When Colby Manrodt ’26 stepped up to become president of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Florida Polytechnic University in the fall of 2025, he prioritized strengthening students’ sense of community and restructuring the organization.
Now in his second term, the now graduate student aims to take those goals even further.
“We want to cement that foundation to make sure that returning and future SGA members are well equipped to step into these roles with confidence and to continue to build that momentum,” Manrodt said.
During his first term, Manrodt was most proud of advancing the student-led sustainability garden project. Designed, funded and built by students, he said the effort reflected the ownership he wants SGA to encourage across campus.
“It was really meaningful to see students take an idea from concept to completion,” Manrodt said. “It showed what can happen when students are given the resources and support to build something that improves their campus.”
His primary focus during the 2026-2027 academic year is leadership development, spearheaded by a new initiative called APEX, which centers on ambition, purpose and excellence. It will offer students a way to be active with SGA without holding an office.
“They can still get involved and learn our processes,” Manrodt said. “We’ll bring in speakers and resources to prepare them to step into those roles when they’re ready.”
The effort is a response to increased interest in the SGA, where involvement was previously limited to positions in its Senate, executive and judicial branches.
“As our University continues to expand and grow, we really wanted a place for students to join us in some way and help build their sense of service leadership by helping with campus organizations and events,” Manrodt said. “We want to give them tools and resources to equip them not only for on-campus leadership positions, but for internships and high-level jobs after college.”
To support this vision, Manrodt said the SGA will focus on building relationships with its campus partners. He emphasized that the organization’s progress is driven by his peers.
“None of what we’ve accomplished happens because of one person,” he said. “I’m fortunate to have a team that cares deeply about this campus and is willing to put in the work to turn ideas into something meaningful for students.”
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) will play a major part in this. He said the group has heightened efforts to discover, hype and host the types of events students truly want.
Another new priority is celebrating the nationwide Engineers Week in February, Manrodt said. The SGA is partnering with Florida Poly’s career development, alumni and other services, as well as with professional student organizations such as IEEE and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
“We want to celebrate our STEM background and our STEM experience on campus,” Manrodt said.
Florida Poly is the state’s only university exclusively dedicated to education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
As SGA president, Manrodt also holds a seat on Florida Poly’s Board of Trustees, the University’s governing body. He said the experience has shown him how much the board prizes hearing about what students really want.
“When I can bring in that valuable insight from our student body, I’ve seen it shift decisions and create a deeper sense of thought and discussion that I really appreciate,” Manrodt said. “It’s made me have a much larger appreciation for what the University is trying to accomplish.”
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
