{"id":148823,"date":"2025-09-02T10:00:28","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T14:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823//?p=148823"},"modified":"2025-10-03T12:28:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T16:28:25","slug":"homecoming-highlights-honoring-ucfs-2025-shining-knights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823//homecoming-highlights-honoring-ucfs-2025-shining-knights/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823//","title":{"rendered":"Homecoming Highlights: Honoring UCF/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u2019s 2025 Shining Knights"},"content":{"rendered":"
On Thursday, Oct. 16, during the heart of Homecoming Week, the Pegasus Grand Ballroom at the UCF Student Union will shine even brighter as Knight Nation gathers for the 2025 Shining Knights Alumni Awards. This celebration recognizes nine extraordinary honorees whose lives and legacies exemplify the highest ideals of the university /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u2014 visionary leadership, transformative service and unwavering devotion to their alma mater./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/n
Since its inception in 2017, the Shining Knights Alumni Awards have honored individuals whose impact transcends campus and community. The inaugural awards were presented to former UCF President John C. Hitt and his wife, Martha, who became the university/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u2019s first Honorary Alumni. Among the most prestigious distinctions is the Michelle Akers Award, presented to alumni whose achievements have brought global acclaim to UCF /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u2014 named for the legendary 1989 graduate, Olympic gold medalist, and one of the greatest soccer players of all time./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/n
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u201cThis year/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u2019s honorees are nothing short of inspiring,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u201d says Heather Junod, associate vice president for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u201cEach has illuminated their field with brilliance, carried UCF/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u2019s values into the world, and uplifted the lives of others in ways that make our entire Knight Nation proud. They are proof that when Knights charge on, the world takes notice./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/n
The highest honor bestowed annually upon a UCF graduate./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148823/n