“Achieving the $400 million milestone puts us right where we want to be headed into the final year of this historic effort,” says IGNITE Campaign Chair Rick Walsh ’77 ’83MS HC’14. “These numbers are proof that the momentum we feel is real.”

“These numbers are proof that the momentum we feel is real.”

Walsh emphasizes that donor generosity through the IGNITE campaign has tremendous long-and short-term impacts for the university and its students, and also for Central Florida and beyond.

“Our students, faculty and community are counting on us,” Walsh says. “We’re funding scholarships for students who can’t otherwise afford a college education, giving faculty the resources to conduct groundbreaking research and cure devastating diseases, and enriching lives through the arts with programs like the Shakespeare Theater and W�鶹ӳ����ý.”

Among the many other endeavors that inspired this record year of philanthropy were the �鶹ӳ����ý Restores PTSD Clinic, �鶹ӳ����ý’s Marine Turtle Research Group, the Knights Helping Knights food pantry, the �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown campus and the John C. Hitt Initiative for Faculty Excellence. Donors also committed $7 million to create five new endowed faculty positions.

“For public institutions, philanthropy is the margin of success,” �鶹ӳ����ý President Dale Whittaker says. “When we do something exceptional, it’s often because we have friends that believe in us. So the role of philanthropy is more and more critical as we continue to make sure we are carefully stewarding the taxpayers’ money and keeping tuition affordable.”

Among the generous donors that helped make 2018 the most successful year of the IGNITE campaign were:

“For public institutions, philanthropy is the margin of success. When we do something exceptional, it’s often because we have friends that believe in us.”

The >Knights’ thrilling undefeated football season kindled additional enthusiasm among donors, who collectively gave nearly $16 million to �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics. Most of those donations will be used to enhance facilities and go toward the Football Excellence Fund.

Also noteworthy is a 30 percent jump in membership in the Charles Millican Legacy Society, a group of donors who have taken the extraordinary step of leaving a lasting gift in their wills and estate plans. Collectively, the 31 new members represent almost $7 million in giving.

In March 2018, the Foundation held its first �鶹ӳ����ý Day of Giving, a single-day digital effort during which students, alumni and parents support the school financially. The Day of Giving generated $157,000 and attracted a total of 1,951 donors in a single day, with approximately 350 making first-time gifts.

The IGNITE campaign is focused on raising philanthropic support for the following three areas:

As of June 30, nearly 100,000 �鶹ӳ����ý alumni, friends and partners have given to the IGNITE campaign.

The ceremonies will be:

Doors open 90 minutes before the ceremonies, and graduates begin processing 20 minutes before the ceremonies, which are expected to last about two hours each.

The Friday morning speaker will be Alan Ginsburg, a real estate developer who founded The CED Companies, which has built more than 85,000 affordable apartment residences. He is active in many professional and charitable organizations, and his philanthropic contributions have benefited causes all over Central Florida, including The �鶹ӳ����ý College of Medicine Capital Campaign. The college’s Harriet F. Ginsburg Health Sciences Library is named in honor of his late wife. During the ceremonies, Ginsburg will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service.

 The Friday afternoon speaker will be Rick Walsh, a founding member of the �鶹ӳ����ý Board of Trustees and a former senior vice president for corporate affairs of Darden Restaurants. Today he is president of the KnobHill Group, a strategic counseling and development company. He received the 1985 �鶹ӳ����ý Distinguished Alumnus Award and has served on the �鶹ӳ����ý Foundation board for more than 10 years. During the ceremonies, Walsh will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science.

 The Saturday speaker will be Beverly J. Seay, a business executive in the Central Florida modeling and simulation industry for more than 25 years and a member of the �鶹ӳ����ý Board of Trustees since last year. She also serves as a board member on the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and on the Steering Committee of the �鶹ӳ����ý Downtown Campus. She chairs the dean’s advisory board for the �鶹ӳ����ý College of Engineering and Computer Science, and has helped to establish the �鶹ӳ����ý Women in Science and Engineering program.

Of the 5,067 students who filed an intent to graduate, there are 4,308 seeking bachelor’s degrees, 659 master’s degrees, three education specialist degrees, 11 educational doctoral degrees, 80 Ph.D.s, and six Doctor of Nursing Practice.

With these expected graduations, �鶹ӳ����ý will have awarded 271,257 degrees since classes began in 1968.

Each guest attending the ceremonies, including children and infants, must have a ticket to enter the arena. Tickets are available from graduates. Guests who do not have tickets can view a live telecast of the ceremony via closed circuit television at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center, Student Union and on Campus Cable Channel 21.

 Parking for guests will be available in garages C, D and H.

 Additional details about commencement can be found at .

 “We are very grateful to the Williams family for this generous gift,” said �鶹ӳ����ý Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. “Thanks to their commitment, our current and future student-athletes will be able to utilize all the benefits the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will provide for years to come.”

 “On behalf of my family and in support of the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust, I felt there was a need to ensure this project became a reality,” Williams said. “The leadership at �鶹ӳ����ý, Todd Stansbury and Rick Walsh shared with me how important it is not only to have competitive sports facilities, but also how critical it is to make a big investment in the academic, personal and professional development of �鶹ӳ����ý student-athletes,” he said. “Under Dr. Hitt’s leadership, �鶹ӳ����ý has grown significantly. Our family is proud to make this investment.”

 The Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will serve as the headquarters for personal, professional and academic development of nearly 500 Knights student-athletes. The project cost is estimated at $6 million for the three-story, 22,000-square-foot structure. The Center will house �鶹ӳ����ý’s Academic Services for Student-Athletes, Student Services and Compliance departments. The building will include a multi-purpose classroom with space for up to 200 students, a computer lab, tutoring and mentoring rooms, study space and conference and resource rooms. It will be located just east of and adjacent to Bright House Networks Stadium.

 Construction is set to begin in January, with the project slated for completion in fall 2015.

I highly recommend attending �鶹ӳ����ý’s Homecoming; however, my advice to you is not to attend it while riding a horse. Not because it’s a bad idea, but because it may take an unexpected turn.

On a cloudless October morning in the City Beautiful, I was 24 years old, completely sober, and decided upon waking that I needed to immediately borrow a horse.

Impulse is a funny thing, assuming it’s harmless, and it can even be downright hilarious. It also can provide great memories 35 years later.

Have you ever tried to catch and saddle an unwilling horse? It’s not easy—even for a cowboy born and raised on the Plains.

At some point, my horse gave in. The saddle was on, the bridle fixed, the stirrups adjusted—things were looking good. I was excited for Homecoming, and welcomed a respite from studying and exams.

I mounted up, and we moseyed down Rouse Road and then up University Boulevard, stopping at red lights and getting a few honks while I tipped my cowboy hat to passersby.

As we got farther from the barn, however, the horse became a little uneasy. Finally, we trotted across Alafaya and entered the campus.

The campus was alive with excitement as everyone prepared for the parade, a new tradition for our fledgling university. The Homecoming theme was Whiskey, Wild Women and Horses—it was a different time—and we fit right in.

Rufus, a university maintenance employee, watched as we rode up to say howdy. Oddly, Rufus wasn’t surprised to see me on his horse, and his horse seemed glad to see Rufus.

We joined the parade, placed between a chuck wagon float and a fraternity dressed for a roundup. As the noisy parade circled the Reflecting Pond, the horse began to get feisty, and suddenly we were splashing through the water, me waving my hat and hooting a hearty “Yee-haw!”

I looked back to see the campus police headed our way, so we galloped across campus to our secret hideout, waiting for Rufus to give the all clear. I knew I had pushed my luck enough, so we headed off campus as soon as possible.

As we zigzagged through neighborhoods, apartments and back roads to the safety of the barn, I reflected on the greatness of the day. As Winston Churchill said, “There’s nothing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result.” It was a perfect day and a memorable Homecoming—a willing horse, great weather, fun friends, a little mischief and a lively ride home.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that the only things I regret are the things I didn’t do. There are no YouTube videos, tweets or Facebook posts about that day, but the details are perfectly clear in my mind. It was a Homecoming I’ll always remember! I still get a big smile on my face remembering that horse, those friends and �鶹ӳ����ý back in the day.

The Sentinel honored Rosen for his “achievements as one of Central Florida’s most successful and visionary businessmen and one of its most generous philanthropists. He has created thousands of jobs, given millions to a long list of good causes and devoted much of his personal energy to them.”

Rosen and his wife, Trisha, donated $18 million to establish the beautiful Rosen College campus that opened near International Drive in 2004. He also has contributed generously to scholarships for Rosen students.

One of the other finalists for the Central Floridian of the Year award was Rick Walsh, a charter member and former chair of the �鶹ӳ����ý Board of Trustees. �鶹ӳ����ý President John C. Hitt won the award in 2005, and College of Medicine Dean Dr. Deborah German was honored in 2008.

Those efforts begin with the outstanding work that faculty members and students conduct in university research labs, M.J. Soileau, vice president for Research and Commercialization, told the Board of Trustees on Thursday during its November meeting.

“Our faculty and students do research with national and international impact,” Soileau said.

Among �鶹ӳ����ý’s many success stories that were recognized for their innovation and impact:

�鶹ӳ����ý researchers are national leaders for the impact of their patents. The university ranks third among U.S. universities in the latest patent impact rankings from IEEE, the world’s leading association for the advancement of technology.

The Venture Lab helps entrepreneurs vet ideas for new companies and conduct market research, enabling them to develop business plans with high growth potential.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s Business Incubation Program develops homegrown companies that succeed at very high rates and remain loyal to their communities. Services include shared conference space, mentoring and flexible leases that allow companies to add or subtract space as needed. Clients of the program accounted for more than 2,700 direct and indirect jobs in the region in 2009.

GrowFL, a program administered by �鶹ӳ����ý’s Economic Gardening Institute, helps businesses that have grown beyond the incubation stage. GrowFL, which offers services that include CEO roundtables and mentoring, has helped more than 300 Florida companies create more than 3,200 jobs since 2009.

Also at Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting:

Trustees approved a new domestic partner benefits program. Beginning in early 2012, eligible employees with same-sex domestic partners can apply for stipends to help pay for their partners’ health care coverage. �鶹ӳ����ý’s program is similar to those offered by other state universities; state law prohibits coverage of domestic partners in universities’ traditional health plans. More information about eligibility and how to apply for the stipends will be distributed soon to employees.

President John C. Hitt presented Rick Walsh with a plaque, which recognizes the chair emeritus status awarded to him in September. Walsh served as a trustee for 10 years and as the board’s chair for four years.

Trustees also approved the conferral of about 4,700 degrees at fall commencement ceremonies Dec. 15 and 16 at the �鶹ӳ����ý Arena. They also voted to award an honorary doctorate in Public Service to James A. Hinson, whose extensive community involvement includes service as chair of the Dr. P. Phillips Foundation and Dr. Phillips Inc.

Provost and Executive Vice President Tony Waldrop informed the university’s Board of Trustees of the new designation on Wednesday.

Public Administration offers 22 graduate and undergraduate programs and serves nearly 1,000 students. The school’s areas of focus include nonprofit management, urban planning and emergency management.

The school’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Management has earned about $4 million in external funds and helped more than 200 nonprofit organizations.

“This is an amazingly innovative department,” College of Health and Public Affairs Dean Michael Frumkin told the trustees.

Public Administration is one of eight �鶹ӳ����ý graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Also at Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting:

— President Hitt expressed “great sadness” that Nancy Burnett, a longtime friend and benefactor of the �鶹ӳ����ý, passed away last week.

Nancy and Al Burnett have donated $15.5 million over more than 30 years to support �鶹ӳ����ý students and programs. The Burnett Honors College and Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences are named in their honor, as is the president’s on-campus home.

“Their gifts have benefitted thousands of students in our classrooms, in our research labs and on our athletic fields, and their generosity will continue to benefit Central Floridians for many years to come,” Hitt said. “Please keep Nancy’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”

— Board members approved Chairman Emeritus status for Rick Walsh and Vice Chairman Emeritus status for Tom Yochum. Yochum attended the meeting, accepted a plaque and said he was thankful for the opportunity to serve the university for 10 years.

— The board welcomed newly appointed trustee Robert Garvy, chair and CEO of INTECH.

— The board heard an update on the university’s progress on developing a new policy governing academic integrity and misconduct. The Academic Integrity Task Force is in the process of receiving feedback from the university community.

— The board learned about a proposal to attach a large screen to the outside of the �鶹ӳ����ý Arena that could be used to showcase movies, away sporting events and university programs along with advertisements. Additional feedback about the concept will be accepted.

— Joel Hartman, vice provost for Information Technologies, was lauded for his selection as the 2011 Sloan Consortium’s A. Frank Maydas Leadership Award winner. The award acknowledges and celebrates leadership in online education.

— The board recognized Professor Linda Walters for being named one of the best biology professors in the country by The Coastal and Estuarine Research Foundation. She also earned the 2011 Florida Campus Compact Service-Learning Faculty Award for her excellence in linking �鶹ӳ����ý courses with community needs.

— Associate Professor H.G. Parza of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management was applauded for earning the John Wiley and Sons Lifetime Research Achievement Award from the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education.

— The board lauded the volleyball team for earning the 2010-11 Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The award honors teams that have matched their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom.

Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton, local attorney Marcos Marchena and veteran investment manager Robert A. Garvy are the newest members of the �鶹ӳ����ý’s Board of Trustees.

Crofton, Marchena and Garvy were appointed to �鶹ӳ����ý’s 13-member board by the Board of Governors of the State University System.

In her 30 years at Disney, Crofton has held a wide range of executive leadership roles and led an international task force responsible for opening six resort hotels at Disneyland Resort Paris.

As resort president, Crofton oversees a workforce of more than 62,000 cast members. She also is a member of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and served as its chair in 2009-2010.

Marchena is a �鶹ӳ����ý alumnus and vice chair of the �鶹ӳ����ý Foundation Board of Directors. A senior partner and president of the law firm of Marchena and Graham, P.A., he serves as general counsel for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Marchena was chair of the Florida Transportation Commission from 2004 to 2010.

Garvy has more than 40 years of experience in investment management. As chairman and co-CEO of INTECH Investment Management LLC, he helped build INTECH from a single product company into a multi-product global venture.

Garvy previously was a senior vice president at the investment technology firm Wilshire Associates, where he co-founded the company’s consulting division and helped it grow nationally.

Crofton, Marchena and Garvy will replace trustees Rick Walsh, Tom Yochum and Daniel Webster. Crofton and Marchena will serve five-year terms. Garvy is taking over Webster’s seat and will serve for four years.

Walsh, who has served as the Board of Trustees chair, is a charter member of the board. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from �鶹ӳ����ý. He is president of the Knob Hill Group, a private development and strategic investment company. He formerly served as senior vice president for Corporate Affairs of Darden Restaurants Inc.

Yochum, the former BOT vice chair, is a charter member of the board, and he serves on the �鶹ӳ����ý Foundation Board of Directors. He is chairman of the board for Seaside National Bank & Trust and serves as the director of Community Services and Business Strategy for the Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed law firm.

Webster is a veteran political leader who currently represents the 8th district of Florida in Congress. He served in Florida’s Senate and House of Representatives for 28 years, retiring in 2008 as the Senate Majority Leader.

“In April, when WMFE-TV announced its affiliation with PBS would end as of June 30, we at �鶹ӳ����ý knew that Central Florida stood to lose a treasured community resource,” Hitt said. “However, as America’s leading partnership university, we also know that great turnarounds can happen for the common good through the power of partnerships. I look forward to July 1 and enjoying some of my favorite shows on the new W�鶹ӳ����ý TV.”

W�鶹ӳ����ý TV will broadcast PBS’ Emmy-award winning news and public affairs, history, drama and performing arts programming, including the PBS NEWSHOUR, MASTERPIECE and NOVA. The channel also will feature first-class local content about the Central Florida community.

W�鶹ӳ����ý TV also will broadcast seven hours of PBS KIDS programming each weekday. PBS KIDS is the nation’s most trusted educational media brand and has been proven to help children succeed in the classroom and in life. The schedule will include such curriculum-based series as SESAME STREET, CURIOUS GEORGE, DINOSAUR TRAIN and many others.

“We’re thankful that the �鶹ӳ����ý and Brevard Community College are partnering to ensure that the people of Orlando continue to benefit from the full range of high-quality PBS content and services,” Kerger said. “We look forward to working with W�鶹ӳ����ý TV to offer the very best of national and locally produced content to the people of Orlando.”

W�鶹ӳ����ý TV will be seen over the air on digital channel 68.1, the current position of WBCC.  The �鶹ӳ����ý-BCC partnership is working with cable and satellite providers to determine the channels that will carry the new channel.

More information about the partnership and its new high-definition channel is available on the W�鶹ӳ����ý TV website – – which launched today. The site will become a more robust source of information and news about W�鶹ӳ����ý TV in the coming weeks, as more details about the new channel are set.  Public broadcasting supporters can make donations through the website beginning today. A membership plan is under development.

W�鶹ӳ����ý TV can be contacted at wucftv@ucf.edu or 1-855-423-9823 (W�鶹ӳ����ý).

“Serving our communities is a key component of our institution and our partnership’s mission,” Drake said. “We believe our new partnership channel, W�鶹ӳ����ý TV, will fulfill our mission by delivering programming to viewers that will educate, enlighten and inspire.”

BCC and �鶹ӳ����ý have a long history of working together and operating and producing programming for television channels. BCC has owned and operated a non-commercial television channel — WBCC — for more than two decades. WBCC broadcasts the �鶹ӳ����ýTV channel.

WBCC first started airing PBS programming in January 2002 as one of the secondary channels in the Orlando market. WBCC and �鶹ӳ����ýTV will continue to provide high-quality local and PBS programming, remaining separate from the new W�鶹ӳ����ý TV channel.

Just a few days after W�鶹ӳ����ý TV launches, viewers will be able to watch America’s biggest and brightest birthday party at 8 p.m. July 4. A CAPITOL FOURTH will feature unrivaled musical performances by some of the country’s best-known artists and the National Symphony Orchestra live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

PBS’ summer season also will feature MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! on Sunday evenings. HISTORY DETECTIVES, a show that proves once again that an object found in an attic or backyard might be anything, will air Tuesday evenings. GREAT PERFORMANCES will air a production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” starring tenor Placido Domingo at 9:30 p.m. July 15.

For images, video and additional up-to-date information on the PBS Summer 2011 season, go to .

As recipients of Tree of Life awards, Walsh and Albertson will be recognized for their achievements and innovations. David Albertson, a businessman and passionate university supporter who is Judy Albertson’s husband, also will be honored.

They will be celebrated Feb. 24 at the Tree of Life Awards Dinner organized by the JNF, a nonprofit organization that has supported the restoration of Israel’s Negev Desert and educated students from around the world on Israel for more than a century.

Each year, the organization bestows the Tree of Life Award upon leaders who serve the community, promote American-Israeli friendship and are devoted to the peace and security of human life. The organization’s Orlando chapter has previously recognized �鶹ӳ����ý President John C. Hitt and �鶹ӳ����ý College of Medicine Dean Deborah German with Tree of Life awards.

“The Albertsons have been supporters of JNF in the past and, like Rick, they’ve been great community leaders,” said Bruce Gould, president of JNF Florida and a member of JNF’s national board.

“The three of them have done a tremendous amount not only for the JNF and �鶹ӳ����ý, but for so many different organizations,” Gould said. “We feel this is the perfect year to honor them.”

Walsh, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from �鶹ӳ����ý, is president of the Knob Hill Group, a private development and strategic investing company. He formerly served as senior vice president for Corporate Affairs of Darden Restaurants Inc. A recipient of �鶹ӳ����ý’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, Walsh also serves on the College of Business Administration’s Advisory Council.

Judy Albertson is a charter member of �鶹ӳ����ý’s Board of Trustees. A well-known art dealer who previously owned a gallery in Winter Park, she has supported Flying Horse Editions, �鶹ӳ����ý’s fine arts press, since its establishment. In addition, she has served on an advisory committee for �鶹ӳ����ý’s Judaic Studies program.

David Albertson, a successful entrepreneur and agribusiness leader, received an honorary doctoral degree from �鶹ӳ����ý in 1989. A founder of the Orlando Magic, he has been a longtime supporter of the �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics Association.

To honor Walsh and the Albertsons, trees will be planted in their names in Israel’s Carmel Mountains, an area that was destroyed by fire in December.