Rosen College of Hospitality Management honors the legacy of the late Harris Rosen, whose generosity and commitment to service helped shape the college into what it is today. As a man who dedicated his career to giving back to the community, Rosen’s legacy is continuously carried out through the incredible faculty, students, and program members working tirelessly to develop mentorship, academic success, and charitable initiatives.

One of Rosen College’s most impactful initiatives is the Peer Outreach Mentoring Program (POMP), created in 2011 by Vanessa Blackmon, Associate Director in the Office of Student Services. Originally designed to support students on academic probation, POMP has since become a proactive program that helps students before they fall behind, particularly transfer students, who Blackmon recognized are often at higher risk. What began with just eleven students has grown into a highly competitive program with over 175 current members. Thanks to its early intervention approach, 98% of active POMP members are retained at UCF each semester.

Senior entertainment management major Sydney Lowe, first-time Co-Captain of POMP’s Rosen Miracle Makers, and senior event management major Carolina Christian celebrate at the Knight-Thon Main Event after UCF announced a grand total of $626,416.29 raised for Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Senior entertainment management major Sydney Lowe, first-time Co-Captain of POMP’s Rosen Miracle Makers, and senior event management major Carolina Christian celebrate at the Knight-Thon Main Event after UCF announced a grand total of $626,416.29 raised for Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Initially designed to support students on academic probation, POMP has evolved into a proactive mentoring initiative that identifies and helps vulnerable students before they reach the point of struggle. Recognizing that transfer students were among the highest at-risk groups, Blackmon began promoting POMP during transfer orientation. The program started with eleven students and is now incredibly competitive, with just over 80 program members.

Beyond academics, POMP embodies Rosen College’s commitment to community service. In 2014, POMP member and then-senior Elliot Simon approached Blackmon with the idea of connecting Rosen College to UCF’s main campus through Knight-Thon, UCF’s chapter of the national Miracle Network Dance Marathon. This student-run philanthropy effort raises funds for the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Inspired by his desire to reduce the community disconnect between the main campus and Rosen campus students, Simon believed getting involved in Knight-Thon was the perfect opportunity to unite students for a greater cause.

Junior lodging and restaurant management major McKenzie Brown, a member of POMP’s Rosen Miracle Makers, welcomes students at the Rent-a-Pup table while coordinating team registration and donations for Knight-Thon.
Junior lodging and restaurant management major McKenzie Brown, a member of POMP’s Rosen Miracle Makers, welcomes students at the Rent-a-Pup table while coordinating team registration and donations for Knight-Thon.

With Simon’s enthusiasm, Blackmon and POMP took on the challenge of establishing a Rosen College Knight-Thon team. “It starts with an idea,” Blackmon says. “It starts with a passion.” They organized their team in a few months, raising $3,000 in the first year. Since its inception at UCF, Knight-Thon has raised over $8 million for the hospital, over $70,000 of which has been raised by Rosen College.

For Blackmon, both POMP and Knight-Thon are about a community coming together for a common cause. While POMP helps students succeed academically, its involvement in Knight-Thon extends that mission outward, leveraging the skills of its hospitality students to lead fundraising events that embody the spirit of service. In February of this year, POMP hosted a Rent-A-Pup fundraiser, inviting students to de-stress by spending time with rescue dogs to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

(From left to right): POMP AlumKnights Melissa Santospirito ’16, ’19, Catalina Jimenez ’24, Marisabel Perez-Stone ’17, and Ryan Burke ’16, with Vanessa Blackmon (center front), at POMP’s Rosen Miracle Makers’ Rent-a-Pup fundraiser at Rosen College.
(From left to right): POMP AlumKnights Melissa Santospirito ’16, ’19, Catalina Jimenez ’24, Marisabel Perez-Stone ’17, and Ryan Burke ’16, with Vanessa Blackmon (center front), at POMP’s Rosen Miracle Makers’ Rent-a-Pup fundraiser at Rosen College.

The impact of these programs goes beyond financial contributions and reinforces the values Harris Rosen instilled in the college and the community. “It’s amazing to know you can make that type of impact,” Blackmon reflects. Even after Rosen’s passing, his philosophy of giving back simply because it is the right thing to do remains deeply embedded in the culture of Rosen College.

Through mentorship, academic support, and philanthropic efforts, POMP continues to uphold the Rosen legacy, proving that hospitality is more than just service—it’s about building a community that thrives together.