Editing University of Central Florida (section)

===Traditions===
{{anchor|Spirit Splash}}
[[File:Spirit Splash.jpg|thumb|Students in the Reflecting Pond during Spirit Splash]]
Spirit Splash is a [[homecoming]] tradition at UCF, and is traditionally the only time during the year that students are allowed into the Reflecting Pond. It has been named the best college tradition in Florida by ''Florida Leader'' magazine,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=0024004107de59bdf0115d2e01442007c95 |title=Homecoming Kicks Off With Family-Friendly Carnival and 'Movie Knight' |date=October 24, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |publisher=University of Central Florida |archive-date=June 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627151121/http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=0024004107de59bdf0115d2e01442007c95 |url-status=live }}</ref> and among "The 20 Best College Traditions" by ''[[Business Insider]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-college-traditions-2014-7?op=1 |title=The 20 Best College Traditions In The US |date=July 7, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2014 |work=Business Insider |archive-date=July 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711142628/http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-college-traditions-2014-7?op=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/genrel/110708aac.html |title=Spirit Splash Becoming One of the Best Homecoming Traditions in the Nation |access-date=April 14, 2009 |publisher=University of Central Florida Athletics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212814/http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/genrel/110708aac.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Spirit Splash occurs the Friday before the Homecoming game, and serves as a pep rally where students descend into the pond to demonstrate school spirit. Spirit Splash began in 1995 when then-[[University of Central Florida Student Government|Student Body President]] Miguel Torregrossa was pushed into the Reflecting Pond by one of his cabinet members and fellow students followed suit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.centralfloridafuture.com/2.10660/homecoming-splashes-down-1.1420045 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708132806/https://www.centralfloridafuture.com/2.10660/homecoming-splashes-down-1.1420045 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |title=Central Florida Future – Homecoming splashes down |access-date=June 2, 2009 |work=[[Central Florida Future]]}}</ref> Along with the thousands of students who attend, there are members of the community, local dignitaries, alumni, children and even dogs who come to join in on the festivities.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} [[Knightro]], the [[Marching Knights]], cheerleaders, [[UCF Knights|student athletes]], and dancers all participate in the pep rally, usually followed by a concert. Spirit Splash was made possible in part by weight testing performed on the Reflecting Pond in preparation for President [[Richard Nixon]]'s visit to the university to speak at its 1973 commencement. It was determined that the best way to protect the president would be to hold commencement in the pond itself, after being drained, so that [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] agents could be stationed on the roofs of the adjacent buildings.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.centralfloridafuture.com/2.10660/a-moment-of-reflection-at-the-pond-1.1428891 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708133048/https://www.centralfloridafuture.com/2.10660/a-moment-of-reflection-at-the-pond-1.1428891 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |title=A moment of reflection at the pond |access-date=July 28, 2009 |work=[[Central Florida Future]]}}</ref>

One of the newest traditions on the UCF campus pertains to the Pegasus seal in the center of the main floor of the Student Union. From their first day on campus for orientation, new students are told to never walk on the Pegasus.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} As the tradition is told, those who step on the seal will never graduate from UCF. Usually the seal is roped off with heavy black velvet ropes, but when the ropes are not in place, students can be seen carefully avoiding the seal. In 2005, Florida Leader magazine named this new tradition the best college [[superstition]] in Florida.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.floridaleader.com/best2005_Web-Only_1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018082953/http://floridaleader.com/best2005_Web-Only_1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 18, 2005 |title=Best of Florida Schools 2005 |access-date=April 14, 2009 |work=Florida Leader }}</ref>