The Gator spirit of the UF Cicerones is no force to reckon with.
"I definitely think it's an important part of being a cicerone because you are showcasing your university and it's going to be hard to show and tell how wonderful your school is if you don't truly believe it within yourself," said cicerone Nadia Fakhoury, a second year pre-med student.
After she received acceptance letters from FSU, UCF and USF, Fakhoury finally heard from UF.
"UF was the only school I got excited about when I got accepted," she said.
This type of Gator devotion along with flawless social and speaking skills are the two traits that unite the diverse group of more than 100 cicerones.
"We are looking for a people person," said Andrew Stricklin, president of the organization. "Someone who can be put in very different situations and still be able to control the environment."
Even though it is generally considered that a more outgoing student would make a good cicerone, Stricklin maintains that some less gregarious Gators have excelled in their job as well.
Cicerones give an eight-stop tour of the university to potential students and their parents.
It has its grand finale at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium where the Cicerone who led the tour tells his or her personal story of why they chose and love to be a Gator.
"That is always the most exciting part for everyone, even the cicerones," Fakhoury said.
Sporting khaki pants and white polo shirts with the words UF Cicerones embroidered with orange thread on the left breast, they not only help future Gators and their parents put a face to the university but are also responsible for hosting events at the President's House and hosting UF President Bernie Machen's guests at the president's box seats during football games.
Cicerones are a part of recruiting future UF football players and gymnasts as they sit with potential players and their families during home football games and gymnastics meets in the spring.
After attending the spring business-attire forum, candidates are sent an online application that includes several short-answer essay questions.
In the following week, close to 1,000 students sit through a 15-minute interview and that Sunday between 40 to 75 hopefuls are notified they are selected.
Throughout the spring semester those selected are required to attend a new member training course every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. where they cover an array of aspects about the university.
From the school's history to knowing about the more than 300 degree programs and all the graduate programs, this training session is equivalent to the amount of work done in a three-credit class.
"It's not just about this building here and that building there," Stricklin said. "It's really about the entire university."
Cicerones are required to complete a minimum of 10 credits each semester with tours and volunteering at community service events being one credit and recruiting football players and gymnasts earning them three credits.
However, most cicerones complete much more than the minimum.
"It's something that once you get involved in, you want to give it the best you can," Fakhoury said.
For her, working as a Cicerone is a break from studying as she gets to hang out with not only her colleagues but her friends.
"It really is like a family," she said. "These people become your best friends and someone to have lunch with every day."
Last Thursday, UF Cicerones held their third summer recruitment session on The Plaza of the Americas where students interested in joining Cicerones were able to learn more about the organization and how they can get involved.
Gator spirit intensified the usual lunchtime hubbub at the plaza as four large orange coolers poured orange Gatorade in white cups that glowed orange when a liquid is put in them.
Each cup had a blue "UF Cicerones" inscription on it and the organization's forum dates.
The event drew about 100 people, twice as many than the previous two summer recruitments.
Cicerones will be holding their fall forum Oct. 26 where students can find out more about the organization.
