20 Years. 1,000+ Stories. One FIEA.
From our first cohort to today’s cutting-edge students, FIEA has been a launchpad for dreamers, creators, and innovators. Celebrate 20 years of friendships forged, milestones reached, and games that changed lives. Let’s honor the past and power up for the next level—together.
Saturday, October 18, 2025
5:30pm-9:30pm
UCF Downtown at Creative Village
Join us for a block party at UCF Downtown with your fellow FIEA alumni, faculty and staff, and industry friends. Enjoy live music, special swag exclusively for alumni, and more. Food trucks, beer/wine cash bar, and a signature FIEA drink will be available. RSVP required to attend.
FIEA’s 20th Anniversary Schedule of Events
Creating space for meaningful conversations: reconnecting with classmates, sharing the paths we’ve taken, and imagining where we go next as storytellers, technologists, artists, and collaborators. More info to come. Schedule is subject to change.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16
The Tech in Tech Art: FIEA Alumni Guest Speaker Nikki Roth ’10MS
Cohort 6, Tech Art Manager at Reality Lab, Meta
12pm-1:30pm • DPAC 106 (UCF Downtown)
Open to current FIEA students, faculty and staff
Join us for a talk with Nikki Roth, FIEA alum from Cohort 6! Nikki aims to transform content in innovative ways for innovative applications through real-time technology. Drawing from a background in gymnastics, diving, and climbing, she specializes in capturing creativity and translating movement into immersive experiences. With a career spanning Apple, EA, Lucasfilm, Google, and Meta, she has worked across games, film, VR, AR, Simulation and UX. Nikki actively pushes the boundaries of real-time technology and is dedicated to fostering collaborative, diverse teams through internal and external partnerships.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
State of Games & Alumni Panel Discussion feat. EA’s Daryl Holt
12pm-1:30pm • DPAC 106 (UCF Downtown)
Open to FIEA students, alumni, faculty/staff, and industry friends
Join us for a presentation by Electronic Arts’ Daryl Holt, SVP/Group GM (Tiburon Studios and American Football) on the state of the gaming industry, followed by an alumni panel discussion.
FIEA Executive Director Ben Noel will moderate a panel of experienced alumni:
- Bryan Roth (Cohort 6), Lead Program Manager, Apple Arcade
- Ingrid Aguero (Cohort 4), Environment Director, Madden NFL Football, EA Tiburon
- Brian Rose (Cohort 8), Technical Director, Iron Galaxy Studios
- Christopher Jay Vance (Cohort 13), Senior Engineer, Undead Labs
- Brian DeSanti (Cohort 5), Senior Director of Product Management, Blizzard Entertainment
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
FIEA Alumni Mixer
3pm • Location TBD
Open to FIEA students, alumni, faculty/staff, and industry friends
Join your fellow FIEA alumni for a fiery kickoff to our 20th anniversary weekend with a night of nostalgia, networking, and good vibes. Details to be announced soon!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
FIEA’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
5:30pm-9:30pm • CMB Plaza at UCF Downtown
Open to FIEA students, faculty/staff, alumni, industry friends, and sponsors. RSVP required.
4:30pm-5:30pm VIP Pre-Reception for sponsors
5:30pm Doors open for all attendees to check in. Enjoy live music, exclusive swag for FIEAns, and more. Cash bar and food trucks available.
9:30pm Event ends
Two Decades of Innovation and Collaboration
From cutting-edge VR research to award-winning capstone projects, FIEA has been a catalyst for creativity and experimentation.
In just two decades, FIEA has placed graduates at leading studios around the world, from Electronic Arts and Epic Games to Microsoft, Sony, and Ubisoft. Our alumni are credited on hundreds of major titles—and many now lead teams shaping the future of the industry.
FIEA was founded through a collaboration between UCF and the industry to meet the growing demand for skilled game developers. That spirit still drives us today, bridging the gap between academia and the fast-moving world of interactive media.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Become a Sponsor: Power the Future of Interactive Entertainment
This celebration isn’t just a party—it’s a powerful gathering of talent, leadership, and opportunity.
Reach hundreds of industry leaders, talented alumni, and rising stars when you become a sponsor of FIEA’s 20th Anniversary event. Sponsorship gives your brand premium visibility throughout the night, including a special VIP pre-reception for your guests, and access to tomorrow’s top talent. Make your mark on one of gaming’s most respected graduate programs.
$2,500 Sponsorship package includes:
- Company logo on stage banners
- Company logo on event web page
- Company logo on displays/TVs during the event
- 10 Tickets
- Verbal recognition on stage during the event
- VIP Pre-Reception for your guests before the start of the event
GET STARTED
UCF Downtown & Creative Village
An Innovation District in Downtown Orlando
Orlando’s Creative Village was born in 2005 when the doors opened for 12 students to the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, a unique graduate program established in partnership between the State of Florida, City of Orlando and University of Central Florida with a mission to create high-wage talent for the growing video game development industry.
Accommodations
Stay in Creative Village! Our neighbors at the Marriott Orlando Downtown (connected to Starbucks) have offered a discounted rate of $149 per night just for our event.
400 West Livingston Street Orlando, Florida, USA, 32801
Parking
Attendees can park directly on campus at UCF Downtown. There will be free parking available in the UCF Parramore Parking Garage (PG1).