AOA Scholars Program launches in partnership with UCF

AOA, a leading immersive experience design, production, and project management company, is collaborating with the University of Central Florida to launch the AOA Scholars Program, a practical course providing graduate students with direct experience of the real-world processes behind themed entertainment design and production.

This new initiative is part of UCF’s masters program in Themed Experience. This already offers a more focused education in the discipline and is therefore a perfect partner for AOA.

Tom Acomb, co-founder and chief creative officer of AOA, says: "Florida is home to some of the most sophisticated themed entertainment work in the world, but the way people enter the industry hasn’t kept pace.

"This program is about opening the door earlier and giving students a clearer view of how these projects actually come together."

Practical experience

As immersive attractions, museums, and themed entertainment experiences grow larger, more complex, and more impactful, the sector needs to ensure that the next generation of professionals is equipped with the real-world skills to bring these experiences to life.

Spanning storytelling, architecture, engineering, media, operations, and production, today's attractions require a level of interdisciplinary fluency that is rarely found within a single academic track.

Although traditional universities offer firm foundations in specific disciplines, there is often a lack of understanding of how those skills connect in the real world. This includes how projects evolve from idea to execution and how to identify entry points into a highly collaborative, project-driven field.

Many aspiring professionals find it difficult to navigate their way into the entertainment industry. They often lack clear insight into professional workflows, timelines, and the cross-functional dynamics that ultimately determine a project’s success.

Each semester, the AOA Scholars Program will engage a select cohort of students in workshops led by AOA professionals, visits to active project sites and production facilities, and an exploration of how creative, technical, and operational decision-making intertwine in real-world projects.

Mike Ostendorf, co-founder and CEO of AOA, says: "AOA has always believed in investing in early-career talent, starting with a strong internship program that’s been part of our culture since the early days.

"This partnership with UCF is an evolution of that long-standing commitment – because seeing the full lifecycle of a project up close matters."

Educational partnership

UCF will lead the academic structure and accreditation, while AOA will bring funding and deep industry knowledge to support the practicum.

"This partnership gives students access to professional workflows with one of the top firms in the themed entertainment industry with diverse project and a global reach," says Peter Weishar, director of themed experience at UCF.

"It strengthens Florida’s role as a global talent pipeline for themed entertainment."

The AOA Scholars Program illustrates AOA’s broader dedication to education and workforce development across the US.

In addition to this partnership with UCF, AOA actively supports numerous universities and academic programs focused on themed experiences and immersive design, strengthening the company’s belief that educational collaborations are key to the long-term health and evolution of the sector.

Last year, AOA engineered a magical entrance on a bubble-shaped chariot for Wicked's Glinda as part of the 11th annual Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con, presented by Universal.