Pegasus Palooza 2014 took campus by storm during the first week of fall classes. As the university’s official Welcome Week, Pegasus Palooza is designed to help students acclimate to campus and get connected to UCF while learning about campus resources and making friends.

This year, 48 events were held and more than 25,000 students participated in the week. Social events such as LINK Launch and Comedy Knight introduced students to campus life and provided them with fun things to do during the night time. Day events such as the Welcome Expo, workshops, and service events helped to educate students about campus resources and what they can do to be successful. Free food, giveaways and almost 40,000 LINK Loot points were also offered. The purple, paint-splattered Palooza shirt was an especially huge hit.

“Palooza 2014 was a huge success. We are so thankful for the support of our many campus partners and a great student led Palooza board that made it all possible,” said Katie Green, student director for UCF’s Welcome Week.

LINK Amazing Race: The semi-annual LINK Amazing Race took place August 18 in front of the UCF Reflecting Pond. A record breaking 92 students attended despite the stormy weather. Students banded together in teams of 4-5 to complete a 10 question campuswide scavenger hunt using a smart phone or internet connected device.

Teams solved riddles while discovering beneficial campus resources and stopped at stations such as financial aid at Student Financial Assistance, clubs and registered organizations at the Office of Student Involvement, and academic support programs at the Student Academic Resource Center.

The top three teams to finish won prizes such as UCF tumblers, car decals, and spirit gear. Team “Thot” finished in first place in just 24 minutes, winning the coveted Knight Rave VIP passes which guaranteed them entrance to the floor at the highly anticipated Pegasus Palooza event.

Trinity Miller, LINK student assistant who facilitated the event, said that “Like many of the other teams, these students did not know each other before the race. The Amazing Race not only introduces students to campus resources, but also to each other.”

The LINK Amazing Race will be hosted again during the Summer B Block Party in June.