
Florida Poly kicks off women’s soccer program with inaugural head coach
Florida Polytechnic University has named Jack Paris as the first head coach of its women’s soccer program as the University continues building its new athletics department.

Florida Polytechnic University has named Jack Paris as the first head coach of its women’s soccer program as the University continues building its new athletics department.

Florida Polytechnic University marked a significant milestone on Saturday, May 9, celebrating its largest graduating class to date as more than 430 students crossed the stage at the University’s 2026 commencement.

Andrew McDonnell ’26 never stopped dreaming about the stars. As a child, he looked up at the sky, wondering what was out there, and that curiosity followed him to Florida Poly, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, took aerospace courses, and worked on a lunar mobility senior capstone project. He graduates on May 9.

Florida Polytechnic University has reached on-campus housing capacity for the upcoming academic year, reflecting continued strong demand and record student interest.

Florida Polytechnic University inducted 12 students into its highly selective Presidential Ambassadors program, where they will serve as official student representatives at key University events and engage with campus and community leaders.

Samantha Bentley ’26 didn’t always feel ready to step into leadership or research roles during her time as a computer science student at Florida Polytechnic University, but discovered she grew the most by doing it anyway. She will receive her bachelor’s degree on Saturday, May 9.

Florida Polytechnic University rising sophomore Jonathan Gauthier’s burgeoning expertise as a private pilot dovetails with his growing knowledge of mechanical engineering and his desire to one day design aviation equipment and parts for both optimal performance and a stellar user experience. Gauthier earned his pilot’s license in 2022. He was inspired to take to the skies as a sophomore in

The burden of paying for a quality college education is much lower for Florida Polytechnic University students than for those attending many other universities in the country. The author of a report by My eLearning World, an online resource offering coverage about various aspects of digital education, said Florida Poly students work about 77% fewer hours than the average American

When Solaris, Florida Polytechnic University’s life-size Phoenix mascot, was unveiled in the fall of 2020, one of the biggest questions on campus was who was the lucky student who got to wear the vibrant purple suit? Solaris, who gained its name in the spring of 2023, soon started popping up at University events across campus and in the region. Its

Florida Polytechnic University celebrated the graduation of more than 200 bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates on Sunday, May 7, at its 2023 commencement ceremony. The event was held at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida. “It’s all happening very fast – I’m nervous but I’m also excited,” said Gabriel Sladecek, who received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. “I’m

U.S. News & World Report has once again named Florida the top state in the country for higher education. Florida’s higher education system has held the top spot since the inception of the rankings in 2017. Florida Polytechnic University is one of 12 public institutions within the State University System. “It is exciting to see how the hard work of

Mykell Spencer ’23 was a collector of friends and experiences during his four years at Florida Polytechnic University. He will receive his bachelor’s degree in computer science with a concentration in game development and simulation on May 7. During his time at Florida Poly, he was involved in many campus activities, including serving as chief justice of the Student Government

Florida Polytechnic University inducted 72 graduates and alumni into the Order of the Engineer, an association for graduate and professional engineers and an important annual tradition created to foster a sense of pride and responsibility in those entering an engineering career. The University celebrated two induction ceremonies this year, one for 38 new graduates on April 26 and a second

Adriana Pinto ’23 will receive her bachelor’s degree in business analytics with a concentration in intelligent mobility on Sunday, May 7. The student from Irvine, California, worked as an admissions ambassador during her time at Florida Poly. She is excited to put her education to work after graduation as a technology consultant for global consulting firm Protiviti in New York

Work by an interdisciplinary team of Florida Polytechnic University researchers helped Polk County, Florida, officials apply for two grants totaling more than $41.5 million to close the gap in broadband connectivity.

Twenty-nine teams of Florida Polytechnic University students displayed their completed industry-sponsored, leading-edge projects at the fifth annual Capstone Design Showcase on Wednesday, April. 26. The capstone program tasks multidisciplinary teams of students to work together to complete a real-world challenge presented by a project sponsor. The students work throughout the academic year to develop solutions for these challenges. Among this

Networked student-created video games took center stage at the annual Spring Game Expo at Florida Polytechnic University on Saturday, April 22. Prospective students and their families arrived on campus to check out the games, learn about the computer science major and career paths, and explore campus in an accompanying open house event. “The Game Expo provides students with a first-hand

Madison Yonash, a junior at Florida Polytechnic University and captain of the women’s powerlifting team, competed at the 2023 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals in Arlington, Texas, on April 14. She placed 20th in her 60-kilo weight class. “It was insane,” said Yonash, who is majoring in business analytics. “My weight class had over 70 lifters in it competing at nationals.
Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at Florida Polytechnic University, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining Florida Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.