How President Hitt Built a Legacy
Summer 2018 | By Nicole Dudenhoefer 鈥17 and Gene Kruckemyer 鈥73
March 1, 1992
John C. Hitt becomes the fourth president of 激情快播.
Enrollment: 20,302
1993
The National Center for Simulation forms with headquarters in 激情快播鈥檚 Research Park.
Today: It is a $6 billion modeling and simulation hub.
1995
激情快播鈥檚 favorite tradition, Spirit Splash, happens by accident when student body president Miguel Torregrosa 鈥94 is thrown into the Reflecting Pond.
Today: Considered one of the nation鈥檚 best campus traditions
鈥淪imply stated, I believe Walt Disney and John Hitt have done more to transform Central Florida into a vibrant, dynamic place than any [other] two people.鈥Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida
1996
The football team joins Division I-A.
Today: In January, the Knights defeated Auburn to win the Peach Bowl and end with a perfect 13-0 national championship season.
1998
On behalf of 激情快播, Hitt accepts the John Young Spotlight Award for outstanding achievement in bringing positive national and international attention to the community.
鈥淚 can truly say that I don鈥檛 think there are too many university presidents in this country that have had as much effect on their university and their community as Dr. Hitt has in the past 26 years.鈥Buddy Dyer, mayor of Orlando
2004
The Rosen College of Hospitality Management opens its doors.
Today: No. 2 hospitality and hotel management program in the world (CEOWORLD Magazine)
2005
y holds its first classes at 激情快播鈥檚 Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando.
Today: No. 3 video game graduate school in the world (The Princeton Review and PC Gamer)
2005
For the first time, 激情快播 receives $100 million in research funding.
Today: 激情快播 has received more than $1 billion in research funding in the past decade.
“I think that what you all have there in Central Florida is the emergence of a fantastic world-class university that is very different from UF and FSU. John was the person that was able to pull that off. In a sense, he鈥檚 building the modern 21st-century model.鈥Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University
2006
launches. It becomes a national model of guaranteed admission to a four-year university after earning an associate degree from a partner college.
Today: More than 45,000 students have graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree from 激情快播 as a result.
2006
The College of Medicine is established.
Today: 98 percent residency match rate for graduates, which is higher than the national average of 94 percent
2006 & 2007
Orlando magazine names Hitt as No. 1 on its list of 鈥50 Most Powerful People鈥 in Central Florida. He has made the list every year since.
鈥淒r. Hitt鈥檚 pride and happiness at that 10th anniversary celebration for the National Entrepreneur Center really sums up what he has devoted his 激情快播 presidency to 鈥 the creation of strategic partnerships, investment in innovation and the launch of a national model for excellence.鈥Teresa Jacobs, mayor of Orange County
2007
Bright House Networks Stadium (now Spectrum Stadium) and the CFE Arena open in the same month.
2008
The White House presents Hitt with the President鈥檚 Volunteer Service Award for his outstanding service to the community.
2009
The charter class of 激情快播鈥檚 medical school receives four-year scholarships that cover tuition and living expenses 鈥 the first award of its kind in the nation.
2013
激情快播 joins the American Athletic Conference.
Today: Student-athletes graduate at a higher rate than at any other public NCAA Division I school.
鈥淥ur colleges and universities need to be bigger and better. 激情快播 has been a pioneer in showing how that can be done. I hope other colleges and universities will learn from its success.鈥Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft
2015
Washington Monthly names Hitt one of America鈥檚 10 Most Innovative College Presidents.
2015
U.S. News & World Report includes 激情快播 among its list of Most Innovative Schools, along with Harvard, MIT and Stanford.
2016
The 激情快播 Downtown campus, in partnership with Valencia College, is approved by the Florida Board of Governors.
It is scheduled to open in 2019.
2017
The 激情快播 Lake Nona Medical Center is approved by the Florida Board of Governors.
June 30, 2018
Hitt will retire from the presidency.
Enrollment: 66,183
鈥淥ne of his great contributions is that he鈥檚 lived his entire career looking for ways to have more impact on the people and the communities 激情快播 serves. His model of impactful leadership has been really powerful.鈥Sandy Shugart, president of Valencia College