History

During the summer of 2008, an unsettling truth was discovered. The University of Central Florida was one of the only universities that did not have a Welcome Week for its students. Under the Office of First Year Experience, PegasusPalooza: UCF’s Welcome Week was created. Led by student director, Steven Harowitz and faculty advisor, Danny Meuninck, PegasusPalooza would serve to welcome back both returning and new students to the start of a new school year during the first week of UCF’s fall semester.

Originally Harowitz was planning for the event to be hosted during the Fall of 2009, so as to allow adequate time to find funding and support. Harowitz took the initiative to UCF's Student Government Association and propose that they assist in the development of PegasusPalooza. Logan Berkowitz, current SGA president at the time, offered funding, but only if the event were planned for Fall 2008. Harowitz took the opportunity and proceeded to plan the first ever Welcome Week. Through funding approval of UCF's SGA, as well as the funding provided by the Office of First Experience, where PegasusPalooza originates out of, the concerns of funding were no longer an issue. With only four months to plan the events of PegasusPalooza, there was little time to waste.

PegasusPalooza quickly gained momentum through on-campus advertising and word-of-mouth. A wide range of events were held during the weeklong event, some of which including the “Bookstore Fashion Show,” a fashion show promoting UCF apparel, “Waterford Run,” an opportunity for students to take free trips to-and-from Waterford Lakes Shopping Center via charter buses, and “The Gauntlet,” an evening event that showcased UCF athletics, the Recreation and Wellness Center, and featured several inflatables.

This year, PegasusPalooza returns for its second year of programming and promises another successful week of events. Students can look forward to several new events, including “Taste of UCF”, a cultural event that will immerse students in many of the diverse organizations on campus while offering great food, “UCF’s Got Guts”, a UCF-spin on the popular Nickelodeon game show, and the “Medieval Block Party”, a celebration of UCF spirit with free food and games.