An Accidental Gator Becomes UF’s Champion

Kevin Mayeux

Kevin Mayeux (BA ’92, JD ’96) had no interest in the University of Florida. Hadn’t given it a thought. Duke (maybe FSU as a fallback), had been his university of choice when he was a kid in Tampa.

“UF was never my destination school,” he confesses.

That changed with a chance visit to Gainesville the week before high school graduation—and despite acceptance letters in hand from both Duke and Florida State. On a whim, Mayeux, with nothing better to do, accompanied a friend to campus.

“Immediately, after being on campus a day, I asked myself, ‘Why aren’t I going here? UF is amazing. It’s got a vibrant student body. It’s a beautiful campus. This is where I should be. This place is incredible,’” he says.

So, he walked into the admissions office to enroll. It was June. Two months before fall classes. Over half a year past the deadline to apply.

“They looked at me like I was crazy,” he recalls.

But persistence paid off. Mayeux was given a list of the members on the appeals committee, all of whom would need to approve his request for a deadline exception. Mayeux returned that same afternoon and handed in his application with the signatures.

Kevin Mayeux, 1995-96 Student Body President (bottom row, center), with several members of UF Student Government.

“What I’d done was hunt them all down all over campus and told them about my case,” Mayeux says. “A couple days later I was accepted. That’s how my Gator career began.”

UF has been a big part of his life ever since.

He jumped into student life the day he arrived as a freshman. While earning degrees in political science and law, he joined Blue Key, was elected student body vice president in 1990 and president in 1995, and also served as senate president and chairman of the Recreational Sports Board of Directors.

Mayeux’s involvement didn’t stop at graduation. As an alumnus, he’s been on the Alumni Association and UF Foundation boards, was a volunteer mentor for students and is a donor to numerous university projects. Whatever Mayeux can do for his alma mater, he does.

“I loved my campus experience. I love the way the university gives back to the state. I love its motto: ‘The welfare of the state depends upon the morals of its citizens,’” he says. “I believe in doing my part to help UF fulfill that mission so that moving forward it can continue impacting the lives of Floridians.”

To do more, Mayeux, the CEO of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors included the university in his estate plan. He endowed a scholarship in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to support Beyond120, the college’s career readiness program.

“Kevin’s gift will encourage and support students so they can pursue transformational experiences that open doors for future success in careers,” Dean Dave Richardson says. “He knows that experience is the best teacher.”

That’s not the only reason Mayeux created the scholarship.

“This was a way I could have an impact, but in a targeted way for someone who has interests that are similar to the ones I did [as a political science student],” he says. “It’s also a way to leave an enduring legacy. After I’m long gone, this scholarship with my name on it will still be here making a difference in the lives of future generations of Gators.”

His wish for scholars who receive his scholarship: “Go out and do good things with your lives. Try to make a difference.”

Just as he’s done … and is doing.

“UF has been a part of my life since I was 18,” Mayeux says. “It will continue to be a part of my life until I’m no longer here. I don’t see that changing. I’ll continue to be involved and continue to do what I can to make a difference.”

To support CLAS’s Beyond120, contact CLAS Executive Director of Advancement Steve Evans at sevans3@ufl.edu.