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University of Central Florida, located in the community of University, Florida, is the largest public university in the United States by undergraduate enrollment, with about 64,000 students as of the 2016-2017 school year—a huge leap from its first class of 1,948 students in 1968. With so many students and great programs, it’s no wonder that school spirit is alive and well. In fact, UCF students have created some of the best campus traditions, as ranked by outside organizations.

Spirit Splash
Voted the best university tradition in the whole state by Florida Leader magazine, in the top twenty college traditions by Business Insider, and the best campus tradition award from the National Association for Campus Activities, Spirit Splash is a sight to behold. On Friday evening prior to the Homecoming football game, campus-wide spirit goes crazy as students rush into the Reflecting Pond, and the UCF marching band, cheerleaders, and dancers perform. The tradition isn’t limited to students: local dignitaries, alumni, community members, children, and sometimes even dogs turn out for the festive occasion. Spirit Splash gives everyone a chance to get silly, all for the sake of elevating adrenaline levels in preparation for the big game.

The tradition had its beginnings in 1995, when the then-student body president was pushed into the pond by a fellow student leader, and other students followed. Luckily, the pond had already been weight tested in preparation for President Richard Nixon’s visit in 1973. Security felt that the president would be safest giving the commencement speech in the middle of the drained pond, because Secret Service agents could be stationed on roofs of adjacent buildings.

Avoid the Seal
Another tradition is really a superstition. Brand-new UCF students are told to “avoid the seal” at all costs, the seal referring to the Pegasus seal in the center of the Student Union’s main floor. Ranked the best college superstition in Florida by Florida Leader magazine, the tradition comes with a warning: anyone who steps on the seal won’t graduate. The seal is typically sealed off with heavy black velvet ropes (thank goodness), but if the ropes are not in place, students have been seen giving the seal a wide berth.

Serious Traditions
Although there are probably other spirited traditions, UCF should also be lauded for maintaining academic-minded traditions, like performing top-notch research in optics, simulation, digital media, engineering, education, and more; serving as the lead entity for the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium; and raking in the awards from US. News & World Report, Kiplinger, USA Today, and Princeton Review. In fact, UCF landed “up-and-coming,” “top,” or “best” rankings in dozens of categories, including affordability, economic diversity, number of minority graduates, and the sheer strength of its academic programs, research, and faculty.

Local K-12 students who seek the assistance of a University tutor can excel in school and gain admittance to a top school like UCF. Savvy University tutors can motivate their students with UCF’s slogan: reach for the stars!