UCF Alumni Launches Ever Upward Awards to Spotlight Fastest-Growing Knight Businesses Worldwide

Today's fastest-growing Knight-led companies were once ideas formed in classrooms, tested in labs and sharpened during late-night conversations across UCF's campuses. Now, those ideas are scaling fast.

To celebrate that rise, UCF Alumni has launched Ever Upward: Fastest-Growing Knight Businesses - a new annual awards program honoring Knight-owned or -led companies demonstrating significant revenue growth, innovation and leadership.

Ever Upward is about more than recognition. It honors how far ideas can travel, and reminds the UCF community that ambition doesn't end at graduation. For Knights in business, the direction has always been clear: ever upward.

"Ever Upward … shines a light on Knight-led businesses that are scaling with purpose." - Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships at UCF

"Our alumni are building companies that are growing rapidly and making a real impact in their industries and communities," says Rodney Grabowski, UCF's senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. "Ever Upward recognizes success and the entrepreneurial drive behind it. This program shines a light on Knight-led businesses that are scaling with purpose."

Honorees will be recognized at a signature awards event on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, bringing together alumni entrepreneurs, university leadership and business leaders to celebrate remarkable achievements and share insights.

Inspired by UCF's unwavering charge to reach higher, Ever Upward acknowledges businesses whose growth reflects perseverance and vision. Recognition is based solely on verified financial performance over a three-year period - spotlighting companies that are truly rising.

Eligible businesses will be ranked by their cumulative percentage revenue growth across their 12-month reporting periods for 2022, 2023 and 2024. To ensure the highest levels of transparency and trust, all rankings will be independently tabulated, so recognition lands exactly where it's earned.

Applications for the inaugural Ever Upward awards open Feb. 3 and close March 26.

Unlike traditional business awards that are driven by nominations or subjective criteria, Ever Upward is determined entirely by performance data. All financial information will be submitted directly to Carr, Riggs & Ingram - the program's official tabulation partner and a nationally ranked accounting and advisory firm - ensuring confidentiality and independent verification throughout the process.

Applications for the inaugural Ever Upward awards will open Feb. 3. Eligible companies must have been in operation since at least January 2022, meet minimum revenue thresholds and be Knight-owned or led.

"Our alumni don't just represent UCF, they extend it," says Michael Harding, UCF associate vice president for partnerships. "Ever Upward celebrates Knight-owned and Knight-led businesses whose leadership and momentum mirror the ambition of this university and uniquely position them to build powerful partnerships with UCF."

The application deadline is Thursday, March 26, 2026. Finalists will be announced in early summer, with full rankings revealed at the August awards celebration.

For eligibility requirements and application details, visit the UCF Ever Upward webpage.

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