Andy Gardiner is a Republican politician who served as a member of the Florida Senate, representing the 9th District from 2008 to 2012, and the 13th District, which stretches from Orlando to Titusville, from 2012 to 2016. From 2014 to 2016, Gardiner served as the President of the Florida Senate. Prior to Gardiner's election to the Senate, he served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 40th District from 2000 to 2008.

Stetson University is a private institution located in Central Florida, along the I–4 corridor. Established in 1883 as DeLand Academy, it was later renamed John B. Stetson University in honor of a generous donor. The university's main campus in DeLand spans 175 acres and boasts Florida's oldest collection of education-related buildings, including DeLand Hall, the state's longest-standing building used for higher education.