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PHOTOS: UCF students, local musicians jam out for fall 2025 Arboretum Unplugged

Blankets littered the grass outside the UCF Arboretum office on Thursday as students settled in for night one of the fall 2025 Arboretum Unplugged music festival.The festival, a recurring semesterly two-day event, kicked off around 6:30 p.m., featuring a variety of local musicians and bands. Night one acts included Noah Gonzalez-Hall, Valley in the Sky, Isa Obscura, Austin's Anonymous, Tanner Goulet, RIPJoeyFry, Holly Pocket, The Hidden Gems and Munge. Payton Heckman, junior computer sc...
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GALLERY: Orlando residents, UCF students rally for 'No Kings' protest against Trump administration

Four months after the nation rallied to protest the Trump administration, "No Kings" protests took place again on Saturday across the country, including in downtown Orlando.Orlando residents, along with UCF students, participated in the nationwide movement, gathering outside of Orlando City Hall in City Commons Plaza with signs, costumes and canines. From 10 a.m. to noon, protesters grew from dozens to hundreds. With the sun shining above them, the weather significantly cooler than the "No Kings...
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Orlando residents, UCF students rally for 'No Kings' protest against Trump administration

As the sun rose just above the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday morning, dozens of people had already gathered across Orange Avenue in City Commons Plaza to join in on a nationwide sequel to June’s "No Kings" protests.Orlando residents rallied outside Orlando City Hall in the cooler weather. Among those in attendance was Mari Tomlinson, a UCF alumnus from the class of 2023, who expressed outrage toward President Trump. 
“Trump has been completely ruining this count...
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Student Union evacuated due to fire alarm triggered on second floor, officials say

The UCF Student Union was evacuated at 12:04 p.m. on Tuesday after the building's fire alarm went off.
About 150 people were cleared from the building by Student Union event staff. The staff, wearing bright neon-colored vests, urged people to stand 400 feet away from the building. This range spanned from outside the boardwalk behind the union to the grass in front of the John T. Washington Center Chick-fil-A.
At about 12:07 p.m., police officers arrived at the scene and further restricted entry into the building. The Orange County Fire Rescue arrived shortly after.
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Central Florida community members mourn Charlie Kirk with candelight vigil at UCF

Less than a week after the assassination of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, Central Florida community members came together for a candlelight vigil at the University of Central Florida. Guests gathered Monday evening at the Pegasus Ballroom for the memorial. The vigil was a collective effort by Central Florida Young Republicans, Young Americans for Freedom at UCF, the Seminole County GOP, the Orange County GOP and Turning Point USA’s UCF chapter. In the three days
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Leading senior at CREOL inducted into Order of Pegasus

Surrounded by family and peers, a senior optics and photonics major was inducted to the Order of Pegasus on Founders' Day during the Student Honors Celebration on April 2.As one of 37 inductees to receive UCF's highest honor for a student, Gabryella Baldaci shared her sentiment toward being awarded.
"I was very happy and nervous while waiting for my for my turn," Gabryella Baldaci said. "I don't remember much once I got on the stage."Her brother Cyro Baldaci, junior finance major, said h...
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Prospective college students face potential academic setbacks from house bill

In hopes of earning scholarship money and college credit, Ashlyn Miller, an incoming UCF freshman planning to major in animal science, is preparing for her Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education exams.“I think that Florida state schools are expecting a higher caliber of students, and we look into these programs as a means of keeping up with the competitiveness,” Miller said. 
For high school students looking to be in a similar position as Miller, their plans may shift...
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UCF Biotechnology students form new STEM club

At the beginning of spring semester, sophomore biomedical sciences major Angelica Ceron attended a panel discussion hosted by the College of Medicine to introduce students to new advisors. There she met Sebastian Velez, senior biotechnology student, who would soon join forces in the formation of a new club.The Biotechnology Laboratory Society is a new STEM student organization at UCF. The club’s formation was a group effort, spearheaded by Velez. He noticed the current lab spaces in the classroo...
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Astronomy Society hosts viewing for total lunar eclipse

Peering into the eyepiece of the on-site telescopes, interested guests from the general public were able to catch a clear sight of the Blood Worm Moon early Friday morning at Robinson Observatory. Standing by the observatory entrance and mingling with guests was Ava Goforth, Astronomy Society president and third-year physics major.
“I’m excited to see the totality of when the moon is completely bright and orange,” Goforth said. “There are photos I have seen online, but I haven’t really h...
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Haunted artists share thesis work at MFA Exhibition

The atrium of UCF’s School of Visual Arts and Design was a bustle of activity as faculty members, students, friends and family breezed in and out of the gallery, passing compliments to the artists of the hour. UCF SVAD held the opening reception for the new exhibit "Haunt" on Thursday at the UCF Art Gallery. "Haunt" showcases the thesis work of Studio Art and Design Master of Fine Arts candidates Stella Arbeláez Tascón, Brittani Brown and Janessa Douds.
The MFA cohort divided the gallery...
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Student Union shakes up restaurant lineup with the introduction of The Halal Shack

Ahead of finals week in the bustling Student Union, Steak 'n Shake sizzled one last steakburger at its UCF location.The UCF Student Union’s Steak 'n Shake closed operations Tuesday. 
In an Instagram post published Nov. 18, UCF Dining Services announced that it would be welcoming a new restaurant to the Student Union lineup.According to the post, The Halal Shack will open at the start of the upcoming spring semester and will serve a selection of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.“S...
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UCF celebrates Mid-Autumn Moon Festival under the lunar lights

Adorned with decorative lanterns, the Pegasus Ballroom was lit up Sunday evening for Tết Trung Thu in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.The Vietnamese-American Student Association at UCF hosted a show celebrating Tết Trung Thu, or the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, a popular Vietnamese holiday.
The audience was comprised of UCF students and alumni, VASA sponsors and other friends and family.According to VASA's Instagram announcement, the theme for this year's TTT was Under the Lunar...