Homecoming Week is back for a second time for the 2020-21 academic year, with physically distant outdoor events on campus for students and virtual events provided by UCF Alumni. Here’s what’s happening during the week-long Spring Splash celebration that takes place Feb. 22-27.

Student Events

Movie Knight

Feb. 22; Check-in at 6 p.m., showing starts at 7 p.m. on Memory Mall
RSVP via KnightConnect

Hang out with your Knight Ohana and watch Disney’s Lilo and Stitch on the Mall.

Comedy Knight

Feb. 23; Check in at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. on Memory Mall
RSVP via KnightConnect

Comedy Knight will kick-off with opener Matteo Lane, who has been featured in Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup and MTV’s Joking Off. A headline routine will be performed by Taylor Tomlinson, a top-10 finalist in NBC’s The Last Comic Standing who has made appearances on The Tonight Show, Conan and Comedy Central.

Knights Got Talent

Feb. 24; Check in at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. on Memory Mall
RSVP via KnightConnect

Weeks before the show, students auditioned virtually by submitting a one-minute video to earn a chance to compete. See who made the cut and will take top honors Feb. 24.

Concert Knight

Feb. 25; Check in at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. on Memory Mall
RSVP on KnightConnect

Musical artist and songwriter Swae Lee will perform for a crowd of about 600 students at the outdoor venue. One-part of the duo Slim Jxmmi, the rapper is also known for the Post Malone collab “Sunflower”, “Unforgettable” with French Montana and “The Ways”, featuring Khalid, from the Black Panther soundtrack.

Spirit Splash

Feb. 26; Morning session starts at 11 a.m., with check-in at 10:30 a.m.; Afternoon session starts at 1:15 p.m. with check-in at 12:45 p.m.
RSVP via KnightConnect for the morning session or the afternoon session 

19While things look a little different, UCF’s most iconic homecoming tradition is back in person.

Instead of rushing into the pond, groups of four will have their own physically distant pods on the lawn, where the splash will be brought to them via super soakers and squirt guns. UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright, Student Government leaders, UCF Athletics representatives and Knight Moves will also be present to hype up the crowd. And of course, Spirit Splash would not be complete without the chance to grab some lucky ducks.

Students must RSVP for either a one-hour morning or afternoon session to participate. Each session will allow a maximum of 650 students to attend and reservations will open via KnightConnect the week before Homecoming Week. Students must have a valid UCF ID in order to check in. 

For those who cannot make it to Spirit Splash or prefer to just watch the action, tune in for the  morning or afternoon session livestreams on UCF’s YouTube account.

Culture Knight

Feb. 26; Check-in starts at 6 p.m., performance begins at 6:45 p.m. on Memory Mall
RSVP on KnightConnect

In celebration of Black History Month, the Office of Student Involvement and the Multicultural Student Center is hosting a performance by Zuzu African Acrobats, a local group that showcases traditional Kenyan acrobatic skills.

Royalty Crowning at UCF vs. Temple Basketball Game

Feb. 27; 4 p.m. at Addition Financial Arena
Find tickets here

During the men’s basketball game, Homecoming king and queen will be crowned.

UCF Alumni Engagement Opportunities

About the Issue of Race: The Taboo Unraveled

Feb. 23; 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
RSVP here for the Zoom event 

In partnership with the UCF Office of Diversity and Inclusion, UCF Alumni is hosting a two-part series exploring how we, as a society, can be more understanding, respectful and inclusive. The open dialogue will be led by UCF’s Interim Chief Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Officer S. Kent Butler.

A panel of community leaders, including members of ODI’s Leadership Council, will also participate in the discussion about serious issues of race, ethnicity and culture, as well as actionable steps we can take to become more open and inclusive allies.

Panelists include:

  • Jonathan Cox, assistant professor of sociology
  • Kristine Shrauger, UCF librarian who oversees the Department of Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Services
  • Shreya Trivedi, UCF Ombuds officer
  • Linda Rosa-Lugo, associate dean of Faculty Excellence and Graduate and Global Affairs and the vice president for Speech-Language Pathology Practice for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

On March 30, a second discussion, Outside of Race, Other Marginalized Populations, will be held via Zoom from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

A Conversation with Tayari Jones (In partnership with NEA Big Read)

Tuesday Feb. 23; 7-8 p.m.
RSVP here for the Zoom event 

As part of the NEA Big Read: Central Florida program, Silver Sparrow author Tayari Jones will join UCF for a virtual discussion. Jones, a 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction winner whose novel An American Marriage was a 2018 Oprah Book Club selection, will be joined by English instructor Jason Gegory ’19MFA.

ChargeOn Panel – The Spirit of UCF Homecoming, 50 Years Later

Feb. 25; 11:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m.
RSVP here for the Zoom event

UCF Alumni will take attendees on a journey that began in 1971, when UCF hosted its first homecoming after the inception of Florida Technological University. Six notable Knights who share the history of UCF Homecoming and Spirit Splash, the story of Knightro, the ever-elusive duck (and the original “squishy” Knightro), reflections from a member of the university’s first cheerleading squad, and plans for this year’s Spirit Splash.

Panelists include:

  • Linda Gooch ’85, former student-athlete, head coach of the four-time national champion UCF cheerleading team and a 2020 recipient of the UCF Alumni Distinguished Alumni award.
  • Trey Gordon ’96, former student-athlete who helped create Knightro
  • Sandy Pickett, charter member of FTU’s first cheerleading squad
  • Erykah Tomlinson, UCF Homecoming Royalty director, junior UCF student
  • Aakilah Strappy, UCF Homecoming executive director, senior UCF student

The John T. Washington Lecture Series: A Lecture on the Evolution of Hip-hop and its Force to Eradicate Racism by Professor Donald Harrell

Feb. 25; 6-7 p.m.
Register here for the Zoom event

UCF Alumni, in partnership with the College of Arts and Humanities is hosting the John T. Washington Lecture Series, featuring Africana Studies adjunct Don Harrell. This multifaceted presentation includes perspectives on hip-hop vs racism, a historical account of the role that music has traditionally played in the African American struggle for survival, liberation, and civil rights, and contextual music and storytelling in the African tradition.