[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 114 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1209-E1210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL WEBSTER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a 
special occasion for the University of Central Florida (UCF). The 
University of Central Florida celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 
10, 2013.
   On June 10, 1963, during the state of Florida's thirty-ninth 
legislative session, Florida Governor Farris Bryant signed Legislative 
Bill 125 that officially created a new state university in the east 
central section of Florida. The Board of Controls approved the site for 
the university near the Orange and Seminole Counties' line on January 
24, 1964. However, the future site of the university would remain 
untouched for years as the Florida legislature struggled to provide 
construction funds.
   In December 1965, Dr. Charles Millican became the university's first 
and only employee. Dr. Millican and the university's first offices were 
above a drugstore located in downtown Orlando at the corner of Church 
Street and Orange Avenue. On January 17, 1966, the university was named 
Florida Technological University (FTU), and three days later on January 
20, 1966, the first prospective student inquiry arrived via postcard 
from Gaithersburg, Maryland. The following year on March 19, 1967, 
Florida Governor Claude Kirk and over 2,000 supporters formally 
inaugurated the groundbreaking of FTU.
   In April 1968, the official seal, the Pegasus, was approved as the 
university's logo and FTU received their first research grant from NASA 
for $12,500. Opened on June 24, 1968, FTU's library became the first 
functioning building on campus and housed the administration, staff 
offices, library and classrooms. In the fall of 1968, the first four 
residence halls opened to 432 students. The Student Union would not be 
constructed until twelve years later in 1980.
   On January 31, 1968, FTU's first catalog was published. A few months 
later on October 7, 1968, FTU's first edition of their student 
newspaper, later named ``The FuTUre,'' published that FTU had fifty-
five degree programs, 1,948 enrolled students, 90 instructors and 150 
staff members. The Orlando Sentinel went on to report that October 7, 
1968, will forever be remembered as the day that changed Orlando and 
Central Florida. In 1969, the university received its first computer, a 
``Model 1200,'' that was operated by Dr. Harry Poole.
   Walter Komanksi ran unopposed and was elected as the first Student 
Government President on March 9, 1969. In November 1969, the first 
formal Greek life rush was held for FTU's first sorority, Phi Beta Phi, 
and first fraternity, Pi Kappa Epsilon. On November 21, 1969, the 
university's basketball team recorded its first win when they defeated 
Massey Institute, 99-38. The following summer, on June 14, 1970, FTU 
conducted their first commencement ceremony for 423 graduating seniors.
   On December 7, 1970, FTU changed their logo and announced that the 
Knights of the Pegasus would become the university's new mascot. The 
Alumni Association was established the following year on March 5, 1971, 
and the first Distinguished Alumni Award would be awarded eight years 
later in March 1979 to Dick Batchelor, Class of 1971. Six days after 
the Alumni Association was established, on March 11, 1971, FTU 
celebrated its first homecoming at a basketball game against the 
Florida Institute of Technology. Five years later, on December 1, 1976, 
students buried a bicentennial time capsule on campus. The time capsule 
is to be opened in 2026.
   Florida Governor Reubin Askew signed legislation on December 6, 
1978, which changed the name of FTU to the University of Central 
Florida (UCF). Following the university's name change, on January 15, 
1979, Trevor Colbourn was inaugurated as UCF's second president. During 
President Colbourn's first months, he and Athletics Director Jack 
O'Leary approved the development of the UCF football program to become 
part of NCAA Division III. On September 22, 1979, UCF traveled to play 
its first football game against St. Leo University and won 21-0. 
Continuing UCF's intercollegiate athletic development, the Wayne Densch 
Sports Center was dedicated to UCF on October 22, 1986. Years later, in 
1996, UCF's athletics would move to NCAA Division 1-A. And, ten years 
after moving to NCAA Division 1-A, the University of Central Florida 
Cheerleading Squad would become National Champions.
   In March of 1992, Dr. John C. Hitt became the third President of the 
University of Central Florida, and has been serving the UCF community 
as President for over 20 years. I had the personal honor of working 
with Dr. Hitt while serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for 
UCF. Under Dr. Hitt's leadership, UCF has planned and won approval for 
a new college of medicine, doubled enrollment while enhancing the 
quality of academic offerings, increasing the number of doctoral 
degrees awarded each year, and expanded research funding.
   Continuing their development, on May 1, 1993, UCF became an official 
member of the nation's oldest higher education association, the 
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. In 
1994, President Hitt formed a committee to create a new design for 
UCF's mascot, and thus ``Knightro'' was born. ``Knightro'' made his 
first appearance as the university's new mascot at a football game on 
November 19, 1994. The following November, the first UCF Spirit Splash 
would take place when students entered the forbidden Reflecting Pond on 
campus during homecoming festivities. Today, the UCF Spirit Splash is 
considered to be one of the best collegiate traditions in Florida.
   At the new student convocation in August 2001, President John C. 
Hitt debuted the University of Central Florida Creed and began a new 
tradition for the university. The UCF Creed developed a value system 
for the students, faculty and staff to adopt, share and incorporate 
into all aspects of university life. Six years later in September 2007, 
the grand openings of the UCF Arena and the Bright House Networks 
Stadium took place just in time for the 2007-2008 athletic seasons.
   During the 2013 State of Florida Legislative Session, Florida Senate 
Resolution 1780 extended congratulations to the faculty, 
administration, staff, student, and alumni of the University of Central 
Florida on the occasion of their 50th anniversary and recognized March 
20, 2013, as ``UCF Day'' in Florida.
   Today, with over 190,000 alumni and as a leader in academics and 
research, the University of Central Florida is the largest university 
in the state of Florida and the second largest university in the United 
States. UCF students and alumni have come from all fifty states 
nationwide and over 145 countries. As one of the nation's most dynamic 
universities offering 212 degree programs and 18 study abroad programs, 
the University of Central Florida's quality of academic offerings is 
remarkable.
   I commend UCF for their leadership, dedication and accomplishments. 
On behalf of the people of Central Florida, it is my pleasure to 
recognize and congratulate UCF on this momentous occasion. May their 50 
years of dedication to the classroom and the community inspire many to 
follow in their footsteps.

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