The 30 Under 30 awards program recognizes outstanding young alumni who continue to “Reach for the Stars” in their professional and personal lives since graduating from the University of Central Florida. Young alumni currently account for one third of our alumni population, making them our largest constituent base. The 30 Under 30 awards program seeks to connect young alumni to the UCF community.
Must be a graduate of the University of Central Florida (undergraduate or graduate degree).
Must be age 29 or under on June 1, 2027.
Nominees for 30 Under 30 must demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with UCF and strive to uphold UCF Young Alumni values.
Must be willing to submit a professional headshot that can be published by UCF Alumni and other UCF entities, as deemed appropriate.
Self-nominations will not be accepted.
UCF Young Alumni Values: “Scholarship, Bold, Trailblazing, Generous, Resilient”
Aug. 31, 2026 | Nominations open
Oct. 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST | Nominations close
Oct. 8, 2026 | Nominee application period opens
Nov. 11, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST | Nominee application period closes
February 2027 | Class of 2027 30 under 30 honorees notified
May 15, 2027 | Spring event for winner recognition
30 Under 30 is an awards program that recognizes outstanding young UCF alumni who have continued to reach for the stars in their professional and personal lives since graduating from the University of Central Florida.
Young alumni currently account for one third of our alumni population making them the largest constituent base. The 30 Under 30 awards program seeks to connect young alumni to the UCF community.
This spring, the UCF community will celebrate the achievements of these individuals and the impact they have made in their profession, community, and the university post commencement.
To be eligible, the nominee must be age 29 or younger on June 1, 2027.
Nominees for 30 Under 30 must demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with UCF and strive to uphold UCF Young Alumni values.
“Scholarship, Bold, Trailblazing, Generous, Resilient”
30 Under 30 nominations should speak to the achievements of the individual. Candidates will be considered based on exceptional achievement in one or more of the following:
Anyone may submit a nomination between Monday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Oct. 4. After a nomination is submitted, the nominee will receive instructions to complete their application. Only completed applications received by the Wednesday, Nov. 11 deadline will be reviewed by the selection committee.
Winners are selected by a committee comprised of UCF Young Alumni Council Ambassadors, past 30 Under 30 Winners, and UCF Advancement & Partnerships staff.
Winners are selected and all nominees notified in February 2027.
30 Under 30 award winners will receive recognition at a spring event in 2027. Winners will also be recognized in print and online publications.
An individual, civic or service group or corporation may submit a nomination. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Anyone may submit a nomination between Monday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Oct. 4. After a nomination is submitted, the nominee will receive instructions to complete their application. Only completed applications received by the Wednesday, Nov. 11 deadline will be reviewed by the selection committee.
To submit a nomination, the nominator is required to provide their first and last name, email address, home address, phone number and whether they are a UCF graduate (including their graduation year, if applicable), as well as their relationship to the nominee. Nominators must also provide the nominee’s first and last name, email address, phone number and graduation year.
The nomination form should take no more than two minutes to complete, and no additional materials are required during the nomination stage. If the nominee is eligible, they will be invited to complete the application themselves.
You will receive a confirmation email to the email address you provided in the form.
Nomination applications are due by Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Anyone may submit a nomination between Monday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Oct. 4. After a nomination is submitted, the nominee will receive instructions to complete their application. Only completed applications received by the Wednesday, Nov. 11 deadline will be reviewed by the selection committee.
Nominations close on Sunday, Oct. 4. Following an eligibility review period, eligible nominees will be notified by Thursday, Oct. 8 at the email address provided by their nominator. The notification will include instructions for completing the application process.
The application includes information about your professional achievements, community involvement and personal accomplishments that only you can accurately provide. Completing the application ensures the selection committee has the most current and comprehensive information to evaluate your application.
No. Only one application per nominee will be reviewed, regardless of how many nominations you receive. The selection committee evaluates the quality of your application, not the number of nominations submitted on your behalf, so multiple nominations do not provide an advantage during the review process.
Yes. You may save your progress and return to your application at any time before the submission deadline. Because the application includes several questions about your achievements, involvement and impact, it typically takes 40 to 60 minutes to complete. We recommend starting early and submitting well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute issues.
Nominees must submit their completed application by Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be considered by the selection committee.
For questions about the 30 Under 30 Awards or the nomination and application process, please email YoungAlumni@ucfalumni.com or call 407-823-2586.
