S 1776

Florida Senate - 2026  (NP)    SR 1776
By Senator Smith
17-02154-26  20261776__
1Senate Resolution
2A resolution designating January 27, 2026, as “UCF
3Day” in Florida.
4
5WHEREAS, the University of Central Florida (UCF) is a
6public research university in Orlando which was founded in 1963
7as Florida Technological University, and
8WHEREAS, Florida Technological University was created to
9meet the technical and engineering workforce needs of the
10state’s growing aerospace and defense industries and the
11expansion of the nation’s space program along Florida’s Space
12Coast, and
13WHEREAS, in 1978, Florida Technological University was
14renamed the University of Central Florida to reflect its
15expanded academic mission, growing student enrollment, and
16broader service to the Central Florida region and the entire
17state, and
18WHEREAS, UCF has now grown into one of the largest
19universities in the United States, enrolling more than 70,600
20students, and is the largest university in this state by
21enrollment, and
22WHEREAS, UCF’s 12 colleges offer more than 250 academic
23degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and
24professional levels, and
25WHEREAS, under the leadership of President Alexander N.
26Cartwright, UCF has expanded enrollment in engineering and
27technology-related programs to more than 21,000 students since
282020, representing an increase of approximately 25 percent and
29strengthening this state’s pipeline of talent in high-demand
30fields, and
31WHEREAS, UCF is classified as a Carnegie Research 1
32institution, recognizing very high research activity, doctorate
33production, and significant contributions to innovation and
34discovery, and
35WHEREAS, UCF is closely connected with the Central Florida
36Research Park, one of the largest research parks in the United
37States, allowing for collaboration among industry, government,
38and academia, support from hundreds of companies, and growth in
39high-wage jobs aligned with defense, aerospace, modeling, and
40advanced technology sectors, and
41WHEREAS, UCF is recognized as a national leader in
42modeling, simulation, and training technologies, an industry
43cluster that generates billions of dollars in economic activity
44for Central Florida and the entire state, and maintains
45longstanding partnerships with federal agencies, including the
46National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of
47War, and the United States Space Force to support research,
48education, and workforce development in space-related
49disciplines, and
50WHEREAS, the Princeton Review and PC Gamer have recognized
51UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy graduate game
52design program as one of the top two programs of its kind in the
53world 5 of the past 6 years, from 2019 to 2025, and
54WHEREAS, according to U.S. News & World Report, UCF has had
55the No. 1 emergency and crisis management graduate program and
56the No. 9 best online undergraduate programs in the nation two
57years in a row, 2024 and 2025, and its computer science programs
58are ranked among the nation’s top 25 for 2025, according to
59cyberdegreesedu.org, and
60WHEREAS, UCF established the Pegasus Partnership Program in
612019 to create structured, long-term collaborations with leading
62private-sector employers which align academic programs,
63research, and workforce development with industry needs, and
64WHEREAS, UCF has developed strategic partnerships with
65major global employers through the Pegasus Partnership Program,
66including BNY, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens, which have expanded
67student internship opportunities, applied research
68collaborations, and corporate investments in Central Florida,
69strengthening the region’s innovation-driven economy, and
70WHEREAS, UCF is nationally recognized for expanding access
71to higher education and promoting economic mobility among its
72graduates, and
73WHEREAS, UCF has produced more than 400,000 alumni
74worldwide, many of whom contribute to this state’s workforce,
75economy, and civic life, and
76WHEREAS, designating a day in recognition of UCF also
77provides an opportunity to honor the legacy of Florida
78Technological University, NOW, THEREFORE,
79
80Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
81
82That January 27, 2026, is designated as “UCF Day” in
83Florida in recognition of the University of Central Florida’s
84contributions to higher education, research, innovation,
85workforce development, and economic growth.
86BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
87the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to President
88Alexander N. Cartwright, Ph.D., President of the University of
89Central Florida, as a tangible token of the sentiments of the
90Florida Senate.