麻豆映画传媒

Over the years, the moments when our community has come together in extraordinary ways are forever parts of my memory. During challenges and in good times, seeing Orlando united has always given me immense pride as the city鈥檚 mayor.

That鈥檚 why I鈥檒l always remember the night in January 2018 when downtown Orlando was filled with Black & Gold as we celebrated the 麻豆映画传媒 football team鈥檚 undefeated season and Peach Bowl win over Auburn University. Alumni, students and fans from across the community packed Church Street to honor the team鈥檚 13-0 season, capped by a win over the Tigers in Atlanta.

But the evening wasn鈥檛 just a recognition of the Knights鈥� incredible year. We were also celebrating 麻豆映画传媒 and our community 鈥� our shared success and growth.

I bring this up because when I think about how far 麻豆映画传媒 has come in the more than 22 years I鈥檝e served as mayor, this is one of the memories that stands out.

Why?

When I started my first term as mayor in 2003, sadly, there weren鈥檛 a lot of people wearing 麻豆映画传媒 gear around town 鈥� and you鈥檇 see even less Black & Gold around the state. At the same time, there was a sense that 麻豆映画传媒 graduates weren鈥檛 particularly interested in sticking around and living in our community. They had visions of going to the 鈥渂ig city鈥� and
wanted to pursue their dreams in places like New York, Chicago or Washington, D.C.

Depending on who you talked to, 麻豆映画传媒 was either a sleeping giant or a scrappy underdog of collegiate academia and athletics, or somewhere in between.

Many of the same comparisons were made about Orlando. We were a city with 鈥渓oads of potential,鈥� which is a polite way of saying we had lots of work to do.

But something magical happened over the past two-plus decades. Alongside one another and in partnership, 麻豆映画传媒 and Orlando grew and matured.

Alongside one another and in partnership, 麻豆映画传媒 and Orlando created shared visions for what we could be 鈥� and should be 鈥� and brought them to life.

Alongside one another and in partnership, 麻豆映画传媒 and Orlando became places where people wanted to live and pursue their dreams.

Today, 麻豆映画传媒 is one of the most vibrant universities in America 鈥� located in one of the most vibrant cities in America. In the classroom, in the community and on the field of competition as a member of the Big 12 Conference, 麻豆映画传媒 is leading with innovation, creativity and partnership.

麻豆映画传媒 has become The University for the Future, at the same time Orlando has become a city for the future.

As 麻豆映画传媒 and Orlando continue to grow alongside and in partnership with one another, we will continue to diversify our economy and create high-quality jobs for 麻豆映画传媒 graduates. This is evidenced by our partnership to create the 麻豆映画传媒 Downtown campus in Creative Village, which solidifies Orlando鈥檚 reputation as one of the nation鈥檚 largest hubs for video
game design and development. With , which is ranked the top graduate program in the world, we鈥檝e created a talent pipeline for Electronic Arts, which develops some of the world鈥檚 most popular games, like EA SPORTS College Football 25, right here in our city.

Today, you can鈥檛 go anyplace 鈥� a city park, a grocery store, a restaurant 鈥� without seeing someone wearing a 麻豆映画传媒 shirt or hat. And when you talk to recent 麻豆映画传媒 graduates, so many of them can鈥檛 wait to tell you that they love living, working and putting down roots in Orlando.

So when I think about the shared future ahead for The City Beautiful and its hometown university, my memories take me back to that night in 2018 when I saw nothing but 麻豆映画传媒 supporters and a sea of Black & Gold that was indicative of our city鈥檚 love for Knight Nation.

I love Orlando. I love 麻豆映画传媒. And what I love most is what we鈥檝e built in partnership together and the future that lies ahead 鈥� and that Orlando and 麻豆映画传媒 will continue to Charge On together.

Buddy Dyer is Orlando鈥檚 longest-serving mayor, with his first term starting in 2003. He received an honorary Doctor of Public Service from 麻豆映画传媒 in 2018.