Graduation marks a major milestone in a student’s life, but learning doesn’t stop there. A new podcast showcases how Florida Polytechnic University alumni continue to grow, adapt and lead in their fields.
Now working in high-tech careers across industries, Florida Poly alumni are sharing their personal journeys, insights and lessons they’ve learned on the “The Legacy Podcast,” presented by the Florida Poly Alumni Network.
“We are connecting and celebrating our alumni and the companies that hire them,” said Seth Spencer, the podcast’s host and Florida Poly’s director of alumni relations. “The idea is to share their incredible stories and provide a holistic picture for prospective students exploring universities, current students seeking jobs, and alumni looking for connection.”
“The Legacy Podcast” launched on Oct. 1 with guest Andre Archer ’22, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida.
Archer earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Poly and completed a prestigious National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Florida, which led to his Ph.D. program. He offered advice for students planning their post-graduation paths.
“Embrace difficult things and say ‘yes’ as much as you can. You never know what good can come of it,” Archer said. “You can learn something from everything – maybe meet someone cool or just get a silly story out of it if things go badly. Just say ‘yes.’”
Spencer said alumni invited to join the show have responded with great enthusiasm.
“I think when you graduate, you miss Florida Poly and want to relive those days a little,” Spencer said. “We love giving them this opportunity to share their stories and remind them they’re still part of the Phoenix community.”
More than 20 alumni have been interviewed, including Albert Khoury ’19, an infrastructure engineer at defense technology company Raft in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He said he would have benefitted from a resource like this podcast when he was a student.
“This provides firsthand examples from alumni who have been here and gone through everything, even when the school was brand new,” said Khoury, who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science. “Now you see people doing cool, interesting things and that gives hope and ambition to current students.”
Khoury also discussed resources that can help students pursue defense industry careers.
Spencer said the podcast benefits extend beyond guests and listeners. Current Florida Poly students play key roles in producing each episode inside the Simulation, Instruction, and Media (SIM) Lab.
“The podcast is fully produced by a student team – they handle cameras and audio, record, and edit,” Spencer said. “I hope students interested in audio engineering or production find this a valuable opportunity to apply those skills.”
New episodes of “The Legacy Podcast” are released twice a month. Listen and subscribe on Spotify or Amazon Music.
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
