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Advancement & Partnerships Event Photos
Explore highlights from UCF’s Go for Launch campaign through a collection of photo galleries capturing the energy, pride, and impact of our signature events. From the excitement of the Pep Rally to the inspiring moments of Liftoff, these galleries showcase the people, partnerships, and shared vision driving UCF forward. Experience how our community comes together to celebrate progress, champion innovation, and support the future of our students and university.
ADVANCEMENT & PARTNERSHIPS NEWS
IMPACT IN ACTION
Whether you’re a novice stargazer or ready to help launch a rocket into space, there’s a group for you at America’s Space University.
Senior scientist Anish Roshi Damodaran received a $175,000 NASA award to investigate a virtual telescope concept that could reveal planet formation and the early universe in unprecedented detail.
From the graveyard to a podcasting studio, UCF legal studies and journalism students collaborated for a unique cross-disciplinary class project.
As part of the second UCF Space Week, the honors celebrate individuals and organizations who are advancing development, discovery, exploration, and engagement in the field.
UCF researchers are exploring digital-twin technology that could help operators simulate rover movements in real time, with potential applications for future space missions.
Film production entrepreneur and electrical engineer Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS recounts his experience as part of a four-person crew for NASA’s CHAPEA Mission 2 at Johnson Space Center.
Built by a humanities doctoral student, a new immersive, 270-degree experience invites visitors to explore six decades of space history — and UCF’s place in it.
From the Bounce House’s most electric highlights to the celebratory field rush, we can’t get enough of these scenes from one of the biggest victories in program history.
VIDEOS
UCF: Maximizing Competitive Excellence | Go For Launch
UCF was founded on one purpose: prepare for and own the future. Discover how our relentless drive toward excellence is propelling us to national and global prominence across the spectrum of student and faculty achievement from science and business to athletics and themed experiences. See what the world is watching. Join our mission today. We are Go For Launch.
UCF: The Avatar Era
Join Carolina Cruz-Neira, Ph. D., University of Central Florida faculty and a member of the National Academy of Engineering as she discusses how UCF is using the power of technology to drive positive change. Explore the VARlab, learn how embodied AI agents can help at home and the workplace and how digital twins can extend human presence beyond the body.
UCF Charles Millican Legacy Society
UCF’s Future Begins: Go For Launch
At UCF, we are building the futures we are just starting to imagine, because the world needs visionaries and problem-solvers who can tackle what’s next. We invite you to imagine what’s possible as we launch together. Join us on our mission from the campus to the stars!
VIDEOS
Meet the Go For Launch Mission Commanders
UCF Fintech Leading the Nation in Emerging IT Developments and Finance
How UCF is Designing Dining for Deep Space
As space tourism accelerates from concept to commercial reality, one essential question remains: What will travelers eat — and how will it elevate their experience?
At UCF, Possibility Begins with You
At UCF, breakthroughs do not happen by accident. They begin with curiosity, courage and the commitment to invest in what comes next. In this video, students, faculty and alumni share the discoveries they are making today and the bold questions they are pursuing for tomorrow.
UCF: Scaling the Future of Space Exploration
Space exploration is entering a new era. The question is no longer whether we can reach orbit — but how we prepare for Mars. In this video, our experts explore what it takes to move from moonshots to Mars — and why the groundwork must be laid now.
UCF: Elevating Student Success
What does it mean to be at the epicenter of opportunity?
At UCF, it means freedom — the freedom to explore, to strive, and to imagine yourself doing what once felt out of reach.
UCF: Fueling Discovery and Innovation
At UCF, anything is possible.
From photonics and nuclear chemistry to AI, theater technology and hearing science, our students and faculty move bold ideas from concept to real-world impact.
UCF: Advancing Future Frontiers
We don’t wait for the future.
We build it.
Through applied research, collaboration and fearless creativity, UCF is advancing the frontiers that will shape our world.
VIDEOS
THE LATEST FROM ALUMNI
Tell us a little about yourself! I am a proud wife, mother of two adult children, and grandmother who has called Florida home for over 30 years. As a Puerto Rican, I love returning to the island to enjoy family, food, culture, and one of my favorite hobbies—collecting sea glass along its beautiful shores. I […]
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I first realized I wanted to be a writer in 2020, when Taylor Swift released her album folklore. I was inspired by the way she told stories through her music and I realized that I wanted to do the same. Since singing isn’t my […]
Tell us a little about yourself! Born in NJ. Moved to Florida at age 20 in 1975. Built a career in the Central Florida hospitality industry. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Around 10 years old, I tried to write a short story about dinosaurs. When I published my memoir […]
Tell us a little about yourself! By day, I’m a Florida attorney working in the world of contracts, compliance, and legal technology. By night, I’m dreaming up fictional love stories set against the high-speed world of Formula 1. Somewhere in between, I’m a wife, mom, proud UCF alumna, and someone who believes it’s never too […]
Tell us a little about yourself! I am a mother of three who had a career in the spa industry before moving into the corporate world as a professional wellness coach at a Fortune 500 insurance company. I was also doing a lot of personal growth work that included yoga and lifestyle changes. When did […]
Reception 24/7 founder and Ever Upward honoree Ryan Rapolti ’11MBA measures achievement not by revenue alone, but by the businesses he helps grow, the students he mentors and the opportunities he creates for others. Growing up in Daytona Beach, Ryan Rapolti ’11MBA watched his mother put in a full workday and then attend night classes […]
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I love my family. Good cooking. Writing. Traveling. Planning parties. Telling jokes. I dance like nobody’s watching. I am a spunky, free-spirited, loving mother, doting grandmother, and devoted wife. I have an insatiable zest for life and a burning passion for writing. I earned […]
Tell us a little about yourself! I am a UCF Alumni ’04 and ’07. I earned my Bachelor of Psychology and then a Masters Degree in School Counseling. I was a School Counselor in the Central Florida area for over 11 years. Six years ago I co-founded Love Doesn’t Hurt Inc-a nonprofit dedicated to ending […]
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Founded in 1994 by Tom Messina ’84 and Mike Hinn ’92, Pegasus magazine is the official publication of the University of Central Florida, published twice annually. Find the latest in research developments, student success stories, university advancements and alumni news.
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