research pillars, including the development of digital twin architecture for power plants and aviation systems, creating new fuels for zero-emission aviation, use of supercritical carbon dioxide, molten salt and ammonia as energy carriers for future power generation systems, expanding design paradigm using advanced manufacturing and newer materials, and investigating the possibility of building a power plant on the moon.

Expanding Industry Partnerships

CATER also supports industry needs through partnerships with major energy, aerospace and defense organizations that are based in Central Florida, including Pegasus Partner Siemens Energy. For the past decade, CATER’s homebase has been the Siemens Energy Center on the main campus. But now researchers have additional facilities that support their work.

CATER and the Aerospace Technology Group (ATG) have collaborated on the CATER-ATG Engine Research Test (CERT) facility, which recently opened at Valkaria Airport near Melbourne, Florida. The space allows CATER researchers to certify engine parts and develop/validate new technologies that companies like Boeing or GE could incorporate into their next generation aviation systems.

Professor Kareem Ahmed, a world expert in hypersonic and space propulsion, is using the space to conduct fuel tests for the Department of Defense. Professor Subith Vasu, a world expert in supercritical carbon dioxide oxy-combustion and ammonia combustion, will conduct engine testing of ammonia as a fuel for an actual aviation gas turbine — one of the first in the world.

Kapat’s group is conducting ground testing of hypersonic flight components and will conduct cracking of ammonia using heat from a gas turbine exhaust. Such experiments can’t be run on the Â鶹ԭ´´ campus.

A third joint facility called the CATER Applied Propulsion and Energy Center (CAPE), is under development with start of operation expected by August. This would house several mid-TRL experimental rigs on supercritical carbon dioxide cycle, molten salt systems and components, energy storage, advanced air mobility, etc.

CAPE facility will be also strategically located close to the world’s largest molten salt energy storage facility, called MOSS, being planned by Siemens Energy and will be used to test components for thermal energy storage systems and thermal interface for advanced nuclear reactors. Siemens Energy would own the MOSS facility while a nuclear reactor company will supply a large fraction of the equipment. Â鶹ԭ´´ researchers will help operate and use the facility to conduct research and train the next generation of nuclear and mechanical engineers.

“We need to train the new workforce because there is not enough people trained in nuclear engineering anymore,� Kapat says. “Mechanical engineering is a nuclear-adjacent area, so they see this as an opportunity to train the workforce by letting them run the facility. So it’s a win-win for everybody.�

Often, the daily challenges of life block graduation more than academic ability. With support from the Darden Restaurants Foundation, Â鶹ԭ´´ aims to address these challenges and redefine how it champions upward mobility and student well-being. The future site of this center will be within Howard Phillips Hall on ±«°ä¹ó’s main campus and will house a unified ecosystem that integrates enrollment, academic navigation, mental health resources, food security programs and emergency financial aid to serve nearly 70,000 students annually.

“Our partnership with Â鶹ԭ´´ reflects a shared belief that when you remove barriers and invest in people, you unlock potential at scale.â€� — Susan Connelly, Darden Restaurants Foundation president

“This investment from the Darden Restaurants Foundation reflects what is possible when partners share a commitment to students, opportunity and the future of our workforce,â€� Â鶹ԭ´´ President Alexander N. Cartwright says. “Together, Â鶹ԭ´´ and the Darden Restaurants Foundation are helping more Knights persist, graduate and step into meaningful careers that strengthen Florida’s economy and expand opportunity for generations to come.â€�

“Our partnership with Â鶹ԭ´´ reflects a shared belief that when you remove barriers and invest in people, you unlock potential at scale,â€� President of the Darden Restaurants Foundation Susan Connelly says. “The primary focus areas of the Darden Restaurants Foundation are helping fight hunger and investing in education. Through the Darden Restaurants Foundation Student Success Center, we are helping create a model that supports students holistically — from academic navigation to basic needs — so they can persist, graduate, and thrive in their careers and communities.â€�

This investment strengthens a comprehensive approach to student success by growing access to scholarships, enhancing proactive  success coaching, and delivering innovative, integrated support systems that remove barriers before they can derail progress. It reflects a shared commitment to creating an environment where students are prepared to graduate with confidence, step into meaningful careers and lead in a rapidly changing world.

The $5 million investment also establishes the Darden Restaurants Foundation Student Success Fund, which will directly support four core pillars of the partnership:

• Integrated Support: Implementing Â鶹ԭ´´’s next-generation student support system, a personalized, holistic coaching framework designed to empower students.
• Persistence Initiatives: Strengthening student well-being and academic momentum by pairing individualized academic success coaching with wrap-around care.
• Essential Care: Funding food security programs and emergency assistance, which provide comprehensive relief through free groceries, fresh meals and short-term financial aid.
• Capital Infrastructure: Transforming Howard Phillips Hall into a modern student success hub designed to improve four-year graduation rates and career readiness.

Through this gift, — ±«°ä¹ó’s $3.5 billion campaign to accelerate its next era of impact — continues to turn ambition into action, opening doors of opportunity and shaping a future where every student has the tools to succeed and the momentum to go further than they ever imagined. This gift powers the campaign’s Student Success pillar, advancing a bold vision to ensure every Knight has the support, resources and opportunities to thrive from enrollment through graduation and beyond.

Approximately 22% of Â鶹ԭ´´ students are the first in their families to attend college. The innovative hub will redesign student care from initial recruitment through graduation, helping to build upon Â鶹ԭ´´’s exceptional 93% first-year student retention rate and further accelerate our four-year and six-year graduation metrics.

Darden Restaurants Inc. (Darden) and the Darden Restaurants Foundation have been longstanding partners with Â鶹ԭ´´ for more than 47 years, supporting key areas across the university including the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, the Barry S. Miller College of Business and Athletics. Most recently, this enduring relationship was strengthened by the establishment of the Joe R. Lee Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of the legacy of Darden’s first CEO.

Previously based in downtown Orlando, the FDLE Orlando Toxicology Lab handles approximately 10,000 cases per year. Working more closely with Â鶹ԭ´´ in Lake Nona supports FDLE’s mission to deliver timely, high-quality forensic testing for law enforcement agencies across Central Florida and the state, helping investigators and prosecutors rely on sound science in pursuit of justice.

“This partnership reflects what Â鶹ԭ´´ was built to do — bring talent, technology and applied research together in service to Florida,â€� says Alexander N. Cartwright, Â鶹ԭ´´ president

“This partnership reflects what Â鶹ԭ´´ was built to do — bring talent, technology and applied research together in service to Florida,â€� says Â鶹ԭ´´ President Alexander N. Cartwright. “By welcoming the FDLE Orlando Toxicology Lab to ±«°ä¹ó’s Academic Health Sciences Campus, we are bringing state forensic operations closer to faculty expertise and future workforce, creating opportunities to make smarter use of public resources while strengthening the knowledge, talent and tools available to keep Floridians safe.â€�

FDLE leaders say the partnership reflects a broader strategy to modernize forensic services while building a strong talent pipeline.

“Through this partnership between FDLE and Â鶹ԭ´´, we are investing in the future of forensic science,â€� says FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “This partnership enhances our ability to recruit highly trained forensic scientists, develop new techniques and deliver timely, high-quality results to law enforcement agencies for investigations.â€�

Research Driving Real-World Impact

Now part of Lake Nona Medical City, FDLE experts will benefit from proximity to Â鶹ԭ´´ researchers as they — together — aim to strengthen the region’s role as a hub for biomedical research, health innovation and forensic science. This includes work to advance drug detection methods, study emerging synthetic substances, improve toxicology workflows and develop faster analytical tools to support criminal investigations.

“The closer our researchers are to operational labs, the more responsive and impactful their work becomes,â€� says Jack Ballantyne, Â鶹ԭ´´ chemistry professor and director of the National Center for Forensic Science. “We’re able to identify challenges in real time and immediately begin working on solutions.â€�

From Classroom to Crime Lab

Over the years, numerous Â鶹ԭ´´ alums have built impactful careers at FDLE. Many credit their hands-on training, research opportunities and mentorship at Â鶹ԭ´´, as well as guest speakers from FDLE, for preparing them to excel in high-stakes forensic environments.

“I was lucky enough to complete my internship with FDLE Toxicology, where I was able to experience firsthand what the day-to-day workflow is like before graduating,â€� says Lauren McCool ’15, a Â鶹ԭ´´ forensic science alum and FDLE crime laboratory analyst who remains engaged with Â鶹ԭ´´ as an FDLE guest lecturer. “When I began my career with FDLE I was able to navigate the laboratory with confidence due to the real-world and hands-on experience I had at Â鶹ԭ´´.â€�

With FDLE’s new proximity, students will have even greater access to internships, experiential learning and professional networking — accelerating the pathway from classroom to career and helping prepare more graduates for forensic science roles that serve Florida’s communities.

Leading Forensic Science Education

Â鶹ԭ´´ brings the academic depth, research capacity and student pipeline needed to support FDLE’s long-term forensic science needs. The partnership reinforces ±«°ä¹ó’s role as Florida’s Technological University and a national leader in forensic science education and research.

Â鶹ԭ´´ ranks No. 6 in the nation for Bachelor’s in Forensic Science Degree Programs, according to CriminalJusticeDegreeSchools.com. ±«°ä¹ó’s undergraduate program was established in 1974, making it one of the oldest forensic science programs in the country. About 500 students are currently enrolled across ±«°ä¹ó’s bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral forensic science degree offerings.

Established in 1997, the National Center for Forensic Science, based in Central Florida Research Park, is made up of Â鶹ԭ´´ faculty and staff whose research touches everything from DNA analysis to chemical analysis of trace evidence. Their work often contributes to industry-wide advancements in forensic science. This includes research earlier this year on the “fantastic fourâ€� chemical standards to provide a consistent and critical reference point for forensic anthropology and toxicology work.

A new educational partnership between Â鶹ԭ´´ and the U.S. Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) is creating opportunities for research, student training and workforce development in one of the country’s most specialized scientific fields. The collaboration strengthens critical scientific capabilities, facilitates the sharing of resources and expertise, helps build the radiochemistry talent pipeline and positions Â鶹ԭ´´ at the forefront of nuclear chemistry research that supports national security missions.

“Through collaborative research projects and summer internships, Â鶹ԭ´´ students gain hands-on experience working alongside federal scientists and access to AFTAC’s facilities and instrumentation for research supporting national security missions,â€� says Vasileios Anagnostopoulos, associate professor of chemistry in the Â鶹ԭ´´ College of Sciences and principal investigator of the partnership.

Only a small number of universities nationwide have established this type of relationship with AFTAC, the Department of the Air Force responsible for monitoring nuclear treaty compliance and detecting nuclear events worldwide.

A Nationally Recognized Program

“The fact that we were invited by AFTAC to be one of their official academic partners says a lot about the recognition of our program and the important role chemistry and radiochemistry play in the national security landscape.”

According to Anagnostopoulos — director of ±«°ä¹ó’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fellowship and Â鶹ԭ´´ principal investigator for the multi-institutional NNSA-funded Consortium for Nuclear Forensics — ±«°ä¹ó’s growing reputation in radiochemistry and analytical chemistry helped distinguish the university as a strong academic partner.

The collaboration also reflects ±«°ä¹ó’s broader role in supporting Florida’s rapidly growing aerospace, defense and national security ecosystem through research, workforce development and federal partnerships.

“Our radiochemistry program is gaining national recognition through multiple research grants and collaborative proposals,� Anagnostopoulos says. “The fact that we were invited by AFTAC to be one of their official academic partners says a lot about the recognition of our program and the important role chemistry and radiochemistry play in the national security landscape.�

The partnership builds on ±«°ä¹ó’s advanced research infrastructure, including radiochemistry laboratories, mass spectrometry capabilities and materials characterization resources. Together, these facilities enable researchers to analyze complex nuclear materials and conduct detailed characterization studies for national and international security applications.

“We have cutting-edge facilities and instrumentation for sensitive and precise analysis,� Anagnostopoulos says. “The combination of radiochemistry, advanced analytical capabilities and access to radioactive materials allows us to address complicated real-world problems and provide technical information that can support our federal partners’ missions.�

Unique Opportunities for Students

For students, the partnership opens the door to hands-on experiences rarely available in a traditional academic setting.

Through internships and collaborative research projects, students will work alongside multidisciplinary teams of chemists, engineers and scientists while gaining exposure to federal laboratory environments and national security protocols.

Few universities nationwide offer students direct pathways into operational nuclear security environments, making the partnership a unique training opportunity for Â鶹ԭ´´ students interested in chemistry, national security and federal science careers.

“Beyond the technical training, they gain exposure to mission-focused work, interdisciplinary collaboration and communication skills that are essential in federal and defense environments,� Anagnostopoulos says.

Building the Future Workforce

The agreement also addresses a national need for trained experts in radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry, highly specialized disciplines offered at only a limited number of institutions nationwide, Anagnostopoulos says.

As federal agencies and national laboratories work to strengthen expertise in nuclear security, treaty monitoring and advanced nuclear technologies, partnerships like this help ensure a pipeline of future highly skilled scientists is ready to contribute.

“This partnership helps prepare the next generation of scientists while keeping the country at the forefront of nuclear security and global safety,� Anagnostopoulos says.

As the collaboration grows, it’s expected to expand opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students in other fields, such as big data analytics and cybersecurity, while further establishing Â鶹ԭ´´ as a hub for radiochemistry, defense-related chemistry, and national security research.

“The Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrow’s leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences.� — Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences

The first-of-its-kind Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation is housed within the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, ranked No. 1 nationally. With the addition of Universal’s new school and the college’s School of Hospitality Leadership, students now have access to a dual-school model that brings together experience-focused education with business strategy, operations, and service leadership.

“The Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrow’s leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences,� says Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences Mark Woodbury.

“Â鶹ԭ´´ was built to power what’s next for our students, for industry, and for the State of Florida,â€� Â鶹ԭ´´ President Alexander N. Cartwright says. “This collaboration with Universal Destinations & Experiences represents our mission at its best, creating an environment where students are learning in direct connection with the people and ideas shaping the future of immersive experiences.â€�

A First-of-its-Kind Model for Experience Education

The Universal and Â鶹ԭ´´ partnership will also support research through a new Hospitality Technology Lab, designed to be a creative sandbox for students to collaborate, test ideas, and gain practical hands-on experience working alongside Â鶹ԭ´´ faculty, Universal professionals, and industry stakeholders. Students will gain timely insight that reflects industry needs as part of their education. Built around innovation and interdisciplinary teaming, the lab embeds coursework, student projects, and faculty research in a shared space, equipping graduates with both current skills and the adaptability to lead in a constantly evolving technology ecosystem.

The new school’s research will build on ±«°ä¹ó’s existing strengths, applying university expertise to one of the world’s most dynamic industries. Focus areas for teaching, learning, and research will include:

• Service robotics and human-centered approaches to shape guest and employee interactions
• AR and VR simulation technologies for training, operations, and immersive environments
• AI and digital twins for optimizing and personalizing the guest experience

This work extends a decades-long partnership between Â鶹ԭ´´ and Universal rooted in collaboration and shared success. For more than 20 years, Rosen College has served as a key talent pipeline for Universal, with thousands of graduates contributing across its parks, experiences, and operations, alongside hands-on learning opportunities like the Â鶹ԭ´´/Universal Creative Lab.

“Together with Â鶹ԭ´´ we have opened doors for students and helped strengthen our industry with valued talent — and the next chapter will be even better,â€� Chief Administrative Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences John Sprouls says. “We’re creating a distinctive academic home that will expand pathways into fulfilling and dynamic careers.â€�

“Rosen College has long been a global leader in hospitality education, and this next step reflects how our industry is evolving,â€� says Â鶹ԭ´´ Rosen College of Hospitality Management Dean Cynthia Mejia. “By strengthening our relationship with our longtime partners at Universal Destinations & Experiences, we are creating a first-of-its-kind two-school model that blends creativity, technology and leadership, preparing students to lead the future of guest experiences.â€�

Pegasus Partners: Scaling Impact Through Collaboration

As ±«°ä¹ó’s first entertainment-sector Pegasus Partner, Universal Destinations & Experiences joins a group of industry leaders working with the university to solve real-world challenges, accelerate discovery, and strengthen the workforce talent pipeline. Universal is also the first Pegasus Partner to enter into a master research agreement with Â鶹ԭ´´, enabling collaboration at scale and unlocking new opportunities for applied research.

The Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, strategic philanthropy, and co-location at Â鶹ԭ´´.

As the first Pegasus Partner since the start of , ±«°ä¹ó’s $3.5 billion campaign to accelerate its next era of impact, Universal’s commitment is a powerful model that combines philanthropy and strategic industry investment to drive innovation, expand opportunity, and fuel shared success.

Â鶹ԭ´´ has made a name for itself globally in programming and cybersecurity thanks to student-run clubs that deliver championships year after year. They now have company in another area of technology — robotics.

The Robotics Club of Central Florida (RCCF) witnessed two teams, Knightmare and Daydream, dominate with an impressive number of wins over this past academic year. The teams won a total of 83 head-to-head matches against more than 40 universities, and ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for individual robotic skills at the VEX University Robotics Competition (VURC) 2025-26, besting teams from Georgia Tech, Purdue and Texas A&M.

Kushal Patel, an aerospace engineering major and a member of the Knightmare team, says the secret to the teams’ success this year has been their experience and passion for competitive robotics.

“Combined, the team has over 50 years of VEX robotics experience, with our most senior member competing since third grade,� Patel says. “We don’t just participate in this project for bullet points on our resumes — our team competes for the love of competition.�

The team structure intentionally empowers all students to gain valuable experience during these robotics competitions. Daydream is a beginner friendly team focused on students without prior experience while Knightmare is suitable for more advanced students.

“Unlike other design teams, where new members typically participate in internal competitions, those who join Daydream are able to hit the ground running and compete against other schools right away,� says Kapri O’Brien, a mechanical engineering major and the project lead for RCCF. “This structure allowed for both project teams to naturally grow and strengthen, and created the unique opportunity for us to compete against each other for awards at times this season, leading to the fantastic achievement of both Knightmare and Daydream qualifying for this year’s world championship.�

Both teams also participate in outreach events, volunteering at VEX competitions around the country. They also recently hosted the VEX IQ challenge for middle school and high school students on the Â鶹ԭ´´ campus to great success. Patel also works for the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, which logistically and operationally runs the VEX robotics competitions.

With Central Florida’s reputation as a leader in dynamic, high-tech fields, they envision the next phase of success and growth for their program in industry partnerships. Â鶹ԭ´´ is known as one of the nation’s most innovative universities and is responsible for one out of every four of Florida’s engineering and computer science graduates.

“Our team provides a space for engineers to grow the skills you need outside of the classroom to be a skillful engineer in industry,� O’Brien says. “Support, whether it’s through financial or material donations, allows that space to survive. We regularly prototype with computer vision and machine learning algorithms, gaining hands-on experience with the technology that will power our future.�

Industry partners or students who are interested in learning more about RCCF and its competition teams can email outreach@rccf.club.

Designed to accelerate innovation, the Orlando Health Strategic Innovations group connects real clinical and operational challenges with student and academic talent, creating a healthcare environment where ideas are tested, informed by feedback, and continually improved. The space serves as an extension of the system’s downtown headquarters and is jointly funded by Orlando Health Ventures and the Orlando Health Innovation teams.

Orlando Health’s presence within SPRK aligns with ±«°ä¹ó’s broader co-location strategy, which brings industry partners onto campus to catalyze innovation through proximity. The approach emphasizes shared space, shared challenges and shared outcomes to accelerate problem-solving, support experiential learning and speed the translation of ideas into practice.

The co-location marks the latest milestone in Orlando Health’s long-standing partnership with Â鶹ԭ´´.

“By working side by side at SPRK, we are accelerating innovation and moving real-world healthcare solutions more quickly into the communities we serve.â€�  — Alexander N. Cartwright, Â鶹ԭ´´ president

The Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute provides comprehensive, year-round care for Â鶹ԭ´´ student-athletes, including on-field coverage, primary care sports medicine, and specialized imaging. As a Pegasus Partner, Orlando Health pledged $5 million toward the , which supports nursing internships, scholarships, and hiring, helping to address the state’s nursing shortage. In addition, Orlando Health and Â鶹ԭ´´ collaborate on advanced technology projects — such as the AI for Medical Surgery system — jointly offer specialized residency programs and collaborate in many additional ways.

“Orlando Health has been an exceptional partner, demonstrating what is possible when industry and academia come together with shared purpose. This next phase of co-location builds on that foundation,â€� says Â鶹ԭ´´ President Alexander N. Cartwright. “By working side by side at SPRK, we are accelerating innovation and moving real-world healthcare solutions more quickly into the communities we serve.â€�

Healthcare Innovation at the Center of Campus

Located in approximately 2,649 square feet within SPRK, the Strategic Innovations group was intentionally placed, here, to foster continuous collaboration with faculty and students across disciplines.

This co-location enables a new operating model. Orlando Health brings real health system challenges directly into the academic environment, and interdisciplinary teams of students, faculty, and Orlando Health innovators rapidly design, test, and refine solutions.

Early collaboration has already begun to generate impact in areas such as cancer research, digital health, creation of AI models and various orthopedic innovations.

“The opening of an Orlando Health Strategic Innovations space at Â鶹ԭ´´ represents our shared commitment to advancing healthcare delivery through bold new ideas,â€� says Jamal Hakim, M.D., chief physician officer, Orlando Health. “Through this partnership, we are creating a collaborative environment where clinicians, researchers, students and industry leaders can generate real-world solutions and drive innovations that will shape the future of how we care for patients.â€�

Built to Go For Launch

The latest milestone in , this co-location represents Â鶹ԭ´´’s deep commitment to the ecosystem of support powering our vision for the future.

Through a collective effort — combining philanthropy and transformational giving with corporate partnerships, research commercialization and other revenue-generating endeavors — Â鶹ԭ´´Â is charting a bold new path forward and building a future the world has only begun to imagine.

“This co-location with Orlando Health exemplifies the kind of partnership that powers Go for Launch, bringing industry and academia together to create real-world impact,â€� says Rod Grabowski, Â鶹ԭ´´ vice president for Advancement and Partnership, and CEO of the Â鶹ԭ´´ Foundation. “By aligning visionary partners with ±«°ä¹ó’s innovation ecosystem, we are accelerating discovery, expanding opportunity and advancing solutions that improve lives.â€�

The realization hit him one day on the job. This project’s legacy and impact were going to outlive him.

“When I think back on every cool thing I’ve gotten to do so far in my career, it does all kind of lead back to Orlando Family Stage,� Lowe says.

Lowe was 6 years old when his cub scout troop attended a show at the stage, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary — the last 25 of those years in partnership with Â鶹ԭ´´.

He eventually went through its Youth Academy, interned as a Â鶹ԭ´´ theatre student on site, made industry connections and now regularly contracts work at the stage as a full-time lighting designer for Clair Global, a tech company that specializes in live production services.

Lowe’s story is just one example of the countless ripple effects that have materialized from ±«°ä¹ó’s longstanding, collaborative partnership with a nationally recognized leader in the theater industry.

“I’ve watched kids come in and they’re so shy and they can’t do anything. But by the time they leave, they’re not only signing up for the next show, they’re leading the next show,� says Paul Lartonoix, assistant dean for the College of Arts and Humanities and longtime Orlando Family Stage board member. “Sometimes it’s amazing at what it does. There’s no reason to not be proud of it. It’s doing great things for families. It’s doing great things for kids. It’s doing great things for our students, and it’s awesome that it’s being run by Knights.�

A Partnership That Builds Community

Orlando Family Stage, founded in 1926 as part of the City of Orlando’s Recreation Department, has evolved over the past 100 years while persevering through historic challenges including the Great Depression, World War II, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Â鶹ԭ´´ entered the picture in 2000 when former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood and Â鶹ԭ´´ President John C. Hitt formed a community coalition to bring the stage under ±«°ä¹ó’s oversight. At the time, the theater needed a major overhaul — both to its physical home at Loch Haven Park and in programming — to ensure it could thrive in the new millennium.

“I know with great confidence we would not be sitting here today without Â鶹ԭ´´ on board. We wouldn’t have survived.â€� — Chris Brown ’05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and Â鶹ԭ´´ theatre alum

“We wanted it because we thought that space was an exceptional, it had tremendous potential, and Â鶹ԭ´´ should be a part of it. That really was the driving force,â€� says Lartonoix, who served as executive director on-loan and was instrumental in leading the early years of the partnership. “And when things worked, it was fantastic.â€�

The intervention proved to be a major catalyst for its impact in the community today, and for the world at large through the countless children and Â鶹ԭ´´ graduates who have been affiliated with its programming and education.

“I know with great confidence we would not be sitting here today without Â鶹ԭ´´ on board. We wouldn’t have survived,â€� says Chris Brown ’05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and Â鶹ԭ´´ theatre alum. “To think that leaders came together and said, ‘We don’t want to lose a vital theater organization in our town, and we want to create an active and engaged partnership with the university where we can collectively do good things to serve young people in the world.’ It’s very special.â€�

Florida’s Only Professional Theatre for Young Audiences

A major part of that partnership is ±«°ä¹ó’s MFA in theatre for young audiences program, which launched in 2004. The program has operated for the past two decades as Florida’s only professional theatre for young audiences and is one of the most distinctive programs in the country with its unique graduate-training residency.

In addition to learning from the university’s esteemed faculty, students gain practical experience with opportunities to work with professional artists and teach in Orlando Family Stage’s award-winning Youth Academy, which offers camps, classes and experiences for every age level from infancy through teens.

The MFA program has seen graduates go on to work at some of the most prestigious theaters in the country, become educators at universities as far as Dublin and help run community theaters across the United States.

In addition to his leadership role, Brown teaches theatre management courses on ±«°ä¹ó’s campus. He says he believes an important part of his responsibility as an educator is to expand his students’ idea of where a career in the arts can take them.

“We’re helping them recognize that arts administration is creative work,� he says. “Writing a grant narrative, crafting a brand voice, planning a touring route or stewarding a donor relationship all require the same storytelling skills they bring to performance and production roles.�

Instilling Bravery in Children

The stage’s mission is to empower young people to be brave and empathetic.

Sure it sounds good, but more importantly, there’s truth to the claim. Recent research by the Â鶹ԭ´´ Department of Psychology provides evidence to support it.

The Orlando Family Stage’s education team collaborated with associate professor Valerie Sims and senior lecturer Matthew Chin and more than a dozen undergraduate students from the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab along with associate professor of musical theatre Tara Deady ’07MFA on a study, which they are currently working on publishing. The study aimed to determine if the stage’s programming delivers on its promise to promote creative engagement and bravery in children ages 1-5.

Because of the young age of the participants, traditional survey tools and written questionnaires wouldn’t work. The team needed to get creative in a research approach that matched how children experience theatre.

The research team meticulously observed second by second footage of children and parent engagement during performances of Yo, Ho, Ho! Let’s Go! — an interactive, multi-sensory original production created by the stage’s senior director of education Jennifer Adams-Carrasquillo ’11MFA.

“We have evidence that theater participation really is beneficial to these very young kids.â€� — Matthew Chin, Â鶹ԭ´´ psychology senior lecturer

They logged and quantified data through body language and audience responses. Early on, Sims and Chin say, children needed to be prompted by their parents to participate. However, as the show progressed, you can clearly see children initiating the participation on their own and parental involvement decreasing.

“With this study we are able to say that it isn’t just this thing that we think is true — we have evidence that theater participation really is beneficial to these very young kids,� Chin says.

In 2024-25 alone, more than 4,770 audience members attended Theatre for the Very Young productions like Yo, Ho, Ho! Let’s Go!. Multiply those numbers year after year and the impact to the youth in our community is monumental.

The Next 100 Years

As the stage commemorates this special milestone in its history, it also acknowledges the scope of possibilities and impact ahead.

This year, when Gershwin Entertainment Group, who owns the theatrical rights for A Charlie Brown Christmas, needed a national touring partner to bring the show to life on stage around the country, they turned to the Orlando Family Stage to deliver. It became the highest revenue-generating show in the history of the organizatoin’s performances in Orlando —without counting the 32 cities it visited from New York City to Vancouver, Canada.

A partnership with the Â鶹ԭ´´ Department of History is enabling the stage to create an archive of its materials from the last century as part of the RICHES Mosaic Interface, an online resource dedicated to collecting and sharing the stories of Central Florida.

Another is the inaugural Florida Children’s Book Festival in partnership with Writer’s Block Book Store and WÂ鶹ԭ´´, which they hosted in February and plan to host annually to celebrate literature and the link between books, storytelling and live theater.

“We all need to be aware of how special this place is. And we need to be so proud that our community has something like this.â€� — Chris Brown ’05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and Â鶹ԭ´´ theatre alum

They look to expand the reach of Mind Matters, a program the stage initiated with ±«°ä¹ó’s psychology department and national playwrights to produce 10 original short plays about geared for teens about depression, anxiety, loneliness, isolation and other mental health challenges they face today. The plays serve as an educational resource for teachers to spark honest conversations on these topics with their students.

Brown envisions one day expanding the footprint of the building with more theater space, new classrooms and offices to help alleviate their bursting-at-the-seems infrastructure, so they can keep delivering on all the dreams they want to turn into reality and continue creating meaningful experiences for children and the audiences of tomorrow.

“I can’t get past the energy and the faces of busloads of kids coming in here every day,� Brown says. “We all need to be aware of how special this place is. And we need to be so proud that our community has something like this.�

Celebrates the Arts Programming

You can catch live performances from the Theatre for Young Audiences program during April’s Â鶹ԭ´´ Celebrates the Arts festival at the Dr. Phillips Center in downtown Orlando.

Thursday, April 2 – 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Her Universe, HypeFriend!), this concert features performances that span musical styles and theatrical traditions, reflecting the many creative paths that begin at Orlando Family Stage.

*Featuring Micheal James Scott (Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway), Leslie Carrera-Rudolph (Emmy Award-winning performer for Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street), Jack Griffo (Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans), Davis Gaines (Broadway’s longest running Phantom of the Opera), Michael Andrew (Composer and one of America’s greatest interpreters of the American Songbook), Paul Vogt (Broadway’s Hairspray and Chicago). Video appearances by Mandy Moore (This Is Us), Jasmine Forsberg (Broadway’s Six and Here Lies Love), Clayton and Bella Grimm (Blippi), Broadway legend Norm Lewis and more.

*Artist lineup is updating and is subject to change.

Tuesday, April 7 – 10 a.m.
When best friends Squiggle and Square move away from each other, they must find creative ways to keep communicating! Told through clowning, puppetry and music, Pen Pals is a 30-minute interactive play designed for 5 to 10-year-olds.

Saturday, April 11 – 10 a.m.
Yo, Ho, Ho! Let’s Go! is a 30-minute adventure designed especially for children ages 1 to 5 as a multi-sensory experience that invites them to help a pirate navigate the high seas. Together, they follow a treasure map, solve clues and chart the course forward.

H

ome to Â鶹ԭ´´, Orlando has long been a global center for themed entertainment. As immersive attractions, museums and themed entertainment experiences continue to grow in scale, complexity and cultural impact, the industry faces a critical challenge: preparing the next generation of professionals with the real-world skills needed to bring immersive experiences to life.

Spanning storytelling, architecture, engineering, media, operations and production, today’s themed experiences and attractions demand skills that rarely live within a single academic discipline.

For many aspiring professionals, the pathway into themed entertainment remains unclear, with limited visibility into professional workflows, real-world timelines and the cross-functional dynamics that ultimately determine a project’s success.

A new partnership between Â鶹ԭ´´ and AOA — a leading immersive experience design, production and project management company — aims to change that to better support the future of the industry.

Ideal Partnership

±«°ä¹ó’s themed experience graduate programs at the College of Arts and Humanities and AOA have launched the AOA Scholars Program, a hands-on practicum designed to give graduate students direct exposure to the real-world processes behind themed entertainment design and production.

Â鶹ԭ´´ introduced a theatre Master of Fine Arts track in themed experience in 2018. In 2021, the university offered a stand-alone degree program in themed experience. Both programs are  the first of its kind at a public university.

The program’s focused curriculum in themed experience and attractions makes it an ideal partner for AOA.

The scholars initiative will address a common challenge in the field: while demand for immersive attractions, museums and experiences continues to grow, there is an expanding need for practical training and field work for emerging talent.

“Florida is home to some of the most sophisticated themed entertainment work in the world, but the way people enter the industry hasn’t kept pace,� says Tom Acomb, co-founder and chief creative officer of AOA. “This program is about opening the door earlier and giving students a clearer view of how these projects actually come together.�

Each semester, a select cohort of students will participate in workshops led by AOA professionals, visit active project sites and production facilities, and learn how creative, technical and operational decisions intersect in real projects.

“AOA has always believed in investing in early-career talent, starting with a strong internship program that’s been part of our culture since the early days,â€� says Mike Ostendorf, co-founder and CEO of AOA. “This partnership with Â鶹ԭ´´ is an evolution of that long-standing commitment — because seeing the full lifecycle of a project up close matters.â€�

“This partnership gives students access to professional workflows with one of the top firms in the themed entertainment industry.â€� — Peter Weishar, Â鶹ԭ´´ director of themed experience

What’s Next

Â鶹ԭ´´ will oversee academic structure and accreditation, while AOA will contribute funding and industry expertise.

“This partnership gives students access to professional workflows with one of the top firms in the themed entertainment industry with diverse project and a global reachâ€� says Peter Weishar, director of themed experience at Â鶹ԭ´´. “It strengthens Florida’s role as a global talent pipeline for themed entertainment.â€�

The AOA Scholars Program is expected to begin Fall 2026, reinforcing Central Florida’s position as a training ground for the next generation of immersive experience professionals.

Spanning multiple years, Go For Launch is the most ambitious revenue-generating effort in ±«°ä¹ó’s history. The campaign builds on decades of momentum and reflects a clear-eyed understanding of what it will take for a modern, metropolitan research university to deliver at the scale the future demands.

Founded to power America’s space race, Â鶹ԭ´´ has always been an institution built for moments of possibility. Go For Launch draws directly from that legacy, reaffirming ±«°ä¹ó’s role as Florida’s Technological University and calling on Knights, partners and visionaries to help shape what comes next.

Campaign Goals and Timeline

The Go For Launch campaign seeks to generate $3.5 billion over a multi-year period through philanthropy, partnerships and aligned revenue strategies, advancing priorities that will shape ±«°ä¹ó’s trajectory for decades. Funds will fuel innovation across the university, from breakthrough research and talent development to infrastructure and partnerships that extend ±«°ä¹ó’s impact far beyond campus.

The campaign follows a successful pre-launch phase that quietly engaged donors, volunteers and community partners around a shared vision. As of Feb. 21, Â鶹ԭ´´ has secured more than $2 billion in early commitments from individuals, families and partners who believe in the university’s bold future.

“This campaign is about matching ±«°ä¹ó’s ambition with the resources required to deliver on it,â€� says Â鶹ԭ´´ President Alexander N. Cartwright. “It is an investment in discovery, talent and solutions that will shape Florida’s future and improve lives far beyond our campus.â€�

Four Pillars Driving a Transformational Vision

Go For Launch is anchored by four integrated campaign pillars, each essential to ±«°ä¹ó’s ability to deliver impact at scale.

Elevating Student Success
Elevating Student Success ensures every Knight has the support, resources and opportunities to thrive, from enrollment through graduation and beyond. Campaign investments will expand scholarships, strengthen proactive advising and success coaching, enhance career preparation and sustain innovative support systems that remove barriers before they derail progress. This pillar reflects ±«°ä¹ó’s commitment to access and outcomes, preparing graduates who are confident, career-ready and equipped to lead in a rapidly changing world.

Fueling Discovery and Innovation
Fueling Discovery and Innovation accelerates ±«°ä¹ó’s role as a driver of breakthrough research and real-world solutions. Support will advance faculty-led research, interdisciplinary collaboration and student-driven discovery across areas such as space, cybersecurity, health, energy and advanced technologies. With strong industry partnerships, a thriving research ecosystem and a culture of commercialization, Â鶹ԭ´´ is poised to move ideas faster from lab to impact, creating jobs, improving lives and addressing the world’s most urgent challenges.

Advancing Future Frontiers
Advancing Future Frontiers positions Â鶹ԭ´´ at the forefront of what’s next, including artificial intelligence, digital twins, space exploration, immersive technologies and aerospace medicine. Commitments will support research infrastructure, interdisciplinary institutes and bold experimentation that push beyond today’s limits and shape tomorrow’s industries. As technology and humanity converge, Â鶹ԭ´´ is not waiting for the future to arrive. The university is actively inventing it, translating discovery into global impact and economic vitality.

Maximizing Competitive Excellence
Maximizing Competitive Excellence positions Â鶹ԭ´´ to compete and win at the highest levels nationally. Campaign investments will strengthen faculty recruitment and retention, expand university-wide technology integration, enhance athletics and academic competitiveness, and continue building a destination campus that attracts top talent, industry partners and research opportunities. As Florida’s Next-Generation Preeminent Research University, Â鶹ԭ´´ is focused on translating ambition into sustained performance, elevating our standing, sharpening our edges and ensuring excellence is not episodic but institutionalized.

Why This Campaign and Why Now

Go For Launch represents a clear evolution from ±«°ä¹ó’s prior comprehensive campaigns, with specific focus on directly addressing the rising complexity and cost of delivering a world-class education and research enterprise. It recognizes that sustained excellence requires continued investment in people, ideas and infrastructure.

“Go For Launch will bring our university community together around our boldest aspirations,â€� says Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO, Â鶹ԭ´´ Foundation Inc.  “It will empower students, support faculty excellence, fuel innovation that strengthens our region and maximize competitive excellence. This campaign reflects our shared belief in what is possible and our commitment to creating a brighter future for generations to come.â€�

A Launch Worth Celebrating

The public phase of Go For Launch was unveiled at campuswide launch events that brought together thousands of alumni, donors, faculty, students and community leaders. The immersive experience reflected the campaign’s spirit, featuring interactive installations, storytelling and moments that highlighted ±«°ä¹ó’s impact across research, innovation and student success.

Campaign volunteer leadership was celebrated during the event, underscoring the personal commitment many leaders feel toward ±«°ä¹ó’s mission and future.

Impact in Action

Investments generated through Go For Launch will directly advance research with real-world consequences, from improving health outcomes to accelerating breakthroughs in assistive technologies.

Go For Launch is both a continuation of ±«°ä¹ó’s founding mission and a declaration of where the university is headed next. It signals confidence in ±«°ä¹ó’s people, our ideas and our ability to lead.

To learn more about Go For Launch or to get involved, visit