
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 Poly’s economic and community impact continues to grow, with industry partners supporting its all-STEM mission by connecting directly with students and sponsoring internships, capstone projects and more. Lakeland-based CivilSurv Design Group, Inc. has taken its support a step further.

Florida Polytechnic University and National Chin-Yi University of Technology (NCUT) in Taichung, Taiwan, are partnering to amplify their international research momentum and build new solutions for today’s evolving technological landscape.

Experts in water quality, water fluoridation, and municipal public governance led a public panel discussion about fluoridated water as a public health issue at Florida Polytechnic University on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Florida Polytechnic University and Alakai Defense Systems have announced a new partnership to advance next-generation standoff threat detection technologies that strengthen national security and public safety.

Florida Polytechnic University capstone students are developing a data-driven tool to help Lakeland Regional Health care teams more precisely assess hospital patients’ fall risk and prevent injuries.

Florida Polytechnic University unveiled a new, state-of-the-art esports arena on Friday, Feb. 13, giving its 14 teams a premier place to practice, compete and host battles in today’s top esports games.

Students with enterprising aspirations crowded into the Barnett Applied Research Center at Florida Polytechnic University on Tuesday, Feb. 3, to hear directly from prominent tech entrepreneur Todd Baylis.

Florida Polytechnic University’s undergraduate data science degree program has been ranked No. 9 in the nation by TechGuide.org for 2026, placing it among prestigious institutions in the top 10 such as Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Duke University.

Transitioning between cultures, educational expectations, and even changes in the weather is redefining the college experience for two students participating in the prestigious Killam Fellowships Program this academic year at Florida Polytechnic University.

Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence education at Florida Polytechnic University is receiving a major boost with $2.9 million in federal funding for the creation of its Public Service Applied Innovation Laboratory (PSAIL).

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global technology landscape, STEM educators must be more vigilant than ever to keep their students’ skills at the cutting edge. A $500,000 grant from Google is supporting Florida Polytechnic University faculty as they work to make that happen.

When videos go viral, protests are organized online, or extremist groups quietly recruit teenagers on social media, Florida Polytechnic University physicist Dr. Pedro Manrique sees patterns that physics can help explain.












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.