BUSINESS BRIEFS
UCF to Transition Into Big 12 Conference for Athletics Alex Martins, CEO of the Orlando Magic NBA team and current chair of the UCF board of trustees, said the move has the potential of being transformative. “Intercollegiate athletics is often referred to as the front porch of the university,” he said. Sports can help universities gain international attention and can open doors that create engagement from alumni, donors and prospective students. Terry Mohajir, UCF vice president and director of athletics, thanked the American Athletic Conference, which UCF will leave as it steps into the Big 12. “As a proud member since 2013, our teams have won 32 AAC championships in a wide variety of sports. We will continue to proudly represent the AAC during the transition.” The University of Central Florida has accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference, a move that is expected to elevate its national profile and expand opportunities for student athletes to compete at the highest level. The announcement is igniting excitement among UCF football fans. Formed in 1963, UCF will be the youngest institution among the Power 5 conferences. The Big 12 began play in 1996-97, and its teams have won 69 NCAA championships since the conference was established. In football, the conference has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners.
UCF President Alexander Cartwright applauded the move: “As we strive to become the world’s leading metropolitan research university, we know our achievements in our classrooms and laboratories, and in our community, are enhanced by our national recognition in athletic competition, and this invitation will only strengthen that relationship.”
NASA Awards UCF a $500,000 Grant for Aerospace Work The University of Central Florida was one of seven universities to receive a $500,000 grant to support NASA’s Artemis program, which has a goal of sending people back to the moon over the next decade. The university already leads the country in the number of graduates it produces for aerospace jobs. An estimated 30% of the workers at Kennedy Space Center have degrees from UCF. The university said it was eligible for NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project Space Technology Artemis Research (M-STAR) grant because of its significant Hispanic population. UCF students and faculty members will collaborate with Blue Origin, nanotechnology company Imec, local industry, various NASA centers and the Florida Space Grant Consortium as part of the grant.
Business
8 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | i4Biz.com
Proposed Stadium Expansion Terry Mohajir, who started in February as the University of Central Florida’s athletics director, unveiled his vision in August for expansion of the 44,000-seat UCF stadium and surrounding facilities. The stadium would house coaches’ offices behind
Innovation
premium seating, as well as premium event space with views of the football field and the campus, a renovated locker room, and a team lounge and meeting area. The new design would create more seating for students and a “town square” nearby for tailgating.
Education
