The native Floridian dreamed of working in one someday and knew Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ — located next door to some of the world’s premiere theme parks with a solid pipeline to the industry — was her ticket to get there.

Never mind that at the time of her enrollment to the  in 2020, a global pandemic had quite literally closed the doors on the industry.

Nothing could derail her from her goal.

°Õ´Ç»å²¹²â,Ìý³Ù³ó±ðÌýhospitality management alum is a senior technical coordinator at  in Orlando, the division of  that designs, develops and produces immersive theme park attractions, resorts and experiences worldwide.

Making a Bold Move

As a junior in high school, Cortier got her first real glimpse of career options in hospitality when she attended an industry-focused summer camp that Rosen College hosted at the time. As a senior, she focused her AP capstone project on hydroponics in the theme park industry. She knew the project would help her make connections, because it required a professional mentor.

Cortier took the initiative to reach out to , dean of Rosen College, who at that time was interim chair of the college’s Department of Foodservice and Lodging Management.

Mejia appreciated Cortier’s interest in the industry and her courage in reaching out. She invited her for a campus tour and connected her to a local hydroponics expert. Cortier’s bold plan had worked.

“It is so rare to get a cold call from a high school student who, at such a young age, was so certain she wanted to build a career in hospitality leadership. You just do not see that kind of passion every day,â€� says Mejia, who continued to mentor Cortier throughout her time at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. “Bella continuously challenges and pushes herself past her comfort zone, which is why she is so successful and a model for the students who come after her. I am so proud of her.â€�

Turning the Unexpected Into a Winning Situation

Cortier continued to demonstrate that dedication and initiative once she was a full-time student. She was part of a core group who attended nearly every virtual meet-and-greet with faculty and staff that the Rosen College organized.

“When the faculty and staff saw that I was showing up, and they understood the passion that I had to be there, they started inviting me to take part in different events,� says Cortier, who was invited to be a student representative on the Dean’s Advisory Council, provide college tours for industry leaders and be part of a project team to enhance the student experience post-pandemic.

Meanwhile she also joined the Rosen College Leadership Council, became a tour guide with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½Â Undergraduate Admissions and joined the student chapter of the Future Theme Park Leaders Association. Cortier also joined the  as a member of the drum line, and that’s where she met her fiancé, Erik Solberg ’24.

Forging a Path and Finding Her Place

When her marching band responsibilities ended in fall 2020, Cortier landed her first part-time job in a local theme park, SeaWorld Orlando. She discovered her love of working in rides and attractions and parlayed that into two summer internships focused on hospitality leadership development at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania and another job at Universal Orlando Resort.

“I loved Universal right away, and I knew I wanted to ultimately end up there,� Cortier says.

During her last semester of school, Cortier became an intern on the Universal Orlando Resort Operations Safety & Compliance team, and she has been with the company ever since.

In 2023, she made the move from a front-line job to a backstage role with Universal Creative after attending an internal career fair to explore opportunities.

“I always loved attractions so much, and I didn’t think I’d ever want to leave, but I made the jump to explore something new, and I’m so glad I did,� says Cortier, who supports the engineering and safety team at Universal Creative, which helps bring new experiences to life.

Moving Forward, Giving Back

Cortier still values networking, and she has developed a passion for helping others find their way. She is involved with IAAPA, a global association for the attractions industry, and serves on its North American Education Committee and as chair of its Young Professionals Education Task Force.

“Rosen College gave me a foundation in hospitality, leadership, operations, teamwork and creating meaningful guest experiences.�
— Bella Cortier

“Rosen College gave me a foundation in hospitality, leadership, operations, teamwork and creating meaningful guest experiences,� Cortier says. “When I get calls to come back and speak or be part of an event at Rosen College, I always say yes. I had people feed into me, and that’s my way of giving back — sharing my experience and talking to students who are finding their path.�

Cortier shared her story at the announcementÌý´Ç´ÚÌý³Ù³ó±ð , a first-of-its-kind addition to the No. 1 hospitality college in the nation, backed by a $10 million investment from Universal Destinations and Experiences.

This new Pegasus Partnership is part of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s  campaign, a bold mission for the future of the university.

Alumni, faculty and staff, parents, students, and friends united to support their favorite areas at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, ranging from colleges and scholarships to student resources and athletics.

It was an action-packed 24 hours, but Day of Giving is only the beginning. The funds raised on April 7 will make an impact that will last a lifetime. Your contributions fuel the future of higher education — from groundbreaking research to immersive campus experiences.

This year, Knights supported 140 funds throughout Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Day of Giving. Many participants gave to multiple funds, like Austin Wilson ’22, who made 22 gifts in honor of his Spring 2022 graduation.

“It may sound like a lot, but to me it’s nothing in comparison to the positive gifts and experiences Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has given me,â€� he says. “I wanted to give to a variety of areas because I thought that was how I could make the biggest impact.â€�

Here are just a few of the ways Day of Giving gifts will fuel the future of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and beyond.

Supporting Students Through Hardship

Providing the best college experience goes beyond offering a high-quality curriculum. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ prioritizes student well-being to ensure every individual can access what they need to achieve their version of success. Part of this priority is investing in the Student Emergency Fund, which assists students experiencing a crisis, such as homelessness or a catastrophic event. On this year’s Day of Giving, the fund received support from 168 donors.

“Day of Giving funds go directly to supporting students facing these situations and are distributed as need is expressed by current Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ students,â€� says Ryan Iocco ’11, director of Student Care Services. “Any student experiencing a hardship can reach out or be referred to our services for assistance.â€�

Accelerating Student Success and Academic Excellence

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ believes in accelerating student success, investing in academic excellence and pursuing ground-breaking research. During Day of Giving, all 13 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ colleges received gifts that are being used to support these priority areas, including student scholarship opportunities, programs and facilities, impactful research and more.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s College of Arts and Humanities supports world-renowned faculty who train students to make an impact on Broadway stages and behind the scenes, at major theme parks like Universal Studios, with national organizations dedicated to preserving history and more. The college raised over $690,000 on Day of Giving.

“We are thankful for the support, which will provide more opportunities, boost scholarships so students can focus on their studies, and allow us to ‘Charge On’ with high priority projects like facility improvements and research initiatives,� says Dean Jeff Moore.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s College of Engineering and Computer Science produces top quality talent. Graduates go on to work at some of the world’s leading companies, like NASA, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. During Day of Giving, Knights gave over $146,000 to the college, providing students with connections to internship opportunities, such as NASA’s Pathways Program, and engaging practical experiences, like the Senior Design showcase and the annual Great Naval Orange Race.

“These funds are critical to student success, faculty excellence and college outreach to support the college’s vision: being a top producer of engineering and computer science talent and advancing the state of the art in our disciplines,� College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Michael Georgiopoulos says.

Launching New Scholarship Funds

At Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, we believe in unleashing an individual’s potential by making education affordable and accessible. Scholarships help remove barriers for students so they can focus on their studies, hands-on learning experiences and campus involvement. Day of Giving gifts help fund existing and new scholarships, such as the Marching Knights Scholarship Fund.

“This year’s impact is instrumental in starting the Marching Knights Scholarship Fund, a fund that will give our students financial awards for providing the university a service through performances at athletic, university and community events,� says Director of Athletic Bands Tremon Kizer. “We’ll have the opportunity to provide scholarships for our athletic band program and continue to retain and attract talent to this wonderful university.�

Amplifying Athletic Success

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s championship Athletics division received an incredible boost that will help support the players and supporters both on the field and off, with over $1.3 million raised during Day of Giving, all of which will be used to help transition into the Big 12.

“These gifts are also helping to create life-changing opportunities for our student-athletes,â€� Terry Mohajir, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s vice president and director of athletics, says. “Our transition to the Big 12 will be based on combining people and resources to create championships and careers after college, and the gifts [given] to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Athletics through Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Day of Giving play a huge role in jumpstarting the revenue end of that process.â€�

Funding Future Nurses

As the country experiences a critical nursing shortage, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is stepping up to address the expansion of graduates in this vital field by assisting student success and achievement. During Day of Giving, you helped support this incredibly important area by raising nearly $145,000 for the College of Nursing. These funds will go on to support priority areas like the Student Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides tuition and educational expense support to nursing students in need.

“Our communities need more nurses, and the Student Emergency Assistance Fund is vital to keeping Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ nursing students facing financial crises in school and helping them achieve their dream of becoming a nurse,â€� College of Nursing Dean Mary Lou Sole says.

Increasing Access to Prosthetic Limbs

Championing Limbitless Solutions, a nonprofit direct support organization at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ that specializes in creating and donating personalized 3D printed prosthetic arms for children, 113 donors gave nearly $22,000. The nonprofit was also recently recognized as a model for manufacturing in the state and for its contributions to Orlando’s innovation economy.

“Limbitless is grateful for our community’s support for our bionic kids and student internship program,� says Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD, the CEO and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions. “This year the program will launch two new clinical trials, and the funding will allow us to expand our impact and offer new opportunities for the community without financial burden.�

During the 2022 Day of Giving celebration, Knight Nation supported students through hardship, launched new scholarship funds, helped Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ colleges reach their goals, raised over $1 million for Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Athletics, funded future nurses and increased access to prosthetic limbs for children. And that’s only counting seven of the 140 funds Knights supported this year. Our record-breaking Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Day of Giving will fuel lasting positive impact and change lives.

Knight Nation Charges On with your help. today.

Perhaps one of the biggest highlights was the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Marching Knights’ halftime performance at Saturday’s football game. The band joined forces with Bethune-Cookman’s Marching Wildcats to deliver a moving rendition of patriotic songs in honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

The halftime performance was an extension of the tone set during the National Anthem before kickoff, sang by Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ political science student and ROTC cadet Yolanda Stallworth.

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Marching Knights and Bethune-Cookman Marching Wildcats joined to deliver a moving nine-minute performance, which included “America the Beautiful,â€� “Amazing Graceâ€� and “God Bless America,â€� before finishing with a number that reflected the pageantry and style that Bethune-Cookman and historically Black colleges and universities bands are known for.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Director of Athletic Bands Tremon Kizer approached Donovan Wells, longtime director of bands for B-CU, over the summer with the idea to collaborate. Wells says that in his 25 years with the program this marked the first time the Marching Wildcats united with an opposing band for a halftime show. The bands — which totaled 654 members combined — had just one 45-minute, in-person rehearsal together hours before they took the field in front of 38,000 people.

“If these were not extremely talented, committed and intelligent students, we could not have pulled this off. I also think the bands showed a prime example that if you take the time to learn about each other, you realize you have a lot more in common than you have different from each other. Being an educator, that’s what it’s all about.� — Donovan Wells, Bethune-Cookman director of bands

“When it all came together, it was quite moving. I don’t think the students really understood the magnitude of what they did until afterward when they heard the crowd reaction. Sharing the field and collaborating with an amazing university that has done so much for students across the country and helped change generations was an absolute joy.â€� — Tremon Kizer, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ director of athletic bands

Even Netflix star and former Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ student Chase Stokes approved.

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ football team will return to the field for its first road game of the season when the Knights head to Louisville at 7:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN.

Should you still have questions after reading this article, please refer to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Athletics’ A to Z guide, which has the most up-to-date information regarding the football season.

Space Game Campus Closure | COVID policies | °Õ¾±³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õÌý| Stadium Policies | Parking and Shuttles | Game Day Safety | °Õ²¹¾±±ô²µ²¹³Ù¾±²Ô²µÌý| Game Day Traditions | Watch Parties | Social Media | Game Day Gear ´¥ÌýDonate

Space Game Campus Closure

Memphis | Friday, Oct. 22 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ hosts two weekday games this season: Boise State on Thursday, Sept. 2.  and Memphis on Friday, Oct. 22. Both games kick off at 7 p.m.

On those days, classes on the main campus, in the Central Florida Research Park, at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown, at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and on Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Connect campuses will conclude at 2 p.m. Offices at those locations also will close for normal operations at 2 p.m.

• Faculty who teach classes that start before 2 p.m. but end after that time will have the option to hold the portion of those classes that comes before 2 p.m.
• Some staff members may be required to work past the time when the university closes. In those cases, employees can speak with their supervisors about how their areas will handle operations after 2 p.m.
• Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ will re-open for normal business operations, including regular class and activity schedules, at 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 23. Staff members whose regular work hours begin prior to 6 a.m. should consult their supervisors about starting times.

Saturday classes will be held as scheduled on all of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s campuses on game days.

COVID policies

We’re excited to welcome our fans back to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. We expect all of our fans to do their part to help us complete a successful 2021 season. That means taking precautions to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect those around you as well as our student-athletes and coaches.

We strongly encourage all of our fans to get vaccinated if you are able to do so, and we strongly recommend that all of our fans wear masks while indoors, in line with the latest CDC guidelines. Although most of our stadium is outdoors, please keep in mind that some areas, such as rest rooms, are indoors.

Masks will be available at locations inside the stadium for fans who need them.

We encourage you to wash your hands frequently, and there will be hand-sanitizer stations available throughout the stadium.

If you have COVID-19, are not feeling well or are in quarantine, please stay home and do not come to the game. You can easily transfer your tickets to friends or family online, or post your tickets for resale through your Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Account Manager.

Tickets

All season tickets, group tickets, and single-game tickets are available digitally through the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Gameday app or your phone’s web browser.

Visit Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½Knights.com/app for more information and answers to some of the most frequently asked ticket-related questions. The app has been updated with a new user-friendly option to access your tickets well before you arrive at your gate.

Season tickets are very close to selling out. Fans interested in still purchasing from the minimal inventory can call 407-823-1000. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ faculty and staff are eligible to receive 20% off football season tickets (applies to ticket portion only). If any single-game tickets are available, they can be purchased at ucfknights.com/tickets.

Admission to home games is free for Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ students, but mobile tickets must be claimed through the official Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Gameday app prior to game day. The app is available for free on both Apple and android devices. Claiming a free student mobile ticket does not guarantee entry as admission is first come, first served.

Once you arrive at the gate, you must have your phone in order to scan the ticket barcode, *AND* you must show your student ID for entry into the stadium.

For more information, including FAQs about student tickets, please visit the .

Limited student guest passes can also be purchased for $28 through the app.

Know Your Gate Entry

It is important to know your gate before entering the Bounce House. The appropriate gate is listed on your game ticket. Fans can also locate their gate, which is broken down by stadium section, listed in the graphic above.

Note: Gate 15 no longer exists as a point of entry due to the new Garvy Center for Student-Athlete Nutrition.

Clear Bag Policy

To provide a safer environment and more expedited entry for fans, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ abides by a clear bag policy that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into all sporting events at the Bounce House. It is strongly recommended you familiarize yourself with the policy if you plan on attending a game to learn what is and is not permitted inside the stadium.

Parking and Shuttles

Fans who drive to campus on game days can park in a variety of garages and lots. While some garages and lots – in the Gold Zone – require permits, fans can park for free in most areas of campus.

Important note about tailgating: Tailgating is not permitted in any parking garage. In parking lots, tailgating shall be confined to the area immediately behind your vehicle and shall not impede traffic flow or parking spaces for other vehicles.

Preferred parking lots and garages are located in the northeast sector of campus and are closest to the Bounce House. Gold Zone lots require a valid football game-day parking permit, or an ADA permit for fans with disabilities parking in designated spaces. Permits must be properly displayed at all times from the rearview mirror. All permits are limited to one parking space.

Preferred routing to Gold Zone parking (from the south) is via Libra Drive/Gemini Boulevard East and (from the north or west) via McCulloch Road/North Orion Boulevard.

Fans without permits who wish to park closer to the stadium can park in Garage H for $20. Payments can be made with cash or credit card. Donations support scholarships for Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ students.

Garage H, located near the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center, also accommodates vehicles for authorized students displaying Student Government-provided parking passes and credentialed staff with permits for that garage.

Free parking is available for fans on a first-come, first-served basis in most other lots and garages on campus.

Exceptions include all residential lots and the Libra Garage on Libra Drive, which are reserved at all times for students living on campus.

Parking lot B4, located at the intersection of Central Florida Boulevard and Gemini Boulevard South, is reserved for official university business.

Parking is only authorized in designated parking lots and garages. Patrons who illegally park on or along any campus roadways or in other non-designated parking areas are subject to towing and fines.

No vehicular traffic or parking are authorized on East Plaza Drive on game days until two hours following the end of the game (or when authorized by Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Police). Patrons who violate this restriction are subject to towing and fines.

Parking for guests with disabilities is available on the first level of Garage C with a valid accessible (disabled permits or a Disabled Veteran license plate) on a first-come, first-served basis. The individual who was issued the permit must be with the vehicle. Garage C is located at the intersection of North Orion Boulevard and Scorpius Street.

A free shuttle for patrons with disabilities and fans who accompany them will be provided from the bus stop adjacent to Garage C to the Bounce House (Gate 14). Those shuttles will run from four hours prior to kickoff until two hours after kickoff. Throughout the game and postgame, shuttles will be available, picking up from Gate 14, to return patrons with disabilities to Garage C.

Additional accessible parking spaces are available throughout the campus, and these spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis to any guest with a disability who displays an authorized accessible (disabled) permit or Disabled Veteran license plate. However, no direct shuttle service will be available for these spaces.

Gemini Boulevard North (from Parking Garage H to North Orion Boulevard) will be closed to all traffic from two hours prior to kickoff until the game starts. Once the game starts until midway through the 4th quarter, this road will be open to all traffic. This road will again be closed to all traffic from midway through the 4th quarter until two hours following the end of the game (or as required).

Beginning 1 hour and 30 minutes after kickoff, all North Orion Boulevard lanes will be dedicated to traffic exiting campus. No traffic will be able to enter campus via North Orion Boulevard.

Gemini Boulevard North between East Plaza and West Plaza drives will be closed to vehicular traffic prior to and during tailgating each game day. Memory Mall tailgaters who wish to drop off their tailgating gear in that area can do so by the barricades on either side. The road will be reopened at the discretion of law enforcement following the conclusion of tailgating.

Fans can avoid game-day traffic by parking at Research Pavilion and catching a Park and Ride shuttle. Fans may park at the Research Pavilion building, located at 12424 Research Parkway in the Central Florida Research Park adjacent to campus, and be transported to the Research 1 Transit drop-off, adjacent to Garage C near Memory Mall. The shuttles start four hours before kickoff and end two hours after the game ends.

Most student shuttle routes connecting the main campus and nearby apartment complexes will run throughout the day. Game day shuttle service will conclude two hours after the game ends. Game day routes include all normally serviced apartment complexes with the exception of Northview, Tivoli and Northgate due to their close proximity to the stadium. Service to those communities will end at 3 p.m.

Rosen College students can ride 3 or 5 p.m. shuttles to the main campus for game day. Downtown students can ride 3:30, 4:30 or 5 p.m. shuttles to the main campus. Shuttles will return to both campuses four hours after kickoff. In addition, routes departing the main campus for Rosen at 3:45 and for downtown at 3:30 p.m. will continue.

A valid Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ ID is required to access shuttles.

Game Day Safety

Protecting campus is the  top priority, so if you see activity that looks suspicious, say something. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½PD can be reached 24/7 by calling 407-823-5555 or 911 in an emergency.

And remember to stay hydrated. Four Water Monster stations will be located inside the stadium around each of the four corners of the lower level concourse to provide fans with complimentary ice water.

Tailgating

Campus parking lots open at the following times on game days:

• 8 a.m. for all Saturday games and the USF game on Friday, Nov. 26
• 2 p.m. for the Boise State game on Thursday, Sept. 2, and the Memphis game on Friday, Oct. 22

• Six hours before kickoff, but no earlier than 8 a.m., for all Saturday games and the USF game on Friday, Nov. 26.
• 3:30 p.m. for the Boise State game on Thursday, Sept. 2, and the Memphis game on Friday, Oct. 22

All tailgating spaces on Memory Mall once again will be reserved for Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ students and alumni. Reservations for each home game will open at 6 p.m. on the Sunday evening before the game.For more information, please visit  or follow Knights on the Mall on Instagram. You can also like the  for the most recent updates. Gemini Boulevard North between East Plaza and West Plaza drives will be closed to vehicular traffic prior to and during tailgating each game day. Memory Mall tailgaters who wish to drop off their tailgating gear in that area can do so by the barricades on either side. The road will be reopened at the discretion of law enforcement following the conclusion of tailgating.

Alumni (and their guests) have access to a FREE tailgate at the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½Â FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. All you need is a valid ID/driver’s license. In order to accommodate our guests and promote best health practices during this time, at least the first two tailgates (Sept. 2 and Sept. 11) will be held outside on the front lawn and alumni parking lot. Tailgates begin three hours before kickoff and 4 Rivers barbecue is available for purchase. More details will be available soon.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Alumni will also be hosting two road game ChargeOn Tailgates this season at Louisville and Navy. The tailgates include a catered buffet, open bar, spirit swag and special appearances from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ fan favorites. Admission is $45 for adults and $25 for children under 12. To learn more about our Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ ChargeOn Tailgate events, visit .

And if you’re looking for suggestions on how to throw the best tailgate party, you’ll want to read this guide highlighted in Pegasus magazine that features advice from some Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ experts.

Game Day Traditions

• #Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ansWear encourages fans to coordinate their colors, beginning with black  for the first home game Sept. 2. Check Twitter ) for and for reminders each game week for the wardrobe choice.
• Knight Walk through IOA Plaza (starts two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff). Greet the student-athletes and coaches as they arrive on campus and make their way into the stadium.
• The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Tailgate Concert Series is back this season on IOA Plaza. More details coming soon.
• March to Victory (90 minutes before kickoff) — join Pegasus, Knugget, Knightro, the Marching Knights and the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ spirit teams near Knights Plaza, on the corner of Gemini and East Plaza Drive, for the fan march to the stadium.
• Turn on your cell phone flashlights for kickoffs.
• When you hear .
• Sing the alma mater after the game with the team.

The Spirit Team and Marching Knights

It’s not just the football team that impresses on the field.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s cheerleaders finished second at this year’s College Cheerleading National Championships, and the program has placed among the Top 10 26 times in the last 28 years under head coach Linda Gooch ’85, including national titles in 2003, 2007 and 2020.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Marching Knights has been providing the soundtrack to football season for more than four decades. for gear and other merchandise that helps support the band.

Official Watch Parties

Out of town and you can’t make it to the game? Are the Knights on the road? Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Alumni chapters and clubs around the country host official watch parties. Visit to see an updated list every week.

Follow The Knights

Want timely game day information and insider content? Download the mobile app by searching “Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Knightsâ€� in the App Store or Google Play. You can also follow these accounts on social media:

Twitter

Instagram
@ucf.football
@ucf.knights

Game Day Gear

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Bookstores at both the John T. Washington Center and Knights Plaza locations have game day gear available for purchase.

There are also four merchandise locations at the stadium: IOA Plaza, inside Gate 3, inside the Stadium Club, and on the east side of the stadium inside Gate 14.

Donate

In support of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Athletics’ vision to be a perennial Top-25 athletics program and “Orlando’s Hometown Team,â€� it is essential to recruit, retain and develop championship-caliber student-athletes and coaches by delivering exceptional academic support services, competitive operating resources (equipment, travel, salary and scholarship) and world-class athletic facilities for competition, practice, training, recovery and nutrition.

Charitable gifts make a significant impact on the growth and success of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Athletics, as well as on the lives of our 435 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ student-athletes. Donate at .

The lyrics have always been the same, but the arrangement was changed in 1999. It was composed by two former Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ professors and former directors of the Marching Knights, Richard Greenwood and Ron Ellis.

The fight song got its official name “Charge On� 11 years later.

In 2009, we were on our practice field during a rehearsal. I was a graduate assistant at the time along with Jason Millhouse ’10MA ’15, who is currently our announcer. We were having a conversation with Ron Ellis, who was director of athletic bands at the time, while the band was practicing our pregame performance. Jason had taken over announcing for the band that year, and he said we should probably name the fight song. He suggested something from the lyrics. Ron started singing the fight song quickly, stopped and said, “Charge Onâ€�? Jason and I looked at each other and said it was good. Charge On was settled on pretty quickly because the first lyrics are “Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ charge onto the field.â€�

The very next game, we announced the title as we performed during pregame. The script said, “And now Knight fans, put your hands together and sing along with the Marching Knights as they perform their traditional downfield march to the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Fight Song, ‘Charge On.’ â€� Now it’s grown to become the school’s rallying cry.

The lyrics are comprised of 29 words.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ charge onto the field.
With our spirit, we’ll never yield.
Black and gold,
Charge right through the line.
Victory is our cry, V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.
Tonight our Knights will shine!

It made its cinematic debut in 2007.

In 2007, the song was included in the film Sydney White, which starred Amanda Bynes and was filmed partially at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. The Marching Knights were in two scenes in the movie, and our fight song was performed.

Even though you’ll hear the fight song performed a lot, it’s played at specific times.

For football season, we play it during the March to Victory, the pregame performance, whenever we score and at the end of the game. During basketball, we play it when the team runs out of the tunnel to start the game, when they head into the locker room at halftime and at the end of the game.

It clocks in at 63 seconds from start to finish.

It is one of the first songs we’ll rehearse and everyone learns because we play it so much and it’s important. Usually by the second day of our band camp, which is held prior to the first day of school every year, it’s performable by the whole band.

The fight song is scored for 23 different parts.

The song is written for one piccolo, two clarinets, two alto saxophones, one tenor saxophone, three trumpets, two trombones, two mellophones, one baritone, one tuba, one snare drum, five bass drums, tenor drums and cymbals.

The building is the first phase in a planned complex that eventually will include covered and outdoor practice fields. The facilities will allow practice regardless of weather.

President John C. Hitt and Jeff Moore, dean of the College of Arts & Humanities, welcomed band members, alumni, donors and other guests to the ribbon cutting, and alumnus Bryan Cole recounted the beginnings of the band.

“This building has been a long time coming and is so well deserved,� said Moore. “The Marching Knights have a rich history and many people helped us get to where we are today. If scale times excellence equals impact, the bands are making an enormous impact.�

Second-year band director Tremon Kizer, an assistant professor of music, said he looks forward to using the new building.

“The facility will help recruit new students, maintain healthy enrollment, keep students safe, protect the band equipment, and foster an ongoing relationship with the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ community as a whole,â€� he said. “With every community that has a college, you hope it has the hometown marching band, and whoever watches the band should walk away feeling energized, motivated and excited to come back to more events.â€�

Marching Knights band member and mechanical engineering major Sarah Spielman said the new building provides a place of unity and belonging.

“We are the largest and one of the most visible student organizations, and we represent students from over 80 majors,â€� she said. “Marching Knights foster a sense of family for active members and alumni, and the band building will give us all a permanent home at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.â€�

The Marching Knights have been boosting spirit in the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ community since 1980. The members hope to take that same enthusiasm nationwide through a new collaboration with several other marching bands to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

To the delight of thousands of loud Knights fans, the youngest university to ever play in a BCS bowl game won a thriller on the largest national stage Wednesday.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ defeated No. 6 Baylor 52-42 to win the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, earning a victory that almost no “expertâ€� thought the Knights could achieve.

Knights’ fans were loud throughout the game at University of Phoenix Stadium, particularly in the fourth quarter when Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ put the game away by scoring 17 points and making huge defensive stops. They roared when the Knights (12-1) took the stage to accept the Fiesta Bowl trophy and donned championship hats, soaking in one of the biggest milestones in the university’s history.

“It was memorable,� cheerleader Jacob Serre said while celebrating on the field. “It’s the last game I’ll ever cheer. This (spirit squad) is my family, and what a great way for us to go out. I never doubted our team for a second.�

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ President John C. Hitt beamed during media interviews on the field, talking about how much fun it was to watch the historic win while also praising the Knights for their success in the classroom. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has the second-highest graduation rate among the 10 BCS schools, trailing only Stanford.

“They are student-athletes,� he said. “They are fine young men.�

Harlee Samuels and Erica Brink are friends and former Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ roommates who flew across the country to watch those fine young men.

Brink landed in Arizona at 4 a.m. Wednesday after enduring an emergency landing in Memphis due to engine problems. But her troubles were worth it.

“We live only an hour away and don’t see each other often,� she said during a pregame tailgate party at the stadium. “But we could find the time to fly to Arizona to see each other without any questions being asked.�

Samuels and Brink cheered as Maxwell Glorit and his Marching Knights performed the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ fight song to enthusiastic fans during the rally. The Marching Knights performed twice for fans before heading into the stadium.

The Fiesta Bowl had an extra special meaning for Glorit, who marched in the Fiesta Bowl parade as a high school freshman seven years ago. Today, he was back in Arizona as a leader and drum major for the Marching Knights.

Glorit enjoyed performing at the rallies and a halftime show that featured songs by Queen, Lady Gaga and The Who. His trip was memorable even before the game kicked off … and then it ended on the perfect note with the biggest win in school history.

“We’re all very excited,� he said. “It’s a first for our university, and we’re soaking it all in.�

Today, as the director of the Marching Knights and the Jammin’ Knights, it is music’s power to inspire and connect that keeps him playing his passionate tune. “94% of our band members are non-music majors,� Allen shared. “The bands provide a bridge to connect kids socially.�

And under Allen’s careful direction, the band’s performances connect the crowd of Knights fans. His weeks are filled with plans, rehearsals, and practice, practice, practice. So that come game day, every note of the playful and pulse-pounding tunes will motivate fans in the stands to “Turn up the Radios� and move the Knights on the field to “Reach for the Stars.�

“We play music that pushes and challenges us as performers. We’re also all about football and school spirit. Our performances stir up crowd participation and emotions.“

While at the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ orientation in July, Cupo noticed a booth for the Marching Knights. Interested in joining, Cupo asked whether the marching band accepted “old people.”

He hoped the young woman at the table would say, “You’re not old.”

Instead, she said, “Absolutely!”

At 48, Cupo is the oldest member of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Marching Knights, 300 students in their late teens and early 20s. On Saturday, in front of 55,000 screaming fans, Cupo will make his debut as a member of the Marching Knights when the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ football team opens its 2010-11 season at Bright House Stadium.

To continue reading, visit OrlandoSentinel.com, Once laid off, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s oldest band member is marching on,  by Jon Busdeker, Orlando Sentinel,  8:27 PM EDT, September 2, 2010. Jon Busdeker can be reached at 407-650-6361 or jbusdeker@orlandosentinel.com.

It took Cravens three attempts at choosing a major until he stumbled into psychology. First he tried a music degree. He was in many ensembles and the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Marching Knights band.

“I had a lot of good times with the Marching Knights, but I decided that I could pursue music without a music degree,” Cravens said.

While taking business classes, Cravens took his first psychology course and fell in love with it. He decided to change his major to psychology. After graduating from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ in the spring of 1994, he went to graduate school at the University of Florida to continue studying psychology.

“What I originally thought I would do with my degree is teach on a collegiate level, maybe get my doctorate in research methods or something like that,” Cravens said.

He dropped out of UF because he had a full schedule being a student performer for Disney, playing in the UF Gator band and working a full-time job as a musician with Disney. Now Cravens works as a Blue Man and is also a percussion instructor at West Orange High School.

His Blue Man training took three months in New York. He said the training wasn’t just learning the show but learning the character and how to take off layers instead of adding layers.

“I’m basically stripping away the things that make me Richard,” Cravens said. “We talk about the concept of ego, those insecurities and those prejudices that go along with the everyday mask of a person in society. Being a Blue Man is about taking that mask off, and I think that concept is hardest to grasp for people who are training to become Blue Men, the idea of leaving everything else behind.”

Cravens said motivation is not something that is necessary for him to keep performing every night. He said that Blue Man Group is not like theater production where the same lines are delivered every night; instead, it involves a lot of improvisation. What happens on stage depends on the performers that are on stage that night, he said. The audience never sees the same show twice. “It’s an unscripted, scripted show,” said Joe Chabus, a public relations representative for Blue Man Group.

“My favorite part of being a Blue Man is having the power that the musical pieces bring to the show,” Cravens said. “Seeing how the music transforms people in the audience. The journey the audience takes and the uncertainty and unknowing of what will happen at the show that night.”

Cravens said he likes the idea of being in a show that doesn’t travel so that he can go home to his family every night. “I get to bring back what [the Blue Man Group] do to Orlando,” he said. Beyond the physical and mental stress of his job, Cravens said he sees himself remaining in the entertainment industry.

“I am always going to be a performer and when I’m done performing, I am going to be teaching,” he said.

Blue Man Group was created in 1988 by three friends named Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. Their certified-Gold debut album, Audio, was nominated for a Grammy in 1999, according to Chabus. Blue Man Group has been involved in such projects like the animated movie Robots, Space Chimps and TV shows such as Arrested Development, The Simpsons and Scrubs.

Source: Central Florida Future, by Lea Anne Crittenden; Published: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, updated: Wednesday, January 20, 2010