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.
More than 360 Florida Polytechnic University seniors presented high-tech, industry-sponsored projects at the eighth annual Capstone Design Showcase on Wednesday, April 29, gaining hands-on experience and solving real-world challenges.
The Office of Public Policy Events at Florida Polytechnic Hosted its first panel discussion of 2025 on Tuesday, Feb. 11. The event was the third in its Guardians of Democracy series taking place throughout the academic year.
Florida Polytechnic University is the No. 1 best value college in the state and No. 2 best value college in the South, according to new rankings released by Research.com, an online higher education resource.
Florida Polytechnic University launched a new Electrochemical Society (ECS) student chapter, empowering aspiring researchers with new opportunities to make a global impact.
Florida Polytechnic University has partnered with Catapult Lakeland, an entrepreneurial business incubator, to boost STEM education and drive innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development in Lakeland and the region.
A standing-room-only crowd of aspiring inventors and innovators gained valuable insight on how to protect the rights to their one-of-a-kind inventions, designs, and processes during a presentation by Anton Hopen, a U.S. registered patent attorney and managing partner at the Law Office of Smith & Hopen.
Brick by brick, members of the Lego Society at Florida Polytechnic University build a world where students can have fun, challenge themselves and create something new.
A team of students from Florida Polytechnic University took home top honors this week at the second annual Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) two-day Collegiate Game Jam, which challenged 34 teams from across the state to create a playable video game in under 48 hours.
Mechanical engineers at Florida Polytechnic University have put their skills to the test for the Lakeland Police Department, inventing a device to help make turning on their body cameras effortless in situations when they must draw their firearm.
The Florida Polytechnic University Police Department’s commitment to a safe, unified campus community is at the heart of every officer’s action, beginning from the moment they submit their application. It’s something Chief Richard Holland kept top-of-mind as he considered each of the six new people who joined his team over the last two years.
A Florida Polytechnic University professor’s groundbreaking study has revealed how tiny water-walking insects survive torrential rainstorms, potentially paving the way for advances in biomimetics and water pollution solutions.
Florida Polytechnic University graduate research assistant Sydney Wickett recently captured top honors at the American Standard for Testing Materials (ASTM) E08 Fatigue and Fracture Committee Dr. M.R. Mitchell Student Forum in Orlando, Florida. The forum is among the most significant for engineers and researcher experts in fatigue and fracture mechanics.
The end of 2024 marks a year filled with exciting changes, big developments and remarkable achievements at Florida Polytechnic University. With a new University president, new degrees, department chairs, national rankings and campus construction, the year had something to celebrate around every corner.
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.
