The UF Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa began the Gators of Tomorrow program in 2008 to recognize the top 25 freshmen at the University of Florida for their accomplishments both on campus and in the community.

In 2009, over the weekend of March 20th – 22nd ,  the Gators of Tomorrow program kicked off the event for the new class of top 25 freshmen with a service project at O2B kids, followed by a half day team building retreat, and concluded with a formal conference.  The conference included a keynote speech from local entrepreneur Ethan Fieldman of Tutoringzone, presentations on career development, graduate schools, and prestigious scholarships from UF faculty, and a campus involvement presentation from prominent student leaders, including many Omicron Delta Kappa members. Participants had the opportunity to meet and interact with fellow students, university administrators, and individuals who have made an enormous impact on the University of Florida campus and the Gainesville community. The event concluded with a formal evening banquet where two scholarships of $250 were given to the top two of the twenty five Gators of Tomorrow participants.

This year’s Gators of Tomorrow program was a resounding success, with over 100 qualified applicants and a dramatic increase in name recognition for OΔK on our campus. Following the event, several Gators of Tomorrow participants have taken on leadership roles in continuing to provide networking opportunities for their class.  Some have brought ideas discussed over the weekend back to their own organizations and brought about change in themselves and their organizations to better serve this campus and the Gainesville community. Others have gotten involved in planning next year's program, and a number of others have led the way in creating a campus-wide marketing campaign to spread the word about Gators of Tomorrow. “Gators of Tomorrow was truly an inspiring event, which allowed me to build relationships with a diverse group of outstanding leaders,” says Olivia Stacey, a Gator of Tomorrow in 2008 and Director of Marketing for the program in 2009, “Through this multifaceted network, I discovered new ways I could serve the University of Florida as well as the Gainesville community. I know this program will only continue to grow as it honors, motivates and shapes young leaders!” Through the Gators of Tomorrow event, OΔK has helped lead UF’s student population as a whole into the future.

Visit http://www.ufodk.com/got/ to read more about Gators of Tomorrow!