�鶹ӳ����ý Homecoming celebrates how far the university has come and where it’s going next.

At the center of that tradition is the , �鶹ӳ����ý’s premier alumni recognition event. Each year, the awards honor alumni and friends of the university whose accomplishments, leadership and service embody the best of �鶹ӳ����ý while helping Knight Nation .

On Thursday, Oct. 22, the DeVos Family Room at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando will fill with Black & Gold pride as �鶹ӳ����ý recognizes six extraordinary individuals who are breaking barriers, lifting others and expanding what’s possible for the university and their communities.

“This is the pinnacle of alumni recognition at �鶹ӳ����ý, an evening when Knight Nation comes together to honor those whose leadership, service and achievements represent the very best of our university,” says Heather Junod ’98, associate vice president for �鶹ӳ����ý Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. “This year’s honorees exemplify the ambition, innovation and impact that define �鶹ӳ����ý. Their accomplishments elevate our university, inspire future generations of Knights, and demonstrate the difference �鶹ӳ����ý graduates make in their communities and around the world.”

Distinguished Alumni Award

The highest honor bestowed annually upon a �鶹ӳ����ý graduate.

Brandi Bryan ’17MS

A healthcare executive advancing the future of nursing, Brandi Bryan ’17MS has dedicated her career to improving patient care and preparing the next generation of nurse leaders. A proud �鶹ӳ����ý College of Nursing graduate, she mentors students, serves on the college’s alumni council and champions opportunities that strengthen the nursing profession. Through her leadership and steadfast commitment to service, Bryan is helping build healthier communities and a stronger future for nursing.

Carrie Daanen ’92

A retired finance executive, philanthropist and dedicated �鶹ӳ����ý volunteer, Carrie Daanen ’92 helps clear the path to graduation for �鶹ӳ����ý students through her generous support. A first-generation college graduate, she champions scholarships, student stabilization and mentorship for women in business. Guided by gratitude for the opportunities �鶹ӳ����ý provided, Daanen, a member of , invests her resources, expertise and passion to ensure a financial setback never becomes the reason a degree goes unfinished, helping launch futures and strengthen communities for generations to come.

Ronald C. Thow ’93

A principal of and former �鶹ӳ����ý student-athlete, Ron C. Thow ’93 has built a career grounded in resilience, teamwork and ambition. As a first-generation college graduate, he credits �鶹ӳ����ý with opening doors during his time pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies, helping shape his professional journey. Today, Thow is a member of and proudly supports many programs in and the through his philanthropy and by encouraging future Knights to dream boldly, embrace challenges and pursue every opportunity with purpose.

John C. and Martha Hitt Honorary Alumni Award

The highest honor for a friend of �鶹ӳ����ý.

Jogi Pattisapu, M.D.

An internationally respected pediatric neurosurgeon, educator and mentor, Jogi Pattisapu  has devoted his career to advancing medicine while inspiring future physicians. Through decades of teaching, clinical excellence, philanthropy and service to �鶹ӳ����ý, including a faculty appointment as a professor of neurosurgery at the , he has challenged generations of students to think critically, lead compassionately and pursue lifelong learning. His enduring legacy is reflected in the countless lives he has helped shape.

Young Alumni Award

The highest annual honor for a recent 30 Under 30 honoree.

Shaina Ruth ’18

A prosecutor and advocate for crime victims, criminal justice graduate Shaina Ruth ’18 has dedicated her career to protecting vulnerable individuals and seeking justice with compassion. Inspired by mentors and meaningful internships at , she remains deeply committed to giving back as a �鶹ӳ����ý Legal Studies mentor. Ruth embraces the power of unexpected opportunities and encourages future Knights to do the same while making a lasting difference.

Distinguished Student Award

The highest honor for a current �鶹ӳ����ý student.

Ornella Vintimilla

A Burnett Honors Scholar, future physician-scientist and dedicated student leader, Ornella Vintimilla has transformed her transfer student experience into a mission of mentorship, service and discovery. Through campus leadership roles — including serving as co-founder of a medical student association and as an Academic Advancement Programs ambassador — the biomedical sciences major helps fellow students recognize their potential while preparing for a career in medicine. Vintimilla is committed to expanding opportunities that empower others to strive for bold goals and make a meaningful impact.

Interested in joining Knight Nation as we celebrate Black & Gold excellence at the 2026 Shining Knights Alumni Awards? Learn more about opportunities.

Whether you’re attending a job fair or trying to advance to the interview stage for a position you’re applying for, you can increase your chances of success by following some tried-and-true tips from �鶹ӳ����ý’s .

How can you make a strong impression on your job interview?

• Know your professional story/prepare your elevator pitch
• Offer a confident greeting, handshake and smile
• Think about two to three key selling points about your professional self. For �鶹ӳ����ý students, start with your major/expected graduation and talk about related skills/experience including student clubs and class projects
• Research employers and showcase your knowledge in conversation
• Give examples to back up your answers. Storytelling is a big part of the interview experience.

How can you craft an effective elevator pitch?

Your elevator pitch introduces you to recruiters in 30-60 seconds. Follow the present-past-future format:

• Present: What are you currently studying? What’s your major or program?
• Past: Highlight a recent relevant experience (e.g., internship, research project, volunteer work).
• Future: State your career goals and explain why you’re excited to connect with this employer.

What are some ways you can make your resume stand out in a pile?

• A resume should be concise, organized marketing document highlighting your education, experiences and achievements; its purpose is to secure an interview and evolve with your professional growth.
• Keep formatting clean and consistent: 1-inch margins, 1 page (up to 2 max), standard 10- to 12-point fonts, professional appearance and easy-to-scan layout.
• Focus content on relevance: tailor to the position, connect transferable skills, emphasize contributions and quantify results whenever possible.
• Use strong writing mechanics: start bullets with action verbs, maintain consistent verb tense (present for current roles, past for previous) and keep statements concise.
• Include core sections as appropriate: Heading, objective (optional but tailored), education (reverse chronological order), summary of qualifications (skills-focused) and experience (employment, internships, research, projects).
• Add optional sections when relevant: Activities, leadership, honors/awards, publications or research.

What software or AI tools can help build your resume?

• is a fantastic tool available to all students by logging in with their NID credentials
• VMock is a 24/7 virtual career assistant that utilizes technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and sophisticated analytics engine to deliver instant, personalized, and smart career guidance to students and professionals.
• Do not rely only on AI to write content for your resume. Double check wonky spelling/grammar and word choices to make sure it is your voice.
• Be aware that employers are now reviewing resumes and running them through plagiarism detection software to check for AI.
• Utilize AI (VMock can do this) to make sure your resume matches the language in the job description closely enough so that it will pass through applicant tracking systems successfully.

What questions should job candidates ask the interviewer?

Typically, it’s best to focus on two to three questions to have prepared to ask at the end of the interview.

• Ask about the company culture. What is it like to work there?
• Ask about the position or opportunity in a way that helps you learn more than what you have already learned on your own research. In your opinion, what qualities/traits do you look for in an ideal candidate to be successful in the role?
• Ask about what to expect in the interview process. What are next steps?

Are there any best practices for following up after an interview?

Within 24 hours, send personalized thank-you emails to the recruiters you spoke with that include:

• A brief recap of your conversation
• An expression of gratitude
• A question or statement to keep the dialogue going

For Stephen Masyada, civics education has been a lifelong interest. Now, his work in the field will help shape how civics knowledge and skills are assessed for students across the country.

Masyada, director of the , has been selected as one of 20 members of the panel that will help revise the framework for the civics portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for the 2032 assessment.

The appointment recognizes his extensive experience in civics education and provides an opportunity to bring his perspective to a national conversation about what students should know and be able to do as engaged citizens.

“I think it’s a recognition of the work we do here at the Lou Frey Institute and at �鶹ӳ����ý in civic education and the impact we’ve had on civics in Florida and in some cases nationally,” Masyada says.

Shaping How Civics Education Is Assessed

The NAEP civics assessment provides data used to understand students’ civic knowledge nationally. While only a sample of students take the assessment, the results provide a broader picture of civic education across the country.

Masyada says the framework is particularly important because it can influence how policymakers and educators understand what should be emphasized in civics education.

“The content of the framework will dictate to states what is seen as important and what they’ll be comparing what’s happening in the states to when they release data,” Masyada says.

He also expects the framework to play a role in national evaluations of state standards for civics and government.

As a member of the framework committee, Masyada hopes to help broaden the way civic education is considered and assessed. Rather than focusing solely on students’ ability to recall facts, he believes assessments should also consider how students apply their knowledge.

“I think we really need to think about something beyond just knowledge, but also scenarios,” Masyada says. “What does the knowledge look like in practice, taking it to that next level?”

He also hopes the conversation will consider how civics education can begin earlier, including at the K-5 level.

For Masyada, effective civic education includes foundational knowledge of the nation’s founding principles, rights and liberties and the responsibilities of citizenship. It also includes dispositions that encourage students to participate in their communities, work with others to address problems and seek solutions to public policy issues.

“How do we measure these different dispositions necessary?” Masyada says. “I think that’s part of the conversation for the committee that’s involved with this.”

Bringing a National Perspective to Civics Education

The committee’s work will bring together perspectives from across the country. Masyada says that is important because civic education varies significantly from state to state.

“We have 50 states and 50 different ways to approach civic education in this country,” Masyada says. “I know what’s actually happening and being taught in Florida’s classrooms. I’ve been involved heavily in standards in this state and helping teachers understand what the standards mean and what they look like.”

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Masyada earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida and a certificate in instructional design and higher education leadership from �鶹ӳ����ý.

He taught high school in Florida for more than a decade and also worked in North Carolina as a state-level social studies specialist. In 2014, he joined the Lou Frey Institute, where he has continued his work supporting civic education.

His experience working directly with K-16 educators, developing and interpreting standards and supporting assessment initiatives has prepared him to contribute to the national framework process.

He is one of two representatives from the College of Sciences involved in the development of the 2032 civics assessment. In addition to Masyada serving on the 20-member framework committee, Terri Fine, professor emerita from the School of Politics, Security and International Affairs (SPSIA) and former associate director of the Lou Frey Institute, will serve on the 10-member content committee.

“The fact that �鶹ӳ����ý has two people involved I think it’s a huge feather in the cap for all of us,” he says.

As the committee looks toward the 2032 assessment, Masyada hopes its work will strengthen support for high-quality civic education and help establish a shared understanding of what students need to know and how they can participate in civic life.

He also sees an opportunity to consider how the country’s student population has changed and how civic education can provide common ground.

“We’re a far more diverse student population than we used to be,” Masyada says. “So I think having some commonality, some understanding of what can bring this population together, when it comes to civic education, I think that’s one of my hopes.”

Extending �鶹ӳ����ý’s Civic Education Work

The Lou Frey Institute at �鶹ӳ����ý houses the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship and has been a leading provider of civic education instructional and professional development resources in Florida since it was established in 2002.  The institute reaches approximately 300,000 students and 2,000 teachers across every Florida school district.

“We appreciate the opportunity to support and represent the college, the school and the university in these different districts, working with so many different teachers and leaders and representing �鶹ӳ����ý on the national stage as well when it comes to civic education,” Masyada says.

Florida firefighters routinely respond to people enduring the worst moments of their lives. But understanding when those experiences — along with the professional and personal stresses firefighters face — place the responders themselves at risk has historically been difficult.

Now researchers at �鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES r have created one of the clearest statewide pictures yet of suicide among Florida fire service members, identifying 307 deaths between 1999 and March 2026 by linking nearly three decades of state records.

Founded in 2011, �鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES provides its evidence-based clinical treatment services to individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related concerns — with 76% of first responders no longer meeting the criteria for PTSD after treatment.

The research was led by , Ph.D., �鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES deputy executive director and research associate professor, and , Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow and licensed clinical psychologist at the clinic. Working with the Florida Department of Health and Florida Division of State Fire Marshal, they connected previously separate state datasets to identify patterns that could help inform suicide prevention efforts throughout firefighters’ careers and beyond.

“The driving factor was to have a more reliable and valid mechanism to track suicide in the state,” says O’Dare says. “But really to inform prevention efforts because we don’t want to just quantify the deaths. We want to use the information to be able to help inform what we’re doing to prevent as many of those losses as we can.”

Building a Clearer Picture

Historically, researchers have lacked a reliable way to track deaths by suicide among first responders. While organizations have attempted to document these deaths, O’Dare says available information often relied on self-reporting or other methods that made it difficult to establish a consistent baseline.

Finding a better approach required bringing together information that already existed across different state agencies.

“What’s made it possible? Really, partnerships,” O’Dare says. “It’s a complex problem, and one person or one group can’t do it all.”

Researchers linked de-identified vital statistics with firefighter certification and emergency medical services licensure records. Winch then helped clean and analyze the data, allowing the team to examine patterns across age, career status, veteran status and method of death.

“It’s a complex problem, and one person or one group can’t do it all.”—Kellie O’Dare, deputy executive director of �鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES

The findings revealed several potential areas for prevention. Deaths were most concentrated among fire service members ages 35-54 years, while nearly one-third occurred among those 55 and older. More than a third of members with known licensure status were inactive at the time of death, and firearms accounted for 66.4% of the deaths identified. Veterans also represented 30.5% of cases with known veteran status.

According to an earlier study by O’Dare and Winch, annual counts were lower in earlier years but increased around 2009 and continued trending upward after 2014, including 21 deaths in 2024 and 18 in 2025. To better understand this increase, the researchers are examining factors such as changes in workforce size, credentialing, occupational conditions and data collection methods.

The researchers emphasize that the findings represent descriptive counts rather than rates and cannot determine why any individual death occurred. Instead, the patterns provide a foundation for identifying questions and opportunities for further research and prevention.

Supporting Firefighters Throughout Their Careers

For O’Dare, one particularly important finding was the number of people who were no longer active in the fire service when they died.

Leaving a department can mean losing access to the relationships and sense of community that can become an important source of support for firefighters throughout their careers.

“The fire service culture is incredibly important,” O’Dare says. “The kitchen table at the firehouse is an incredibly important component of social support.”

That transition can also happen relatively early. O’Dare says firefighters may retire in their 40s or 50s and then face the challenge of adjusting to life outside a profession that provided a strong sense of identity and purpose.

The findings point toward the importance of viewing behavioral health as something that should be supported throughout a firefighter’s career — not only after someone reaches a crisis.

For Winch, that also means recognizing that behavioral health among first responders extends beyond PTSD.

“PTSD, I always like to say, is part of the picture, but it’s not the whole picture,” Winch says. “Unfortunately, there is this misrepresentation that trauma equals PTSD, and that’s not necessarily true.”

Repeated exposure to traumatic and high-stress situations can intersect with anxiety, depression, substance misuse, occupational pressures and challenges at home. At the same time, Winch says firefighters may hesitate to seek treatment because of stigma or concerns about what acknowledging a behavioral health problem could mean for their careers.

Building trust, she says, requires more than simply making resources available.

“You have to show up and you have to make yourself known to these departments so that stigma gets reduced,” Winch says.

Moving From Response to Prevention

The findings come alongside the rollout of the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Zero Suicide Prevention Framework, which adopts the nationally recognized Zero Suicide model for Florida’s fire service.

Rather than relying on isolated mental health or suicide prevention trainings, the framework is designed to integrate prevention into leadership, training, access to care and department operations throughout firefighters’ entire careers. It’s seven interconnected elements — Lead, Train, Identify, Engage, Treat, Transition and Improve — provide a structure for departments to build sustained behavioral health support.

Ultimately, O’Dare says she hopes the work helps continue a cultural shift away from viewing behavioral health only through illness or crisis and toward treating wellness, resilience and readiness as parts of a firefighter’s entire career.

Winch hopes the findings can help accelerate that change before another department experiences a loss.

“I would love for this report to be a wake-up call without needing more devastation,” Winch says. “There are plenty of agencies that fully buy into having more prevention, but we need that to be statewide.”

�鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES is now conducting related research to move from these descriptive findings toward more advanced analyses of relative risk, geographic distribution, protective factors and prevention opportunities.

Support and treatment are available to those in need. �鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES provides no-cost, evidence-based trauma care, and its  peer support network offers firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency dispatchers confidential, 24/7 access to peers who understand the realities of the job. Learn more at . If you are in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

For more than a decade, �鶹ӳ����ý Emergency Management Professor has helped shape conversations about what the standards for emergency management education should look like.

Now, �鶹ӳ����ý is helping set them.

This summer, �鶹ӳ����ý’s online Master of Emergency and Crisis Management (MECM), which Knox founded and directs, became the first emergency management graduate program to earn accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

�鶹ӳ����ý is one of six programs nationwide — and the only emergency management program — to be newly accredited by NASPAA, recognizing its commitment to high-quality education that prepares skilled emergency management leaders.

NASPAA is considered the global standard for public service education, accrediting programs that prepare students to become leaders, managers and analysts in public service. Earning accreditation requires a rigorous, years-long process that includes self-study, site visits and peer review.

“… this accomplishment is not just for us and our program. We did it to advance our discipline …” — Claire Connolly Knox, �鶹ӳ����ý emergency management professor

For Knox, a professor in it’s a milestone years in the making for a growing discipline she and other emergency management scholars have helped build.

“Talking about accreditation has been a very eye-opening conversation considering that this is still a relatively new discipline, and one we are collectively building and shaping for the next generation as we go,” Knox says. “It’s a huge milestone, but this accomplishment is not just for us and our program. We did it to advance our discipline, and I’m excited to see how NASPAA accreditation elevates that.”

Creating the Blueprint

As natural and human-caused disasters become more frequent, educated emergency management professionals play a critical role in assisting communities with mitigating risks, preparing for crises, responding when disaster strikes and supporting recovery afterward.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s MECM program prepares students to protect and lead communities through those processes with advanced coursework, research, and embedded real-world experience. For the past three years, the program has also held the distinction of being the nation’s No. 1-ranked emergency management graduate program by U.S. News & World Report.

That success didn’t come by chance.

Before the program launched in 2018, Knox and colleagues designed its curriculum with the discipline’s future in mind. They created a framework anchored by NASPAA’s universal required competencies and FEMA’s Next Generation Core Competencies, with the hope that it could one day help establish a national standard.

Knox credits Mary Ann Feldheim, associate professor emerita in the School of Public Administration, with paving the way for both the program’s design and its path toward accreditation.

“For a long time, NASPAA only accredited public administration, public affairs and public policy programs,” Knox says. “Under Mary Ann Feldheim’s leadership and strategic planning, �鶹ӳ����ý’s master’s in nonprofit management program was the first of its kind to be NASPAA-accredited. She set the bar and opened the door for other sub-disciplines of public administration. So much of what I’ve been able to create for my program has been because I watched and learned from her.”

Achieving a Common Goal

A significant portion of the accreditation process was a two-year self-study evaluation that required Knox, program faculty, and the MECM advisory board to collect data, review materials, and assess the program’s curriculum.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to communicate both our successes and room for improvement, and to see the program differently,” Knox says. “Our goal is [to] prepare students to positively impact the profession and create practical, relevant, evidence-based knowledge to advance it.”

That work extends well beyond the classroom. Knox says faculty conduct community-based research that informs course design, while the program draws on experts across many sectors in Central Florida, as well as its extensive alumni network and advisory board.

“Between … teaching, research and service, [the MECM advisory board is] involved in all of it … It was great to see them come together and rally behind this goal.” — Claire Connolly Knox

The comprises representatives from all levels of government, career stages and emergency management specializations, as well as the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

From mentoring students and fundraising to reviewing the curriculum annually and connecting students with experiential learning opportunities, Knox says the board is critical to the program’s success, ensuring it keeps pace with the evolving profession.

“Our advisory board is very invested and hands-on, and many of them are also program alumni,” Knox says. “They meet with us to review learning objectives to make sure we’re still relevant and current with a very dynamic profession. Between the three major buckets of teaching, research and service, they are involved in all of it, and we couldn’t do it without them. It was great to see them come together and rally behind this goal.”

Raising the Standard

Steven Lerner ’13, a �鶹ӳ����ý public administration graduate, chair of the MECM advisory board and division manager at Seminole County’s Office of Emergency Management, says the achievement further positions �鶹ӳ����ý and Central Florida as national leaders in the discipline.

“This distinction signals to students, employers and community stakeholders that our graduates are prepared to lead the charge in advancing community resilience, safety and security.” — Brad Heim, �鶹ӳ����ý School of Public Administration director

“Emergency management revolves around relationships and building trust among community partners and those we serve during emergencies and crises,” Lerner says. “Developing a strong, accredited master’s program in emergency management enhances the credibility of the daily efforts emergency managers make to keep our communities safer and more resilient.”

, director of the �鶹ӳ����ý School of Public Administration, says the accreditation also reinforces the growing importance and value of an advanced degree in emergency and crisis management.

“This distinction signals to students, employers and community stakeholders that our graduates are prepared to lead the charge in advancing community resilience, safety and security,” Heim says. “It’s also a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and advisory board — and especially to the visionary leadership and sustained investment of Dr. Knox, whose commitment made this accomplishment possible.”

There’s a moment during every game day at Acrisure Bounce House that David Hansen pauses for a little perspective.

For the last two decades since he helped open the gates and usher in the sell-out crowd for the stadium’s opening day in 2007, he has climbed to the highest row in a corner next to the student section to take in the view of the 40,000-plus in front of him.

“I wanted to see the big picture,” says Hansen, who served several roles key for �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics from 2006-24 and now is the director of the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village and general manager of Knights Plaza Retail and Entertainment District. “Game day brings people together. I’ve heard so many stories of alums that live 10 minutes from each other, but their lives are busy — kids are going to school, they’re going to work, they’re traveling and never get to see each other than game day.

“It’s the one time that we put everything else aside. That’s the great thing about sport and why the stadium and our athletics village have been so instrumental to our culture and rise as a university.”

Hansen joined �鶹ӳ����ý in 2006 as senior associate athletics director for internal operations and was responsible for executing the stadium operational plan to bring game day to life on campus for the first time.

As the Bounce House celebrates its 20th season, Hansen reflects on the impact it has had on Knight Nation and the community at large.

Sprint to the Start

On Sept. 15, 2007, the stadium welcomed 45,622 through its gates for the kickoff against University of Texas. Hansen, who had been in constant motion since before sunrise, rushed to the field just in time for the national anthem and flyover.

He recalls seeing longtime athletics administrator Art Zeleznik with tears streaming down his face.

“I know everyone felt that way in the stadium at that moment. This university had been wanting this day for years, and we were all hit with the realization that it was finally really happening,” Hansen says. “We’re about ready to kick off game No. 1. That was special.”

Beyond constructing the stadium, the operational blueprint was just as crucial to make game day on campus a reality. From parking logistics to implementing a credentialing system to managing traffic flow to public safety and everything in between, �鶹ӳ����ý personnel were navigating uncharted territory.

“We had a really good, young stadium operations support staff, but we had never hosted a major college football game before,” Hansen says. “A lot of places get a several year runway for this. We had barely a year to put it together.”

After the game, Hansen put together a five-page list of items that would need to get addressed or corrected before game two.

“I never had a list that long again,” he says. “It was impossible to fully rehearse ahead of the opener, and there were several unknowns. But we knew it was going to be that way. We just had to work together and do our best. We’ve learned a lot in the last 20 years of executing game days at the scale and magnitude of the Bounce House, and it has been a truly collaborative effort between athletics, the university and community partners to build Orlando into a Power 4 town.”

An Interactive Stadium

The legend of the “Bounce House” was born as the seconds ticked off the scoreboard clock in the lead up to kick off while fans bopped to Zombie Nation’s Kernkraft 400.

Hansen felt Roth Tower moving. He saw people having fun with it. He also saw questions in their eyes.

“I made some engineering friends real quick who said, ‘This is normal. This is really more of a bridge than a building structurally, so it’s designed to move like this.’ That made me feel better,” he says.

The stadium has evolved through the years, but it continues to be the Bounce House — so much so that is has now become a part of the stadium’s official name.

“I call it an interactive stadium. Fans can actually get it to move and most stadiums you can’t do that,” he says. “Having the home field advantage played a big part in the team earning multiple conference championships, a series of elite bowl games and ultimately inclusion in one of college football’s premier leagues. Our fanbase has grown into one of the most passionate and disruptive in the country. And the on-campus stadium was a big facilitator of that.”

Athletics Village Is Born

Most places would consider opening one stadium enough of an undertaking. Most places are not �鶹ӳ����ý.

In the same week the football stadium opened, the 10,000-seat basketball and event facility, Addition Financial Arena, living spaces for 2,000 students and the surrounding Knights Plaza with 80,000 square feet of retail space opened their doors, too.

“The Athletics Village has become a true entertainment and retail district and a great destination and asset for the university,” Hansen says. “Today, a lot of universities are building those for the first time. We launched ours 20 years ago.”

Now that the Roth Tower project is complete thanks in large part to Orange County’s $90 million investment, Hansen’s top priority is revamping the Knights Plaza district.

“We are working to noticeably enhance that area and make it more of a destination, not just for game day, but for every day,” Hansen says. “We’ve got some special plans for that.”

The Vision

When the stadium opened, �鶹ӳ����ý was in its infancy of Conference USA, but the university and athletics department envisioned one day reaching the top echelon of collegiate athletics. So the stadium and Athletics Village were strategically planned to evolve as �鶹ӳ����ý did.

Over the years, we’ve seen transformations to match our rise to the Big 12 with the addition of the Carl Black and Gold Cabana, field cabanas, the Stadium Club, west stadium loge seating, the new Nicholson Plaza and more.

“A lot of stadiums around the country can’t do those things because they are older concrete structures that just can’t change without massive cost or overhauls,” Hansen says. “Here we can. We just proved it again with the new Roth Tower.”

Game Day and Career Ready

Over the last 20 years, the Athletics Village has built community and provided student-athletes with opportunities to showcase their talent while representing �鶹ӳ����ý worldwide. The village has also served as an extension of �鶹ӳ����ý’s mission to equip students with the knowledge, skills and aptitudes that align with the workforce of the future, offering paid opportunities to gain industry experience.

Ryan Gustafson ’25 is just one of many success stories. He was a freshman majoring in biology who needed extra cash when he applied to a part-time job for the athletics facilities, events and operations team. The decision radically shaped his future.

He found purpose and switched his major to event management. In addition to learning from a , he gained practical experience in producing �鶹ӳ����ý Knights’ events and coordinating with some of the biggest brands in athletics.

“There’s a culture here that people want to stay and do their part to make it the best.” — Ryan Gustafson ’25

He has supported the Roth Tower project since it broke ground. He has worked hand in hand with the United States Tennis Association at its national campus in Lake Nona where �鶹ӳ����ý’s men’s and women’s tennis teams compete. When FIFA needed training sites in Orlando for its 2025 Club World Cup, Gustafson was one of the go-to personnel on hand to support the elite international soccer clubs using our facilities.

By the time he graduated in December 2025, he had made the most of the opportunities he experienced as a student and earned himself a full-time position as a �鶹ӳ����ý facilities, events and operations coordinator.

“There’s a culture here that people want to stay and do their part to make it the best,” he says. “I always told myself I would end up at �鶹ӳ����ý, and getting an opportunity right out of college was a dream.”

Two decades ago, �鶹ӳ����ý opened an on-campus stadium that embodied the ambition of a spirited university and the belief of its fanbase. Today, the opening of the new Roth Tower marks the next chapter in that story, celebrating the rise of Knight Nation, �鶹ӳ����ý’s trajectory as the youngest institution in a Power Four conference and the momentum still ahead.

The Roth Tower project, made possible by a $90 million commitment of Tourist Development Tax revenues from the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, represents a pivotal addition to the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village that strengthens Orange County as a premier destination for sports tourism and community engagement.

“The new Roth Tower would not be possible without Orange County’s $90 million investment, and we are deeply grateful to Mayor Demings and the Board of County Commissioners for their belief in �鶹ӳ����ý,” says �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright. “That investment, together with the commitment of our donors, fans and community, helped make this next chapter of the Bounce House possible. Today, we are delivering a community asset designed to bring people here, bring them back and create lasting value for Orange County.”

Born to Bounce

Since its opening in 2007, Acrisure Bounce House has allowed �鶹ӳ����ý to showcase the momentum and trajectory of one of the country’s fastest-growing universities.

For years the idea of an on-campus stadium at �鶹ӳ����ý was a dream that many had said could never come true. �鶹ӳ����ý President John C. Hitt and several prominent �鶹ӳ����ý supporters, including the tower’s namesake, Jerry and Susan Roth, saw the vision of what an on-campus stadium could be. They believed the football program and a stadium could help elevate the university and its brand.

In the last 20 years of the Bounce House, �鶹ӳ����ý has captivated audiences on nationally televised primetime broadcasts; welcomed premiere college football shows �����ʱ�’s College GameDay and �󰿳�’s Big Noon Kickoff; hosted conference championships that catapulted the Knights to New Year’s Six bowl games; and has become a not-to-be-missed atmosphere in college sports.

The new Roth Tower represents another important investment in our continued rise.

A Tower With a Story to Tell

Thoughtful planning went into the design elements and functionality of the new tower.

The new space allows more opportunities beyond game day to welcome alumni, partners and visitors for corporate meetings and retreats, weddings and events, and even rocket launch viewing opportunities of nearby Kennedy Space Center, whose Launch Complex 39A aligns with the stadium’s 50-yard line.

Stronger media and broadcast spaces will help showcase �鶹ӳ����ý nationally and open possibilities for hosting other premiere sporting events and concerts. The strategic layout and structure will make operations and logistics safer, smarter and more efficient.

The tower also serves as an extension of �鶹ӳ����ý’s mission to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and aptitudes that align with the workforce of the future, offering paid opportunities to gain industry experience in areas including facility and event management, game day operations, broadcasting and production, brand management and strategic communications.

The details are uniquely �鶹ӳ����ý, with nods to the university’s roots as America’s Space University and its location in one of the most desirable tourist destinations globally.

A new concept in luxury seating, the open-air, semi-private Sky Suites on the north and south wings of the tower​ take advantage of Orlando’s average of 233 sunny days per year. Floor-to-ceiling windows serve as the east and west walls of the central suite space on the third floor for optimal views of the field and athletic village.

The stadium’s art collection is growing with two custom murals that pay homage to the �鶹ӳ����ý story and the university’s relationship to Orange County designed by artist Harry Foreman ’18, a graphic design and emerging media management graduate. These complement several installations around the concourse already that include Knightro, wings of Pegasus (the university’s official seal), �鶹ӳ����ý’s Big 12 ties and Orlando.

Building What’s Next

Roth Tower will create memorable experiences for visitors and reinforces �鶹ӳ����ý as another reason people choose to come to Orange County and come back.

While the tower is a huge step forward for �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics, it is not the finish line, says �鶹ӳ����ý Director of Athletics and Vice President Terry Mohajir, who has worked to implement facility enhancements throughout the village since he arrived in 2021.

“Our fans gave this stadium its identity … and kept the faith as �鶹ӳ����ý climbed from one level of collegiate athletics to the next,” Mohajir says. “Our responsibility now is to keep matching that belief, by giving our student-athletes every opportunity to succeed, competing for championships, delivering a Power Four-caliber experience and continuing to build the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village into one of the greatest destinations in college sports.”

The �鶹ӳ����ý football team opens the 2026 season against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at .

From signature �鶹ӳ����ý traditions to opportunities to meet new people, get involved and have some fun before classes get into full swing, there’s plenty to experience. Here’s your guide to the week’s events on the main campus and at . Just remember to bring your �鶹ӳ����ý ID to participate in each event.

For the latest event details and updates, check the ,�� and @�鶹ӳ����ý_OSI on Instagram.

Sunday, Aug. 23:

The Knighting
Addition Financial Arena
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s official welcome ceremony brings together all new Knights to celebrate the start of their �鶹ӳ����ý journey. No ticket is required, and the event is open to all. Doors open at 10 a.m.

Opening Knight
Student Union
12 – 4 p.m.

What’s the best way to get involved at �鶹ӳ����ý? Meet the Knights already doing it. Stop by the Student Union to explore student organizations, connect with current members and find your place on campus. Plus, enjoy DJs, free food, giveaways and more.

Monday, Aug. 24:

Welcome Back Social
Reflecting Pond
12 – 1 p.m.

Grab complimentary sweet treats and mingle with �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright, faculty, staff and students.

Movie Knight
Memory Mall
7 – 10 p.m.

Grab your friends and head to Memory Mall for the Campus Activities Board’s annual Movie Knight. Catch Project Hail Mary under the stars, take on a human hamster ball course and enjoy free popcorn and drinks. The event is open to all �鶹ӳ����ý students.

Tuesday, Aug. 25:

Taste of �鶹ӳ����ý
Addition Financial Arena
4 – 6 p.m.

Experience international destinations through food, music, dance and traditions from around the world. This annual celebration brings students together to explore the many backgrounds represented at �鶹ӳ����ý and throughout the greater Orlando area while building connections and a sense of belonging.

Wednesday, Aug. 26:

Welcome Expo
Student Union Key West Ballroom
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

For nearly 30 years, the has helped Knights discover what campus — and the surrounding community — has to offer. Stop by to learn about �鶹ӳ����ý programs, explore campus resources, meet local businesses and discover new opportunities, all in one place. Plus, enjoy music, food and tons of giveaways while taking part in a longtime campus tradition.

Homecoming Theme Reveal
Student Union Atrium
12 – 2 p.m.

Be among the first to find out the Homecoming Week 2026 theme and score some �鶹ӳ����ý Homecoming merch.

Comedy Knight Featuring Leslie Jones
Addition Financial Arena
7 – 9 p.m.

Join the Campus Activities Board for a night of fun and laughs featuring Primetime Emmy-nominated comedian and actress Leslie Jones. Best known for her five seasons on Saturday Night Live, Jones has appeared in nearly 60 film and television projects, including 2016’s Ghostbusters. Get ready to experience her comedic talents, incredible writing and magnetic stage presence live at �鶹ӳ����ý.

Current �鶹ӳ����ý students get in free with a valid �鶹ӳ����ý ID. Tickets for the general public are available at additionfiarena.com.

Thursday, Aug. 27:

Taste of Downtown
Dr. Phillips Academic Commons at �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Take your taste buds on a trip around the world at this signature event featuring international flavors, live entertainment and interactive experiences inspired by destinations worldwide. Come try something new, meet fellow Knights and celebrate the people and traditions that make �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown and the greater Orlando area so vibrant.

Speed Friending
Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, Room 107 at �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown
12 – 2 p.m.

Break the ice at Speed Friending, a fast-paced, low-pressure way to connect with fellow �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown students. Rotate through quick conversations, tackle fun icebreaker questions and see who you click with along the way. Whether you’re new to campus or looking to expand your circle, it’s a fun way to meet new people, make meaningful connections and create lasting memories.

Concert Knight Featuring Quavo
Addition Financial Arena
7 – 9 p.m.

Get hyped for a night of live music featuring Grammy-nominated rapper, singer and producer Quavo. Known for solo hits like Hotel Lobby and Workin Me and as a member of Migos, the chart-topping rap group behind Bad and Boujee and Stir Fry, Quavo has amassed more than a billion streams and captivated audiences worldwide with his signature sound.

Current �鶹ӳ����ý students get in free with a valid �鶹ӳ����ý ID. Tickets for the general public are available at additionfiarena.com.

Friday, Aug. 28:

Paint Rave
Memory Mall
7:30 – 11 p.m.

Join Late Knights for Paint Rave, a high-energy night packed with glowing paint, music, mocktails and plenty of ways to get creative. Bring a friend, hit the painting stations and light up the night while making memories you won’t want to forget.

Saturday, Aug. 29:

Day of Service
Student Union Patio
7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Make an impact beyond campus with Volunteer �鶹ӳ����ý’s Day of Service. Team up with fellow Knights and four local community partners for a morning of hands-on service supporting youth and mentoring, the environment, education and literacy. Choose the cause that speaks to you, meet new people and have fun while giving back to the greater Orlando community. Students will earn three service hours for participating.

Service sites are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive at 7:30 a.m. for check-in, and RSVP on KnightConnect to participate.

Studies have shown the condition affects nearly one in four women worldwide and is linked to dozens of potential disorders involving multiple organ systems. Yet many healthcare providers receive only limited training in diagnosing the source of pain, often leaving patients facing years of uncertainty, repeated testing and ineffective treatments before receiving the right diagnosis.

A yearlong collaboration between a �鶹ӳ����ý physician-scientist and two biomedical sciences undergraduate students aims to create a better environment for doctors and patients to reach an understanding together. Biomedical sciences students Sarah Gabriela Nieto Chavarro and second-year Juliana Dimetry interned with Georgine Lamvu, a �鶹ӳ����ý College of Medicine volunteer professor of obstetrics and gynecology, to transform years of international research into a practical tool to help clinicians evaluate patients more quickly and confidently.

The team is developing an AI-assisted clinical questionnaire application that guides physicians through a patient’s symptoms and identifies which organ systems and conditions should be examined. Rather than replacing a physician’s judgment, the application compiles patient histories quickly to help guide physicians toward making a clearer diagnosis.

From International Research to a Practical Tool

Despite the prevalence of CPP, many healthcare providers lack specialized training in diagnosing the underlying condition because symptoms often overlap with gastrointestinal, urinary, musculoskeletal and reproductive disorders.

“We’re hoping that this can become easy to use and can take a detailed medical history that could take an hour to get through down to just 5 to 10 minutes.” — Georgine Lamvu, volunteer professor and Orlando VA practitioner

“We’re hoping that this can become easy to use and can take a detailed medical history that could take an hour to get through down to just 5 to 10 minutes,” says Lamvu, who practices at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Orlando and directs its gynecological surgery fellowship program and center. “That allows physicians to have a more efficient evaluation and spend more time with the patient.”

The center is a pioneering program designed to address the growing demand for specialized gynecologic care among women veterans. As the number of women veterans using VA healthcare services is expected to increase significantly, this fellowship and center aims to train highly skilled gynecologists to meet their healthcare needs within the VA system and beyond.

As part of that initiative, this project builds upon nearly five years of work led by Lamvu alongside an international coalition of physicians, researchers and patient advocacy groups.

Their research culminated in an international consensus called R U MOVING SOMe, an acronym that categorizes the broad range of symptoms associated with chronic pelvic pain and is the basis of the AI-tool Lamvu and her team developed.

Finding a Definitive Diagnosis

Lamvu says the team translated the clinical research into the logic behind a chatbot-style application that asks fewer than 20 targeted questions. Physicians enter a patient’s symptoms and history into the program, which then suggests the organ systems and conditions most likely responsible for the pain, helping clinicians focus their evaluation.

The team plans to expand the application beyond patient questionnaires by incorporating physical examination findings into the same scoring system. Ultimately, the researchers say they hope it can be used in any practice that serves women, but it may be years away from being realized.

“Physicians just need a way of processing all the information that comes from the patient to narrow it down to a differential diagnosis,” Lamvu says. “Right now, it’s all too common to see healthcare workers panic a little when they hear a patient has chronic pelvic pain because it’s considered a complex condition.”

An Inspiring Internship

The students sifted through years of research and developed the logic for the AI in less than a year. Given the complexity of CPP and the vast amount of data, Lamvu says she is impressed by Dimetry and Nieto Chavarro.

“They learned valuable lessons, like if you see a problem that seems unsolvable to everyone else and that directly and negatively impacts patients, you have the power to do something about it,” she says. “These are experiences not every student gets to have, especially this early on in their life.”

Dimetry says she challenge intrigued her, and that she was drawn to the project for the opportunity to be at the forefront of medicine and emerging technology.

“I think that adapting the field of medicine to AI in ways such as this project is necessary to keep medicine growing and advancing,” she says. “I also saw how impactful this project could be if done successfully, and I wanted to be a part of that and make a difference,”

For Nieto Chavarro, who graduates Summer 2026, the experience showed her how to use technology to help deliver compassionate patient care.

“On a personal level, this experience has taught me to keep going and to never give up,” Nieto Chavarro says. “All of this has ultimately reinforced how essential it is to genuinely listen to patients so they feel safe and understood”

Students in the , with support from the American Association of Venezuelan Engineers (AAVE), are producing 3D-printed orthopedic devices — including splints, neck braces and animal immobilizers — for people and pets injured in the disaster.

The initiative, called Bracing Venezuela, began after BMES leaders contacted Greco Pinzón, president of AAVE. Pinzon’s dad, who has been volunteering in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, connected the students with physicians on the ground who identified the types of orthopedic devices most urgently needed.

“… before we knew it, we had a campuswide humanitarian project taking shape.”

“From there, everything snowballed,” says Jannah Barakat, a mechanical engineering major and president of BMES. “We started test printing, organizing volunteers, building a print tracker, reaching out to other student organizations, and before we knew it, we had a campuswide humanitarian project taking shape.”

Since launching the effort, BMES has produced more than 350 devices that have been shipped to clinicians in Venezuela. Smaller items, such as finger and wrist splints, take only a few hours to print and are manufactured flat so they can be easily transported. Once they arrive, clinicians soften the material with hot water and mold each device to fit each patient. Larger devices, such as neck braces and animal leg braces, are printed in multiple sizes and can take up to 10 hours to complete. With volunteers printing from across �鶹ӳ����ý and beyond, multiple devices can be produced simultaneously.

Bracing Venezuela has received support from Mohsen Rakhshan, an assistant professor in and BMES faculty advisor, who opened his lab’s 3D printer for the project. While many volunteers are engineering students, faculty members, �鶹ӳ����ý alumni and 3D-printing hobbyists have also come forward to help.

“One of the coolest things about this project has been watching people from so many different backgrounds come together around one goal,” Barakat says. “Whether you’re printing a brace, packing a box, donating supplies or simply helping us spread the word, every contribution helps get these devices into the hands of the people and animals who need them.”

“I hope this initiative becomes a model for how engineering students can quickly mobilize to respond to humanitarian needs.”

Those interested in joining the initiative don’t need to own a 3D printer. BMES supplies filament to volunteers who have printers, while others can still make an impact by donating materials, connecting the organization with additional volunteers or helping spread the word.

For Barakat, Bracing Venezuela demonstrates what’s possible when engineering students come together for a greater good.

“I hope this initiative becomes a model for how engineering students can quickly mobilize to respond to humanitarian needs,” she says. “Whether it’s supporting communities after natural disasters, helping [less fortunate] populations locally or partnering with organizations in other countries, I’d love to continue using engineering as a way to make healthcare more [widely available] wherever it’s needed.”

To join the Bracing Venezuela initiative, email Jannah.barakat@ucf.edu.