Non-Profit Director by Day, Podcaster on Game Day
UCF alumnus Trace Trylko 94’ sends his love for UCF straight to the airwaves.
Trylko co-hosts a podcast called Knightline with Andrew Phegley, who founded the show in 2014. Beginning August 31, you’ll find Trylko and Phegley taking calls live at BurgerU, just outside of Spectrum Stadium, after every home game. Knightline features UCF athletes from the past and present, including former quarterback Kyle Israel and basketball player A.J. Rompza. Sportscasters from Orlando also join in on the fun.
“We look forward to another season of talking with UCF fans after every football game, and hopefully after every football win,” Trylko said.
Joining Knightline was easy for the Radio/TV major, who has held a successful career in the broadcast biz. He started in Orlando as an intern at WESH-TV and landed his first reporting gig in Gainesville. As is typical with the broadcast news industry, Trylko has worn multiple hats including bureau chief, investigative reporter and weekend anchor.
“AT UCF I was the sports editor for the Central Florida Future and news director of WUCF-FM,” he said. “Bottom line: My successful career in TV resulted from my degree at UCF.”
Trylko took his newsroom experience and applied it to a new venture as executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Orlando, a non-profit organization serving people in need across nine Central Florida counties.
“From keeping the lights on to helping prevent someone from being evicted, making a difference in people’s lives is important to me and makes my work rewarding and far more than simply a job,” he said.
As the first-ever executive director of the Catholic non-profit, Trylko has seen too many families helped to count, but one day a homeless couple came into the Apopka thrift store. Trylko says he noticed their shoes were ripped and found out they had walked nearly 50 miles over the course of five days from Haines City in Polk County to Apopka because the man had a job interview. They were sun burnt, hungry and dehydrated.
“We helped them with food, water and clothing and put them up in a motel,” Trylko said. “The man got the job and now he crisscrosses the country as a truck driver. The moment was powerful and the memory of this couple often comes to mind as an inspiration and motivation.”
Trylko uses his motivation to stay connected to the Orlando community. He’s served the UCF Alumni Association as a Chair of the Community Volunteers Chapter and on the Board of Directors. Even though he’s originally from the Tampa area, nothing could’ve convinced him to attend USF.
“Making life-long friends, attending sporting events, being involved in extracurricular activities and getting a well-rounded education at UCF helped me build upon a solid foundation that’s continued to shape my life,” he said.