History

The Florida Cicerones was founded in 1968 by June Stanley as the official hosts of the University of Florida. Named after Cicero, a Roman orator and philosopher, Cicerones was orginally an all-female organization and remained so until the 1980's. In 1987, the Florida Cicerones merged with the UF National Alumni Association ( now known as UF Alumni Association ) and became the Florida Cicerones / Student Alumni Association.

Today the Florida Cicerones is a co-ed organization comprised of a diverse group of over 150 UF students, from all backgrounds and areas of study, but who share the same enthusiasm for being a Florida Gator. The Florida Cicerones is affiliated with the Association of Student Advancement Programs, an international non-profit organization of over 300 student ambassador, student alumni, student spirit and student foundation groups. The Florida Cicerones serve as the “official student ambassadors to the University of Florida” and represent the university at various functions throughout the year.

Events and Services

The Florida Cicerones are involved in a wide range of University of Florida activities and offer various services and hold numerous events at UF. A few of these are described below. If you have further questions, please email us at cicerones@cicerones.org.

Campus Tours

One of the primary and most visible functions of being a Cicerone is giving tours of the University of Florida. All Cicerones are given the knowledge and are trained to give professional, enthusiastic and fun-filled tours to prospective students and families. Cicerones welcome the opportunity to continue to learn more about UF, meet lots of new people and spread their excitement for UF to prospective students and their families. For more information or to take a campus tour, please visit www.admissions.ufl.edu/visit.html.

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Presidential Personal Hosts

Within the membership of Cicerones there is a select group of individuals who serve as hosts to the President and his family. Personal Hosts serve as student representatives at various functions at the President's home, during football games and throughout the community.

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University Athletic Association ( UAA )

Cicerones most recent venture is serving as the student ambassadors to university athletic teams helping teams recruit new players and showing potential UF athletes what Gator spirit is really about. Cicerones help the University Athletic Association on home football game days when each ambassador is paired up with a high school recruit and their family for the day. Florida Cicerones have also assisted at Gymnastics meets for the past several seasons. Cicerones is looking to expand their involvement through the UAA in the next few years . For more information on the University Athletic Association visit their Web site at www.uaa.ufl.edu.

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Gator Shadow Day - "A day in the life of a Florida Gator"

Gator Shadow Day is a new program that takes place once a semester and is coordinated by the Florida Cicerones and sponsored by the Alumni Association. Each Spring since 2005, Gator Shadow Day has allowed local high school students to spend a day shadowing a Florida Cicerone. The students get to visit classes, eat at an on campus dining facility, check out the residence halls and generally get a feel for what day to day campus life is like at the University of Florida. For information and upcoming dates, please contact GatorShadowDay@uff.ufl.edu.

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Association of Student Advancement Programs ( ASAP )

Association for Student Advancement Programs (ASAP) is an alliance of student organizations that provides resources and opportunities for networking and leadership development in order to promote student involvement in educational advancement. ASAP is student run and consists of over 300 higher education institutions covering four different types of student organizations: student ambassador programs, student alumni associations, student foundation groups and student spirit.

As part of the Association for Student Advancement Programs (ASAP), Florida Cicerones have the chance to travel across the country to participate in leadership workshops and conventions and meet students from schools throughout the United States.

Each of the eight districts holds their own conference in the spring. Each district runs its own awards and recognition program, while ideas are shared through workshops presented by student organizations.

ASAP Network Conventions are held annually each summer. The Network Conventions are like the District conferences, but they are held on the national level. Network Conventions, like District conferences, include workshops, awards and recognition programs.

View more information about the Association of Student Advancement Programs www.case.org/asap.

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Student Alumni Association

Cicerones oversee the general membership of the Student Alumni Association. The Student Alumni Association along with Cicerones provides the following services to students.

F-Book:Recently revived since its disappearance in the early 1960’s, this Unviersity of Florida publication is being presented to all incoming freshmen as a guide to ensure that all Gators are aware of the active role they can play in the larger history of UF. Brought back with the vision of former Florida Cicerones/SAA President, Bigad Shaban, the F-Book contains more than 100 UF traditions and activities to participate in as a UF student. The F-Book works with a Cicerones committee called Tradition Keepers to plan events for UF students corresponding to various traditions and activities contained within the F-Book.

Dinner with 12 Strangers:This is an opportunity for University of Florida students to network and interact with Gator alumni and community business leaders. Members of the Student Alumni Association are invited throughout the year to attend dinners with their peers hosted by alumni, faculty members and most recently some of UF’s most active student leaders.

Florida Alumni Networking Seminar with Students (FANSS): This program is designed as the ultimate networking experience for both students and alumni. Generally taking place at Emerson Alumni Hall, FANSS brings in UF alumni from all over the nation to primarily describe their experiences and career paths to current UF students. The program consists of a pre-networking social for the participating alumni, which transitions into a full dinner for all attendees. Students rotate between particular tables to get a new perspective from another alumnus. There is often a career path focus per table. Students also enjoy a networking seminar one week prior to the dinner.

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