The UCF flag flew half staff on March 30 as the UCF community honored the lives of 14 students. Eternal Knights, in its tenth year, memorializes UCF students who have passed away during recent academic terms. It enables families and friends to join with the campus community in a solemn tribute to their loved ones. During the eulogy, each student is recognized and given the title, “Eternal Knight.”

A team of Student Development and Enrollment Services (SDES) and Student Government Association representatives volunteered to plan the program, with the goal of increasing awareness of the ceremony and making it more personal for the families in attendance. This year, the planning committee implemented a number of initiatives, including:

  • A campuswide moment of silence, which will be poised to grow each year and someday truly become campuswide
  • Eternal Knights awareness ribbons, which were worn by SDES staff members and students prior to and day of the ceremony
  • Large black ribbons tied around first and second floor pillars in the Student Union atrium
  • Decoration of the Pegasus logo in the Student Union Atrium with candles and yellow roses, in students’ honor
  • Memorial sheets, completed by family and friends, to be submitted to University Archives so students are eternally preserved in UCF history

    • At the reception following the ceremony, SDES Leadership Team members presented a Certificate of Achievement, the Senate resolution, and an etched vase to each family, on behalf of the university. While this was a very somber event, families and friends in attendance seemed to appreciate the gesture, including the fact that a university of this size took the time to recognize their loved ones.