- University of Central Florida News | UCF Today - https://www.ucf.edu/news -

Founders’ Day Celebrates Campus Excellence

University of Central Florida’s students, faculty and staff were recognized for their achievements Wednesday during the annual Founders’ Day Honors Convocation.

Recipients ranged from an international expert who discovered water and organic molecules on an asteroid, to a researcher who has received millions of dollars in grants to study how our body’s natural antibiotics fight diseases, to a computer scientist who revolutionized the way videos are streamed on the Internet.

Other awards were given to honor excellence in research, professional service, outstanding theses and additional categories, along with milestone anniversaries at the university.

“The achievements we recognize today confirm the merit of the past efforts of our founders and demonstrate that our dedication to excellence continues in this the 50th anniversary year of our great university,” President John C. Hitt said during the ceremonies.

The gathering was held in the Student Union, with employees, retirees, past honorees, family and friends in attendance, along with Dr. Tyler Fisher, UCF’s first Rhodes Scholar visiting from the University of Oxford. Fisher is visiting the campus as part of the university’s 50th anniversary events.

A reception was held afterward.

For more on today’s winners, go to these stories:

  • Founders’ Day: Faculty Honored for Excellence [1]
  • Founders’ Day: Seven Faculty Members Named Pegasus Professors [2]
  • Founders’ Day: Exemplary Students Honored [3]
  • Founders’ Day: Lifetimes of Achievement for Emeritus Faculty and Staff [4]