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Phoenix Weekend

A celebration of your future at Florida Poly!

April 24–25, 2026

Join us for an unforgettable experience designed exclusively for admitted students and scholarship recipients.

During this special weekend, you’ll connect with future classmates, explore our innovative campus, meet faculty and leadership, and get a firsthand look at life as a Phoenix. From interactive sessions to a formal scholarship reception, this event is all about celebrating your achievements and helping you take the next step with confidence.

Event Schedule

Scholarship Dinner
Friday, April 24, 2026

5:15 p.m.: Hors d’ouevres
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Dinner & Program
Bonnet Springs Park: 400 Bonnet Spring Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33815

The festivities begin on Friday with our Scholarship Dinner—exclusively for students who have submitted their enrollment deposit. We’ll celebrate with an evening dedicated to your hard work and welcoming you into the Florida Poly family. This special event will provide an opportunity to connect with fellow scholars, faculty, and university leaders while enjoying a formal dinner in your honor.

Enrollment Deposit is required to attend.

Admitted Student Day
Saturday, April 25, 2026

8:30 a.m: Registration
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Program
Barnett Applied Research Center (BARC) 
Florida Polytechnic University: 4700 Research Way, Lakeland, FL 33815

Saturday will be a full Florida Poly experience with our Admitted Student Day on campus, where you’ll learn more about what to expect during your first year.

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.