Florida Polytechnic University has been designated as a Collegiate Purple Star Campus, a state-recognized honor affirming its commitment to supporting military-connected students, veterans and active-duty families.
The state program requires institutions to meet strict criteria, including dedicated support services, priority registration and specialized staff training.
“Earning the Collegiate Purple Star Campus designation is a testament to Florida Poly’s unwavering dedication to those who have served our country,” said Bryan Brooks, Vice President of Student Affairs, Enrollment Management and Strategic Communications. “Our goal is to ensure military-connected students have a seamless transition into higher education and access to the specialized resources they need to thrive in our rigorous STEM environment.”
The new designation highlights Florida Poly’s ongoing efforts to help military-connected students succeed. While the University has long supported military families, Tori Costanzo, a career specialist at Florida Poly, helped bridge the remaining gaps. She is also the University’s military and veteran coordinator.
“Being a Collegiate Purple Star Campus shows military families that Florida Poly is fully equipped to support them,” Costanzo said. “We want our veterans to feel welcome from day one.”
To fulfill the state’s requirements for the designation, Costanzo looked for ways to weave military support directly into the existing culture. Among the new initiatives Florida Poly has rolled out is specialized training for student orientation leaders to recognize and welcome military-connected peers.
“I’m a Navy veteran myself, so I understand the struggles of trying to navigate collegiate life after service,” Costanzo said. “It’s especially hard for a servicemember who may not have been in a classroom for four or even 20 years. Because of that, I am incredibly passionate about education and our veterans.”
Constanzo channels that passion into helping student veterans navigate the transition to college, connecting them with financial assistance, academic support, career mentoring and other resources that allow them to focus on reaching their academic goals.
“I want to make everyone’s lives easier and see them succeed,” Costanzo said. “Our job is to help them get through their education, get that degree, and then go out into the public sector and change the world.”
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
