UCF President John C. Hitt and several other community leaders with University of Central Florida connections were recognized this week in Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell\u2019s list of the 25 most powerful people in Central Florida.<\/p>\n
Hitt placed No. 7 on Maxwell\u2019s annual compilation, which includes names from government, business, health care, legal and other fields.<\/p>\n
Hitt has been president since 1992 and has built UCF into the nation\u2019s second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s respected and visionary,\u201d Maxwell said. \u201cRight now, Hitt’s top challenges are keeping college affordable and dealing with a Legislature prone to cutting education.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hitt also founded the Florida High-Tech Corridor Council and has been involved with numerous local and state organizations, including the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission Fundraising Campaign, Council of 100, Orange County Chairman’s Transportation Commission, and others. Former Gov. Jeb Bush once called Hitt and Walt Disney the two most transformative figures in Central Florida\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
Others on the list with connections to the university are:<\/p>\n