In April 2023, a few days after senior prom, Gabby Murison 鈥�26 and her family drove 650 miles from New Orleans to Orlando. They鈥檇 vacationed in previous years to the area鈥檚 theme parks, but this time they had just one destination on the itinerary: UCF. The university interested Murison for its strong film program through the Nicholson School of Communication and Media. She also knew UCF offered a variety of pathways in case she discovered a new interest.
鈥淚鈥檒l never forget stepping onto Memory Mall,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y thoughts about college changed. I got caught up in this environment of 鈥榳e support each other because we鈥檙e all Knights鈥� and I was ready to move.鈥�
“I discovered something bigger outside the classroom. I built my world here.”
Moving was nothing new to Murison. Her dad serves in the U.S. Army, so she鈥檇 already lived in eight cities across six states.
鈥淏ut I鈥檇 never been anywhere like UCF,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 had big goals: to develop my creative side and learn about social media and film. But I discovered something bigger outside the classroom. I built my world here.鈥�
The Curious Freshman Looking for Community
At the beginning, Murison was like most first-year students: a bit uncertain, searching for a connection.
鈥淚 realized quickly that the 670 clubs and organizations at UCF need people,鈥� says Murison, who minored in event management. 鈥淎s soon as I got involved, the student population of 70,000 got smaller. It ignited passions I didn鈥檛 know existed.鈥�
“My perspective grew by talking with people … and observing how mentors 鈥� guided others.”
Her first connection came through an academic and community engagement initiative, which she saw as an opportunity to get out of her dorm and become involved in service, which runs in her family of military veterans, educators and nurses. On day one, she asked a fellow member, civil engineering major Luisa Cordova, to go for a walk. Murison learned about life in Venezuela on that walk. She also found a best friend and roommate.
鈥淢y perspective grew by talking with people like Luisa and observing how mentors 鈥� guided others,鈥� Murison says.
A mentor gently persuaded Murison to apply her communication skills to the campus community. Still in her first semester and despite a full plate, Murison volunteered for Spirit Splash during Homecoming Week.
鈥淚t was supposed to be a simple way to pitch in,鈥� Murison says, 鈥渂ut as I guarded the pool, I was struck by the impact students were making by running this big event.鈥�
By her sophomore year, Murison had been named to the executive board for Homecoming.
鈥淢y involvement grew to the point where I鈥檇 see students wearing merchandise I helped design,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y confidence and connections to UCF kept expanding.鈥�
A Full-Circle Moment
At the beginning of Murison鈥檚 junior year, Malaret suggested that Murison transition from LEAD to the President鈥檚 Leadership Council (PLC). Murison found PLC to be another way to inspire UCF students to make the most of their entire college experience, just as she鈥檇 been doing herself. Around the same time, she discovered an ideal outlet to share her knowledge and growing love for UCF: as an Undergraduate Admissions Ambassador.
鈥淲hen I was a little girl, I wanted to be Hannah Montana,鈥� she says. 鈥淏eing a tour guide is as close as I鈥檝e come to that dream. Talking about UCF to groups became like a performance, except everything I say is true.鈥�
“My advice to students is to funnel your energy into organizations you care about. Make a difference. Grow your work ethic. Have fun.”
During at least 100 tours, Murison spoke with more than 1,000 prospective students and VIP guests. She walked them along Memory Mall, through the 鈥渨e鈥檙e all Knights鈥� environment that changed her view of college, and described firsthand the transformative power of campus involvement.
鈥淢y advice to students is to funnel your energy into organizations you care about,鈥� she says. 鈥淢ake a difference. Grow your work ethic. Have fun. And don鈥檛 be involved for the sake of a resume.鈥�
On one tour in 2025, she met a girl from her high school in Louisiana, an 18-year-old version of herself, with one foot at prom and the other reaching toward the next phase of life.
鈥淚 must have given a decent tour because she just finished her freshman year at UCF,鈥� Murison says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 [involved on campus] and serves on the Homecoming committee. Isn鈥檛 that amazing? It鈥檚 gratifying to have made an impact, but even better to know that she鈥檚 creating her own path, and a personal story to share with others.鈥�
The Accomplished Graduate Ready for the World
In April, UCF and Universal Destinations & Experiences launched a Pegasus Partnership to strengthen three decades of collaboration with aligning education with real-world experience, creating career pathways and developing themed innovations.
In April, three years after her first step onto campus, Murison was awarded the Order of Pegasus, UCF’s most prestigious student award. She was notified that she had received the honor while on a retreat with admission tour guides, with whom she became friends.
鈥淭he honor meant more because they were there to celebrate with me,鈥� she says.
A few weeks later, Murison graduated and finished an event management internship at Universal, where she further strengthened her ability to prioritize responsibilities and find balance. She now has job offers from several companies in Orlando, though she could envision a move to California to pursue filmmaking or scriptwriting. There will be plenty of time to decide.
鈥淚鈥檓 the kid who watched with awe when the credits rolled at the end of Disney movies,鈥� Murison says. 鈥淏uilding something big from scratch always fascinated me, especially when it involves a team. That鈥檚 what my UCF experience has been like. For now, though, I鈥檒l just 鈥� exhale. I want to spend time being 22 for a little while.鈥�
