Growing up, Alex Kiss watched his uncle build computers for neighbors and friends.
“I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,” said Kiss. “I couldn’t believe you could go from almost nothing, put a few pieces together, and then be able to do all these amazing things.”
His fascination with computers grew stronger while growing up, and once in high school, he heard murmurs of a new state school focused only on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Once it became clear that Florida Polytechnic University would become a reality, Kiss jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the innovative school.
The idea that it was a public university, but everything was going to be fresh – teachers, campus, students – appealed to him. Kiss said he was a little scared about joining something unknown but later confirmed that Florida Poly was clearly a good fit for him, as it nurtured his love for building and creating new things beyond computers.
Reflecting on his time at Florida Poly, Kiss said he is grateful for his fellow students, their like-minded drive, and the culture of innovation and exploration he experienced both in and out of the classroom.
“I feel lucky to have been surrounded by students that really challenged themselves,” he said. “When we had group projects, we would choose the project that was most interesting or original, not the easiest one.”
The computer science major will be graduating in May as part of Florida Poly’s inaugural class, but Kiss doesn’t plan to stop learning or challenging himself anytime soon.
After graduation, he will be joining the global manufacturing services company Jabil in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a full-time job as a cyber-security analyst. Kiss said he is excited to continue pursuing his computer passion by detecting, identifying and circumventing digital intrusion.
Editor’s Note: This story is one of a series of stories featuring several of Florida Poly’s Class of 2018 graduates.
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