Achieving the Order of Pegasus: UCF's Highest Student Honor

The Order of Pegasus is the most prestigious and significant award a student can attain at the University of Central Florida. This esteemed honor recognizes exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, service, and scholarly work. Recipients of the Order of Pegasus award represent the highest ideals of what it means to be a UCF Knight. Their dedication, passion, and contributions to both local and global communities showcase the remarkable talent and potential found at UCF.

Eligibility and Categories

The Order of Pegasus recognizes exemplary performance by UCF bachelor's degree students in the areas of academic achievement, outstanding university involvement, leadership, and community service. The award is given to both undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate exceptional qualities.

Undergraduate Award: Students in an undergraduate program with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and 90 or more semester credit hours by the end of the summer 2025 term are eligible.
Graduate Award: Students in a master’s, doctoral, or M.D. program with a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and have completed at least three semesters of graduate study at UCF are eligible.

Other student honor categories being highlighted include graduate awards for outstanding master’s thesis and outstanding dissertation; undergraduate awards for honors undergraduate thesis; and individual college awardees as chosen by the respective college deans.

Nomination and Application Process

Vice presidents who are not student facing are also encouraged to submit nominations. After a nomination is submitted, the student may be contacted and provided with information to help them complete their application packet. They will also receive an official notice of their nomination. Student application packets are due on or before Wednesday, December 3, 2025. For undergraduate nominees, it may be useful to include how these values relate to the student’s extracurricular activities, community services experiences, and academic honors, awards, or achievements.

Selection Committee and Notification

The Order of Pegasus Committee is made up of faculty, staff, and university leaders. The committee reviews applications and selects the Order of Pegasus awardees. Students will be notified if they receive an interview early in the spring semester. Award recipients are announced in spring and will be formally acknowledged by the university.

What it Takes to Achieve the Order of Pegasus

Earning this award has been a goal of mine for a while now, but I knew it was something that I was going to have to work tirelessly for. It was a challenge that I took head on. Students selected for this honor represent the most dedicated, passionate, and highest-achieving Knights. The breadth of accomplishments showcases the talent and contributions to the local and global community.

Academic Excellence

Academics have always been a priority, opportunities to learn and grow have been super important. Having a mom who is a teacher and a dad who is an engineer, I never really had a choice but to thrive in the academic realm. Just because it was super important, though, doesn't mean that it didn't come with its challenges. While success on the field came naturally, in the classroom that was not always the case, however I never wanted academic challenges to stop me from being great at both.

Students must maintain a high GPA to be eligible for the Order of Pegasus. For undergraduate students, a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required, while graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA. Seeking help from academic advisors and tutors can significantly contribute to academic success. Spending countless hours going over goals, assignments, projects, papers, exam reviews and more with an advisor and several tutors can absolutely pay off. One student finished their bachelor's degree in clinical psychology with Summa Cum Laude honors and a 3.97 GPA, an achievement that they are extremely proud of.

University Involvement

Being a student-athlete at this university has been an experience that opened so many doors to learn and grow not only as an athlete, but also as a person away from the field. Being a student-athlete brings with it a demanding schedule with daily practice, classes, study hall, midweek games and road trips. Even with these athletic commitments, it is possible to stay involved in extracurricular activities outside of athletics. In the 2022-23 academic year one student was able to be a part of an undergraduate research study that was led by Dr. Clint Bowers. Through this research they had the opportunity to become an author of a meta-analysis and literature review of the effectiveness of managerial coaching in the workplace and had an amazing opportunity to be a part of the presidential student advisory committee. With that experience, they had the opportunity to use their voice, skills and passion for UCF to participate in proactive discussions and work sessions that focus on making UCF a more inclusive and equitable community for all students.

Active involvement in university activities demonstrates a commitment to the UCF community. This can include participation in student organizations, research projects, and university committees.

Leadership

One of the first things that I was introduced to as a member of the UCF softball team was our team's core values. Our core values are Team First, Belief, Competitor, Discipline, and Knights Honor. Leadership has always been extremely important and something that I came in feeling I was very good at, but I have learned and grown so much more as a result of my understanding of the impacts that having true core values can have. One of the first things that I learned about UCF was its culture, its core values, and how important those things are to success. Because of this I spent my freshman year really trying to learn and engulf myself in these values, and this helped me learn and grow into an even more effective leader than I was before. When my sophomore season began, I was named one of the team captains. This was an absolute honor; leadership has always been something that I take a lot of pride in. I learned quickly how much responsibility this role came with. Initially my role was to lead by example and let my actions speak louder than my words. To me, this meant that I needed to exude our team's core values on and off the field. Since the moment I was named a captain, I made these values a way of life and promised that I would display them not only when everyone was watching, but also when no one was watching. Being a team captain has been one of my greatest accomplishments thus far and I owe so much thanks to my coaching staff and teammates for not only for believing and trusting me to be in this role, but also for equipping me with all of the right tools to be successful. All of these experiences and accomplishments over the years is what led me to reaching one of my biggest goals since stepping on campus in 2019.

Demonstrating leadership qualities is a key component of the Order of Pegasus. This can involve holding leadership positions in student organizations, leading projects, or mentoring other students. Understanding the impacts that having true core values can have and embodying those values on and off the field are important aspects of leadership.

Community Service

Along with dedicating countless hours to my academic involvement, community service has been a huge part of my collegiate experience. It is a part of UCF Softball's culture to get out and give back to the community, so naturally this became a priority for us all. Throughout my past four years, I have served over 125 community service hours in various parts of the Orlando area. We have served anywhere and everywhere from the Oviedo Babe Ruth softball/baseball leagues to foodbanks and marathons for a cause. Our culture has taught me that excellence in the classroom and the community will directly relate to excellence on the softball field. These experiences have been some of the most humbling and wholesome events I have ever been involved in and has helped shape me into the servant leader I have become.

A commitment to community service is highly valued. This can include volunteering at local organizations, participating in service projects, or engaging in other activities that benefit the community.

Resources for UCF Students

UCF provides a variety of resources to help students succeed academically, professionally, and personally.

Read also: Mnemonic Devices

The Blackstone LaunchPad at UCF: Helps students of all fields develop a business mindset.
Career Services: Supports graduate students in connecting academic and career pathways to build skills and achieve professional goals.
The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership: Equips UCF students with the skills and mindset to create value, lead innovation, and thrive in a changing world.
GEMiNi: Strengthens mentoring at UCF by providing resources and programs that support graduate student success and faculty engagement.
The Graduate Student Center: Offers study areas, reservable conference and presentation rooms, and events and workshops to connect the graduate community.
The Faculty Center: Supports teaching and learning at UCF by promoting the success of full-time, part-time, and graduate student faculty, which in turn benefits students, staff, and administrators.
The Multicultural Student Center at UCF: Fosters an inclusive campus through programs that promote awareness, cultural competency, and social responsibility.
UCF Abroad: Offers high-impact study and internship abroad opportunities.
The UCF Alumni Association: Connects graduates to the university and each other, fostering pride, tradition, and engagement.

Other Opportunities and Programs

Pegasus Program Scholarships: Awarded to entering students by Undergraduate Admissions to recognize outstanding academic performance.
The UCF 3MT: Challenges master’s and doctoral students to present their research in just three minutes using one slide.
Flying Horse Editions: A collaborative research studio and non-profit publisher at UCF that produces limited-edition prints, artist books, and art objects by internationally recognized artists.
The Florida Review: Provides UCF students with hands-on experience in literary publishing through a practicum course.
The Lou Frey Institute: Promotes the development of responsible and actively engaged citizens.
Knights in Focus Video Competition: Invites UCF graduate students to showcase how their academic work and experiences are shaping the future.
CWEP: Offers undergraduate and graduate students a paid, year-round opportunity to gain hands-on experience.
Student Research Week: Each year, the UCF community celebrates research and creative scholarship during Student Research Week.
The Student Scholar Symposium: Showcases graduate and undergraduate research and creative work in a poster format during Student Research Week.
Preparing Tomorrow’s Faculty course: Each semester, UCF offers a 12-week Preparing Tomorrow’s Faculty course for graduate students to explore teaching strategies, build a teaching portfolio, and prepare for a career in higher education.
The President’s Leadership Council: Honors students demonstrating excellence in leadership, academics, service, and involvement.

Scholarship Information

Pegasus Program Scholarships are awarded to entering students by Undergraduate Admissions to recognize outstanding academic performance. There is no separate application for this scholarship program. This scholarship is awarded to exceptional high school students who are accepted for a summer or fall semester by Undergraduate Admissions. Students must enroll full-time (a minimum of 12 UCF credit hours) each fall and spring term. An exception to the full-time enrollment requirement can be granted during a student’s graduating semester. If a student enrolls in less than six UCF hours during their graduating semester, the exception must be reviewed by the UCF Scholarship Committee. Students should submit their request at least two months prior to the beginning of their graduating semester for a decision to be rendered before the tuition payment deadline. Acceptable reasons to defer a scholarship include, but are not limited to: military service, documented medical conditions, internships/Co-Ops, religious missions, etc. At the time of deferment, the student must be meeting the renewal criteria for the scholarship. Students seeking a deferment must complete a State Programs and Scholarships Appeal Form and submit a letter indicating the reason for the request, along with supporting documentation. Students must enroll full-time (a minimum of 12 UCF credit hours) each fall and spring semester. If extenuating circumstances exist that prevent full-time enrollment, students may appeal to the UCF Scholarship Committee. Academic progress is evaluated once per year after spring grades have been posted. Students must complete 24 credit hours between the previous fall and spring terms. Earned the required minimum UCF cumulative GPA by the end of each spring term.

Scholarship renewal requirements are evaluated annually after grades have been posted. Students must earn the required minimum UCF cumulative GPA by the end of each spring term. If a student falls below the hours and/or GPA requirements, they will be permanently canceled for the scholarship program. If extenuating circumstances caused a student to do poorly, they may submit a Scholarship Appeal Form. All Pegasus Scholarship appeals must be received in the Office of Student Financial Assistance no later than June 30th to ensure no delay in processing their upcoming Fall semester. Students will need to select the Pegasus Program category to indicate which Pegasus scholarship they are appealing. The State Programs and Scholarships Appeal Form allows you to select multiple awards you would like to appeal. The Pegasus Scholarship Program includes National Merit, National Achievement, National Recognition Program and the Pegasus Scholarships. In addition, we have several Transfer Scholarships that are awarded based on high academic achievement. They include the Ralph C.

A maximum of 8 terms or until graduation, whichever is less. Students whose major requires 124 or more hours may receive a one term extension (double majors and minors are not considered). Possibly. You must submit a Scholarship Appeal Form and letter stating the reason(s) that you need the time away from UCF. The appeal must be submitted prior to the term(s) that you plan to be away. The UCF Scholarship Committee will review your request and render a decision. If you leave UCF without asking for the time off, you will not be reinstated to the scholarship program upon your return. These scholarships are awarded to entering high school graduates by Undergraduate Admissions to recognize outstanding academic performance. There is no separate application for this scholarship program.

A maximum of 8 terms or until graduation, whichever is less. Students whose major requires 124 or more hours may receive a one-term extension. (Double majors and minors are not considered) A letter from the department verifying the number of hours required must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance prior to the 9th term. Possibly. You must submit a Scholarship Appeal prior to the term(s) that you plan to be away from UCF, stating the reason(s) that you need the time away from UCF. The UCF Scholarship Committee will review your request and make a decision. If you leave UCF without asking for the time off, you will not be reinstated to the scholarship program upon your return. These scholarships are awarded to entering out of state high school graduates by Undergraduate Admissions to recognize outstanding academic performance. There is no separate application for this scholarship program. Yes. If you want to Co-Op or intern, you must let us know in writing which term you plan to Co-Op or intern prior to that term.

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