The week-long festival is organized by the Campus Activities Board 鈥� a registered student organization focused on fostering student engagement on campus with marquee events including Pegasus Palooza.

The following events are free for 麻豆原创 students with valid 麻豆原创 ID.

Monday, April 6

Movie Knight

Pegasus Ballroom (Student Union) | 7:30 p.m.

Please note: due to the expected inclement weather, the location of this event has changed from Memory Mall to the Pegasus Ballroom in the Student Union.

Students can enjoy carnival games, free popcorn and beverages (while supplies last) and a special showing of Disney鈥檚 Zootopia 2 with their friends.

Wednesday, April 8

Comedy Knight

Addition Financial Arena | Doors open 7 p.m., event starts at 8 p.m.

Comedian, actress, and celebrity interviewer Ziwe brings her signature humor, fearless questions, and unforgettable stage presence to Comedy Knight! Two students will be selected to be interviewed by Ziwe live on stage during her Hot Seat segment.

Thursday, April 9

KNIGHT-CHELLA

Memory Mall | 6:30鈥�11:30 p.m.听

A music festival inspired by the iconic Coachella, KNIGHT-CHELLA features: five student bands and six DJs across two stages, food trucks, giveaways, live art from students, large-scale attractions including roller skating, mechanical bull, bungee jumping and more.

Monday, April 13

Speaker Knight

Pegasus Ballroom (Student Union) | Doors open at 7 p.m., panel starts at 8 p.m.

Chlo茅 Lukasiak, former dancer on the reality TV show Dance Moms, will share her personal story and take part in a Q&A.

Our students are groundbreaking national and global scholarship winners, researchers, athletes, teaching assistants, residence assistants and leaders in campus organizations, including Student Government, LEAD Scholars and the President鈥檚 Leadership Council. The honorees include transfer students, those from first-generation and international backgrounds and members of the Burnett Honors College.

Aside from focusing on academics and campus causes, many of the student honorees volunteered at hospitals, schools, parks, food banks, shelters, clinics, youth clubs and with many community service organizations 鈥� at times as organizers and coordinators for support drives and campaigns.

鈥淲hen you look at this group, you see trajectory.鈥� 鈥� John Buckwalter, 麻豆原创’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs

鈥淭he students we recognize at our Founders鈥� Day Student Honors Celebration are extraordinary not just for what they鈥檝e achieved, but for how they鈥檝e shaped their time at 麻豆原创. They鈥檝e pursued opportunities, challenged themselves and lifted others along the way,鈥� says John Buckwalter, 麻豆原创’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. 鈥淲hen you look at this group, you see trajectory 鈥� students whose experiences here are opening doors in meaningful ways and changing the direction of their futures, the trajectories of their families and the communities they inhabit.鈥�

Student award categories highlight new inductees of the Order of Pegasus, 麻豆原创鈥檚 highest student honor; graduate awards for outstanding master鈥檚 thesis and outstanding dissertation; undergraduate awards for honors thesis; and individual college awardees as chosen by the respective college deans. All honorees earned financial awards.

This year鈥檚 37 inductees into the Order of Pegasus mark the 25^th anniversary class of top-achieving Knights. The average GPA of the 2026 class is 3.912.

The campus community is invited to attend the Student Honors Celebration on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Student Union鈥檚 Pegasus Ballroom. A brief reception will follow.

Here are the students to be recognized.

Order of Pegasus Inductees

• Fatima Alziyad, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Andy Ayup, College of Sciences
• Megan Bailey, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Stacie Becker 鈥�23, College of Arts and Humanities
• Akash Hari Bharath 鈥�25MS, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Swati Bhargava 鈥�25MS, College of Optics and Photonics
• Sanjana Bhatt, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Griffon Binkowski 鈥�24, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Nico Chen, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Kyle Coutray, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Allyson Crighton, College of Nursing and Burnett Honors College
• Nyauni Crowelle-Feggins, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Cameron Cummins, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Andrew 鈥淒rew鈥� Hansen 鈥�25, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Andrea Hernandez Gomez, College of Sciences
• Lindsey Hildebrand, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Ariana Johnson, College of Medicine
• Sanjan Kumar 鈥�23, College of Medicine
• Kworweinski Lafontant, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Meera Lakshmanan, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
• Ilana Logvinov, College of Nursing
• Hannah Lovejoy, College of Business
• Taiel Lucile, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Robin Marquez, College of Sciences
• Shanel Moya Aguero, College of Community Innovation and Education and Burnett Honors College
• Gabrielle 鈥淕abby鈥� Murison, College of Sciences
• Varun Nannuri, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Natalie Otero, College of Business and Burnett Honors College
• Om Pathak, College of Medicine, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Pritha Sarkar 鈥�24, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jacob Vierling, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Janapriya Vijayakumar, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Ornella Vintimilla, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Om Vishanagra, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College

Undergraduate Student Awards

College Founders鈥� Award

• Liam Pivnichny, Burnett Honors College
• Antonella Bisbal Hernandez, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jordan Nell, College of Business
• Jude Hagan, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Timothy Horanic, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Sun Latt, College of Medicine
• Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
• Jacob Silver, College of Optics and Photonics
• Emily Willis, College of Sciences
• Fabian Rodriguez Gomez, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis

• Edwin Garcia 鈥�25, College of Arts and Humanities, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Arts, Humanities and Creative Inquiry
• Eric Haseman 鈥�25, College of Sciences, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Social Sciences
• Shreya S. Pawar 鈥�25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Natural Sciences
• Andrea C. Molero Perez 鈥�25, College of Medicine, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Health Sciences
• Nicholas Rose 鈥�25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Engineering and Technology

Graduate Student Awards

Outstanding Dissertation

• Jessica Moon 鈥�25PhD, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Pierro 鈥�20 鈥�23MS 鈥�25PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science

The three-year project saw its final phase of renovations completed just in time for campus to welcome back students for the fall semester. Expanding dining options now include a full-service Starbucks on the second floor 鈥� the coffee shop on Memory Mall isn鈥檛 going anywhere 鈥� and additional seating and square footage.

The boardwalks, which have been closed due to construction on the building, will open again to allow for pedestrian traffic between the Union and Memory Mall.

鈥淲e hope to set up an environment that allows for students to still enjoy our facilities while staying safe,鈥� says Rick Falco 鈥�98 鈥�01MA, director of the Student Union.

As such, in accordance with university guidelines, face coverings are required inside the building.

Read more below about the Student Union鈥檚 new guidelines, modifications and practices for its most-used spaces and resources as 麻豆原创 continues to work to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The desk will be operational during the Union鈥檚 regular business hours. Plexiglass screens, social distancing signage, including floor stickers, have been added as safety measures.

Seats will be set in small clusters of 1-4 seats to allow for small group study and conversation. Clusters will be a minimum of 6-feet apart in all spaces, with no space having more than 50 percent capacity.

Guidelines are still being finalized and details will be shared soon.

Due to the lab鈥檚 single-entry point and small walkways, which make physical distancing a challenge, the lab is closed until further notice.

The 麻豆原创 Bike Repair Service will resume normal operations, however it is implementing reduced employee schedules to allow for physical distancing.

This space has been repurposed into a lounge area for the time being.

A maximum of four individuals will be able to use this non-denominational meditation and prayer space at once. Floor markings will be used to encourage physical distancing.

The ticketing center will be reopening Tuesday, Sept. 8. It鈥檒l be open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. .

• @麻豆原创SU on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

The Student Union oversees both locations at Knights Plaza and Ferrell Commons, which will reopen Monday, Aug. 24, seven days a week with reduced hours to allow for overnight sanitation.

These hours may be adjusted as needed:

• Monday 鈥� Thursday: 7 a.m. until 2 a.m.
• Friday: 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. until 2 a.m.

Public-use computers in these facilities will be reduced to 50 percent capacity to encourage physical distancing, with staff sanitizing workstations once an hour as well as having sanitizing wipes available for students.

Group study rooms will be closed.

To help protect event participants and the campus community, the Student Union strongly suggests events occur following a virtual or hybrid model.

In order to host an in-person event, facial coverings and social distancing measures are required for both indoor and outdoor spaces. All event spaces will have fixed setups with limited modifications. In keeping with state guidelines, gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people.

Clients will be fully responsible for enforcement and must submit a safety plan at least two weeks prior to the event. Sanitation of the event spaces will take place between events.

All in-person events must be ticketed or RSVP with guest list maintained for 60 days after the event.

Wednesday Market Days as well as other non-university events will not be held for the fall semester.

Virtual Studios will be available to support both live and pre-recorded virtual events.

The main campus food pantry for students started as a closet in the Student Union more than 10 years ago. Although it now has its own space in Ferrell Commons, it still is supervised by Student Union staff.

All students are welcome to use the pantry鈥檚 services. The pantry is open Monday through Friday on the main campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note, the pantry will be closed Aug. 10鈥�14 for inventory and reorganizing but will resume operations Aug. 17.

It currently offers curbside pickup of food items, and starting Aug. 24 will offer in-store shopping by appointment only for clothing and miscellaneous items. No food items will be available during an in-store shopping appointment.

In-store appointments and curbside pickup will both be arranged in advance via an online form. More details about the process are forthcoming.

While the pantry is still accepting food donations, pantry staff kindly requests no clothing donations at this time. Contactless drop-off of food items can be donated at the two bins located outside of the pantry鈥檚 entrance and it is highly encouraged to donate during our hours of operation so on-site staff can process the items quickly and efficiently.

For the latest information about returning to campus, visit 麻豆原创鈥檚听coronavirus听补苍诲听Returning to 麻豆原创听websites. Students, faculty, staff and visitors will be required to complete the听COVID Self-Checker听鈥� available via the听听or online 鈥� each day before arriving to campus.

Preliminary statistics indicate 麻豆原创鈥檚 fall freshman class has an average GPA of 4.18, the strongest in university history. The Class of 2024 also ranks among the university鈥檚 top three classes for standardized test scores with average SAT and ACT scores of 1322 and 28.7, respectively.

麻豆原创鈥檚 total student enrollment for the fall is expected to be slightly higher than last year, which was approximately 69,500 students. 麻豆原创 also anticipates a record-high number of freshmen returning for their second year, with about 92 percent of freshmen who began last fall registered to continue their studies at 麻豆原创 this year. Summer 2020 enrollment was up seven percent over last year and was the university鈥檚 highest summer enrollment ever.

Aug. 26 marks the first anniversary of the opening of 麻豆原创 Downtown. A joint venture with Valencia College, the campus provides its more than 7,000 students with unique educational and career opportunities in the heart of downtown Orlando.

This fall, more than three-quarters of 麻豆原创鈥檚 lecture, lab and discussion classes will be online or remote, and about one-quarter will include an in-person experience. Typically, the busiest class hours on campus have around 18,500 students in classrooms. This fall, that number will be closer to 3,000.

The university is launching more than two dozen new degree programs, tracks and certificates this fall 鈥� most designed for online delivery 鈥� that target high-demand fields ranging from business and engineering to optics and health. New programs include a master鈥檚 degree in travel technology and analytics, new degree tracks in accounting and aerospace, civil, mechanical and environmental engineering, as well as 11 new online graduate certificate programs designed in direct response to COVID-19.

A Focus on a Safer Return to Campus

In an effort to enhance the health and well-being of the campus community, 麻豆原创 has implemented several changes. The university developed a new COVID Self-Checker for its existing mobile app. Faculty, staff and students are asked to complete a daily questionnaire in the app, which asks about symptoms of, and possible exposure to, COVID-19. Those with symptoms are not cleared to return to campus.

The entire campus community is asked to take the voluntary 鈥淎rmor Up Pledge,鈥� acknowledging their personal responsibilities to help protect themselves, classmates and the campus community. Any student, staff or faculty member who is concerned about exposure or who wants a test can contact our COVID-19 hotline at 407-823-2509 for a referral to get tested at the drive-through testing site in Garage A on the main campus.

This summer, 麻豆原创 implemented extensive new cleaning and sanitization measures on campus, expending close to $5 million for improvements that included adding Plexiglas in high-traffic locations, installing hundreds of touchless fixtures, and upgrading ventilation systems and filtration.

Both incoming freshman and returning students will see finished renovation projects and safety modifications implemented at several key campus facilities.

The newly renovated Student Union 鈥� the Heart of Campus 鈥� reopened on Aug. 8, featuring expanded dining options, a full-service Starbucks on the second floor, and additional seating and square footage.

The university completed the first phase of an expansion to the John C. Hitt Library, the first major overhaul to the library 鈥� 麻豆原创鈥檚 oldest building 鈥� since 1984. Library renovations include a new north entrance, fourth floor reading rooms with a 270-degree view of campus, and a special collections gallery space, which will display a variety of library-owned art.

The 麻豆原创 Recreation and Wellness Center and RWC @ Downtown have both reopened with modified hours, a new reservation system and updated safety guidelines.

麻豆原创 Dining Services听has increased safety and cleaning procedures throughout the dining halls and restaurants they manage.听Grab-and-go and take-out meals are encouraged along with using outdoor spaces to eat, but limited indoor, physically distanced seating eating options will also be available.听Students can also take advantage of mobile ordering from any 麻豆原创 Dining establishment through the听Grubhub听app.

The annual weeklong celebration to instill school spirit, Pegasus Palooza 鈥� which welcomes students to the fall semester with a mix of virtual and physically distant in-person events 鈥� kicked off last night with the Knighting. Events will include a drive-in Movie Knight near Bounce House Stadium and a Comedy Knight on Zoom.

The Acclaimed Knights Wall outside the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union features names of students who have earned prestigious awards and fellowships.

Among others, those honors include Fulbright Scholar, Truman Scholar, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Boren Award, Astronaut Scholar and Goldwater Scholar.

The wall highlights awards of current and past students, including Tyler Fisher, who became 麻豆原创鈥檚 first Rhodes Scholar in 2002. He earned his doctorate at Oxford University and has returned to 麻豆原创 as an associate professor in modern languages and literature.

At the wall鈥檚 unveiling on Sept. 11, Fisher described the wall as 鈥渁t once memorializing and motivating.鈥�

Winners of prestigious fellowships can receive more than $100,000 in scholarships for life-changing opportunities in research, study abroad or graduate studies. The awards also distinguish 麻豆原创 for excellence and factor into university rankings on national lists.

Elizabeth A. Dooley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said the wall also represents the proud results of faculty members, who energize students and inspire them to dream big and achieve.

Elizabeth A. Dooley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said the wall also represents the proud results of faculty members, who energize students and inspire them to dream big and achieve.

鈥淲hen our students and faculty engage with one another, I believe no award, honor or recognition is beyond their reach,鈥� Dooley says. 鈥淭o all our students here today, there are blank spaces on this wall. Those spaces await your name.鈥�

The idea for the wall originated from Dean Sheila Amin Guti茅rrez de Pi帽eres of the Burnett Honors College. She wanted a permanent tribute to the continued excellence of 麻豆原创鈥檚 students.

The wall resulted at the Student Union through the joint efforts of the Burnett Honors College, Office of the President, 麻豆原创 Communications and Marketing, Office of Research and Graduate Studies, and the Student Union.

鈥淚 hope people will see my name on the wall and know it鈥檚 not impossible to get a prestigious award,鈥� says George Walters-Marrah, one of the names on the Acclaimed Knights Wall.

Walters-Marrah, a senior biotechnology and molecular microbiology major, earned a 2018 Goldwater Scholarship, which recognizes exceptional research by undergraduate sophomores and juniors in natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 see myself as anything different from my friends.,” he says. “I hope people will see that if you work hard and put in the work you can be rewarded for that work. I want people to look at the names on this wall and say, 鈥業f they can do that, I can also do that.鈥� 鈥�

Knights interested in pursuing prestigious awards should visit the听.

Nonperishable food, water, clothes, linens or small household items will be collected and sent to communities affected by the storm. Donors can drop off items under the stairs in the atrium before 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 15. The Student Union is located at听12715 Pegasus Dr.

Examples of items in need include:

If you are unable to bring items to the Student Union but are still interested in making a donation, there are a number of charities you can听contribute to听that will help support relief efforts in the immediate aftermath of the storm. It is important to verify an organization鈥檚 credibility before donating.

Charity Navigator, an organization that evaluates charities, has a page that includes the names of reputable charities. 鈥淩elief for Hurricane Michael鈥� is listed at the top of the web page鈥檚 Hot Topics tab.

鈥淭he food court was built 20 years ago and needed to be updated to meet students鈥� needs today,鈥� says David Oglethorpe, assistant director for the Student Union. 鈥淭hat includes the offerings, such as more vegetarian and vegan options, as well as the number of students it can accommodate. We really want to make sure the Student Union remains the heart of campus and that students want to spend time here.鈥�

麻豆原创 is also working on ensuring the building meets enough sustainability standards to qualify for LEED certification.

Here are a few of the major changes you鈥檒l see.

To stay on schedule while accommodating students, the renovation is scheduled to be completed in two phases. The first phase will open after Labor Day 2018 with a renovated food court that will include Qdoba, Panda Express, Huey Magoos and Which Wich 鈥� in addition to the already existing Caf茅 Bustelo, Chili鈥檚, Mrs. Field鈥檚 Bakery and Smoothie King. Steak N Shake will open in Spring 2019.

The second phase will be more encompassing and will include 350 additional seating options on the first and second floors.

It will also include a new stairwell near the food court in the back of the building, leading to a new second-floor caf茅 and lounge.

The lounge on the second floor will include a coffee shop and spaces for students to meet and study.

The third floor will include new offices and meeting spaces for 麻豆原创鈥檚 Student Government Association.

It will also include the university鈥檚 first dedicated space for senate chambers for students and faculty that will include a permanent electronic voting system as well as state-of-the-art projection and sound systems.

In total, the renovated Student Union will add an additional 15,000 square feet, while increasing opportunities for meaningful interactions.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to check social media for a moment or want to spend an afternoon getting some fresh air, here are nine great spots to take a study break on campus.

1. Memory Mall

2. Burnett Honors College Koi Pond

3. Cyclorama Sculptures

4. Lake Claire

5. CFE Arena Courtyard

6. Student Union Game Room

7. Health and Public Affairs Courtyard

8. Leisure Pool

9. 听Education Complex Courtyard

All sessions indicated on听SARC鈥檚听Study Union Fall 2017 Final Review Schedule听will be live streamed,听and recordings of those sessions will also be available within 24-hours via the SARC听听Channel.

The center has several听听and hand-outs geared toward test preparation and final exams on SARC鈥檚听website. If your students view these online workshops, we ask that they also complete the online assessment of our services.

Upon听advanced request, SARC will facilitate access and reasonable accommodations to ensure services, programs and activities sponsored by our office are accessible. Contact听sarc@ucf.edu听to discuss accessibility for this event.

Study Union is a partnership between SARC, the Student Union and Office of Student Involvement that brings programming to the Student Union throughout finals week.听Good luck during Finals Week!

Twenty-minute hands-only CPR sessions will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Key West Ballroom of the Student Union (Room 218).听 The sessions will also include instruction on the use of AEDs and information about heart health.

Hands-only CPR is cardiopulmonary resuscitation without mouth-to-mouth. It is recommended for use by people who see a teen or adult suddenly collapse in an 鈥渙ut-of-hospital鈥� setting, such as at home, work, or in a public place.

麻豆原创 Heart Day is a collaboration among 麻豆原创 Environmental Health and Safety, the Department of Security and Emergency Management, the 麻豆原创 Police Department, 麻豆原创 Student Government Association, Orange County Fire Rescue, and other community partners.

World Heart Day will be celebrated across the globe on Friday, Sept. 29.