UCF earned the Gold Award last month on the 2026-27 Military Friendly Schools list, highlighting the university’s efforts in supporting its community.

Prior to this, UCF has been a Silver awardee, signaling a growth in the Department of Military and Veteran Student Success. 

UCF’s recognition comes from its expanding efforts to support more than 4,000 military-connected students through academic resources, career preparation and financial assistance. The designation makes UCF one of only five universities in the region to join the Gold awardee list, following Florida Atlantic, Florida International, West Florida and North Florida according to UCF Today.

For Michael Kepner, director of Military and Veteran Student Success, the award was a meaningful moment for the office. 

“We’ve gone from so long being silver finally be able to get gold status. It was awesome,” Kepner said.

Kepner said two major improvements helped UCF move from silver to gold: more intentional tutoring support for military-connected students and a new scholarship opportunity for family members. The scholarship, created with support from Parachutes for Patriots, helped strengthen the university’s financial support category, while tutoring services improved the student success category.

Kepner said he understands the transition because he experienced it himself after serving in the military and later returning to school for his graduate degree at UCF.

“I did not have any idea how to be a student,” Kepner said. “So part of the concept now, between orientation and starting classes, is building a plan for a Veteran Success Workshop to teach veterans how to be students in class.” 

To help combat any obstacles, support begins early through orientation. Kepner said UCF recently expanded its military-connected orientation efforts to include first-time-in-college students and is developing a Veteran Success Workshop to help veterans adjust to college and life after graduation.

Kepner said the workshop would help veterans understand skills such as reading a syllabus, using office hours, managing time and asking classmates for help. He said the goal is to prepare veterans not only for college, but also for life after graduation.

For Chris Reid, a first-year master’s student studying computer science and a U.S. Air Force veteran, the department helped make UCF feel like the right choice after moving to Florida.

“The MVSS on campus is a place where I could go to find students with a similar background,” Reid said. “The center is also well networked and connected to job markets outside Orlando. That is a huge asset to lean on when considering career options.”

Reid said the office’s newsletters and networking events have also helped connect him with career resources in the veteran community.

“Attending virtual networking sessions has gotten my resume seen by recruiters across so many industries around the country,” Reid said. “For many students, simply knowing where the opportunities are is a huge asset as they move closer to graduation.”

Career readiness is another major focus for the department. Kepner said partnerships with employers such as Disney, Amazon and Lockheed Martin help connect military-connected students to internships, mentorships and long-term career opportunities.

“It allows for us to create a true talent pipeline of military connected students into those companies,” Kepner said.

UCF also plans to continue expanding career support this fall through a mentorship program connecting student veterans with veteran employees at companies such as Amazon. Kepner said the office’s next goal is to move beyond gold and reach the Top 10 designation on the Military Friendly Schools list. 

Kepner said the office is grounded in “a community of service” and a servant leadership model that helps student veterans feel supported from the moment they arrive.

“We are still serving those who serve,” Kepner said. “To me, a life of service continues, whether it be in uniform or not.”