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University of Central Florida Eternal Knights collection, 2008-2025

 

Summary

Creator:
University of Central Florida. Office of Student Involvement
Abstract:
The University of Central Florida Eternal Knights collection, 2008-2025, documents past University of Central Florida (UCF) Eternal Knights Memorial Services, organized by the Office of Student Involvement. Materials in the collection include service programs, as well as unclaimed certificates of achievement, Student Government letters, name tents, letters of remembrance, and honorary degrees. The collection also contains two glass awards, a diploma cover, and a small ribbon from the ceremony. The collection encompasses services held from 2008 to 2025. The University of Central Florida's first Eternal Knights Memorial Service took place in 2002. Held each spring in the Student Union by the Office of Student Involvement (OSI), the service honors the lives of students who have passed away over the course of the academic year, from the previous spring and summer leading up to the current semester. Students, family, and friends are invited to attend and recognize individuals, along with the broader UCF community. A livestream is available for those who cannot attend in person.  
Extent:
.6 Linear Feet 2 boxes
9.43 Gigabytes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], University of Central Florida Eternal Knights collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The University of Central Florida Eternal Knights collection, 2008-2025, documents past University of Central Florida (UCF) Eternal Knights Memorial Services, organized by the Office of Student Involvement. Materials in the collection include service programs, as well as unclaimed certificates of achievement, Student Government letters, name tents, letters of remembrance, and honorary degrees. The collection also contains two glass awards, a diploma cover, and a small ribbon from the ceremony. The collection encompasses services held from 2008 to 2025. These materials provide insight into the collaboration of various campus partners in planning and staging the Eternal Knights memorial service. These records also demonstrate the profound loss felt by the University and its student body, and underscore the significance of the memorial service within the campus community.

Series I: Letters of remembrance, 2011, contains handwritten and typed letters composed by family members and friends. Photos of Gregory Martin, Kelly McConnell, Jennifer Roqueta, and David Schaefer are attached in front of their respective letters.

Series II: Memorial Service programs, 2008-2025, contains formal service programs that include year-specific lists of honored students. This series also contains printed and digital copies of service programs that include year-specific lists of honored students.

Series III: Certificates of Achievement, 2012-2018, contains printed certificates personalized to each honoree. 

Series IV: Honorary degrees, 2021-2024, contains printed and personalized degrees formally issued by UCF. 

Series V: Student Government Proclamations, 2012-2024, contains formal personalized letters issued by Student Government in recognition of each honoree. Each letter highlights the successes, strengths, and academic achievements of the respective honoree.

Series VI: Artifacts, 2011-2024, contains two glass awards, a ceremonial ribbon, one diploma cover, and name tents from past memorial services.

Biographical / historical:

The University of Central Florida's first Eternal Knights Memorial Service took place in 2002. Held each spring in the Student Union by the Office of Student Involvement (OSI), the service honors the lives of students who have passed away over the course of the academic year, from the previous spring and summer leading up to the current semester. Students, family, and friends are invited to attend and recognize individuals, along with the broader University of Central Florida (UCF) community. A livestream is available for those who cannot attend in person.  

During the ceremony, a eulogy is given. Following a campus-wide moment of silence, honored students are given the title "Eternal Knight." Honorary degrees and Student Government proclamation letters are issued and formally presented for each student who has passed away. Prior to the issue of honorary degrees, students were honored with certificates of achievement. Family members are also given a glass engraving and a glass vase holding a single yellow rose during the ceremony.  Various speakers have included the current UCF President and representatives from Campus Faith & Ministries. Other campus partners involved include OSI Creative Services, the Registrar's Office, and Student Government. As of 2025, the event is held in the Student Union Pegasus Ballroom. Previously, the event has been held in both the Cape Florida Ballroom and the Key West Ballroom. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the services in 2020 and 2021 were combined into one event held outdoors at the Reflecting Pond in March 2021.

Acquisition information:
Transferred by Chantel Carter from the UCF Office of Student Involvement in 2025 (Accession nos. CFU2025_12 and CFU2025_12A).
Processing information:

Processed by and finding aid prepared by Alison Lee in 2025.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in six series as follow by document type.

  • I. Letters of remembrance, 2011
  • II. Memorial Service programs, 2008-2025
  • III. Certificates of Achievement, 2012-2018
  • IV. Honorary degrees, 2021-2024
  • V. Student Government Proclamations, 2012-2024
  • VI. Artifacts, 2011-2024
Materials are arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each series apart from the first series which is solely arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], University of Central Florida Eternal Knights collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA