Orlando, FL (May 19, 2025) – The University of Central Florida’s Recreation and Wellness Center is proud to announce that Aliyah Valdez, Assistant Director of Fitness, has been awarded the Innovator Award at the 2025 Student Success & Well-Being Ampersand Awards.
Valdez has led numerous facility improvement initiatives within the Fitness program, most notably overseeing the modernization of the machine weight and cardio floors. Her work has resulted in the installation of state-of-the-art equipment that significantly enhances the fitness experience for UCF st
Read More >>
Orlando, FL (May 12, 2025) – Jim Wilkening, Executive Director of the University of Central Florida (UCF) Recreation and Wellness Center, and Emilee Howard, Intramural Sports & RWC Park Coordinator, were honored for their exceptional leadership and service as Co-Chairs of the 2025 NIRSA Annual Conference Host Committee.
Held April 23–26 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, the conference brought together campus recreation professionals and students from across North America. NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation is a premier organ
Orlando, FL (March 3, 2025) – The UCF Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) is proud to announce that Leah Freeman, Marketing & Communications Manager, has been named one of UCF’s 30 Under 30 award recipients for 2025. This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding UCF alumni under the age of 30 who have made a significant impact in their professional fields and communities.
Freeman’s influence at UCF and beyond extends far beyond marketing. A vocal advocate against gun violence, she has courageously shared h
Orlando, FL (February 3, 2025) - The University of Central Florida's Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) proudly highlights the achievements of Emilee Howard, Intramurals Coordinator, who served as the Rules Expert for both the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Game and the NFL Flag Girl’s High School Showcase. The prestigious events took place on Sunday, February 2, 2025, showcasing top-tier athletic talent and sportsmanship.
In her role at the NFL Flag Girl’s High School Showcase, Howard ensured the integrity of the game by applying her expertise in 7v7 flag football rules. T
Orlando, FL (January 14, 2025) - Two outstanding UCF student officials, Isabella Price, and Brandon Smith, earned recognition at this year’s National Flag Football Tournament held in Jacksonville from December 15-18. Isabella, a junior studying Information Technology, and Brandon, a junior studying Business Management, both received All-American honors, placing them in the top 8 of the group as evaluated by the Official’s Committee. This marks Isabella’s second All-American honor for flag foo Read More >>
The UCF Recreation & Wellness Center (RWC) is excited to announce a new partnership with CloudFit, just in time for the Fall 2024 semester. This collaboration brings an upgraded experience to our group exercise program, KnightFit, by integrating CloudFit's state-of-the-art digital display system, fully customized to meet the unique needs of our facility.
Founded by Adam Koch, Alex Belbasis, and Sam Dang. CloudFit is an innovative technology company, based in Melbourne, Australia operating in the B2B FitTech space. Founded in 2020, CloudFit now operates in over 40 countries worldw
Orlando, FL – The University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Recreation & Wellness Center is proud to announce that three of its alumni will be representing Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics (July 26 – August 11) and Paralympics (August 28 – September 8) in Paris. UCF continues its tradition of contributing outstanding athletes to the global stage.
The UCF Recreation and Wellness Center, in partnership with the American Red Cross, is now expanding our First Aid, CPR and AED Certification Courses beyond the UCF Community and offering this important opportunity to all persons in the central Florida area. The RWC's certified staff of trained instructors teach in a blended learning format, which includes and online component as well as an in-person class. The American Red Cross’ blended learning courses equip attendees to recognize and care for a variety of first aid breathing and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children, and infa
Kissimmee, FL (May 14th, 2023) - Knights Paintball at UCF, one of the 43 Sport Clubs under the UCF Sport Club Council is celebrating its first championship title with the College Paintball Players League (CPPL). The CPPL is associated with the National Collegiate Paintball Association and consists of teams from across the United States including The Ohio State University and Drexel University which placed 2nd and 3rd place in the National Championship Tournament respectively. The league is an exceedingly competitive platform that aims to promote the sport of paintball among
On April 5, 2023, Jim Wilkening, the Executive Director of the Recreation and Wellness Center and Gary Cahen, the Associate Director of Programs for the Recreation and Wellness Center were honored at UCF’s 2023 Founders' Day Employee Honors Convocation. The event celebrated over 200 staff and faculty who have served UCF for two decades or more in addition to honoring “employees who are pursuing excellence and helping to unleash potential in others” (UCF).
Wilkening was awarded a Certificate of Achievemen