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Colombian National Team coach brings World Cup experience to Florida Poly soccer players

September 19, 2025

Legendary Colombian soccer coach Nelson Abadía brought his expertise and inspiration to Florida Polytechnic University on Thursday, Sept. 18, as he observed the men’s and women’s soccer teams in training and shared advice to strengthen their game. “It was unforgettable. Coach Abadía brought so much knowledge, and his presence alone elevated the atmosphere,” said Sebastian Anzola, captain of Florida Poly’s

Florida Poly professor’s powerful new tool brings higher accuracy to nuclear physics

September 15, 2025

Dr. Ian Bentley, chair of the Department of Physics at Florida Polytechnic University, developed a new machine learning model to improve predictions of nuclear binding energies.

Students face off in epic Humans vs. Zombies Nerf battle

September 12, 2025

A “zombie infection” overtook Florida Polytechnic University during the week of Sept. 8, slowly spreading from three infected students to nearly all the players in a campuswide Humans vs. Zombies Nerf dart battle.

Expert panel explores phosphate mining and its impacts

September 10, 2025

A panel discussion at Florida Polytechnic University on Monday, Sept. 8, examined the history, benefits and future of phosphate mining.

From NASA to startup: Alumna launches AI platform to bridge tech and policy

September 5, 2025

Payton Barnwell ’19 has dedicated her successful high-tech career to creating meaningful impact through innovation. She helped optimize space station crops as a NASA intern, worked in mission control at Virgin Galactic, and led geospatial product development at SkyFi, creating easy-to-use tools from complex data and imagery. Now, the Florida Polytechnic University alumna has embarked on a new adventure. Barnwell

NSF-funded study uses brain data to rethink engineering education

September 3, 2025

Fueled by a new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, innovative research at Florida Polytechnic University aims to redefine the way professors approach engineering design education. Dr. Elisabeth Kames, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received a $200,000 grant to study how students cognitively engage with engineering design challenges. The research will employ neurocognitive tools such as electroencephalography (EEG), as well as

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Florida Poly ranks #1 in state for grads with lowest student debt

January 31, 2024

Florida Polytechnic University graduates begin their careers or graduate studies with the least amount of debt of any university in the state, according to a recent analysis comparing the average debt of college students across Florida. Florida Poly ranked No. 1 on the list of lowest student debt with an average of $14,250. According to the report by the Palm

Humans vs. Zombies Nerf battle brings action-packed fun to campus

January 26, 2024

More than 100 Florida Polytechnic University students have spent their week planning attacks, creating alliances, and defending themselves from a relentless horde of “zombies” making their way across the Lakeland campus. “This is the jumpiest week of the year for me,” said Richard Woody, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering. “I take the long way to class simply because it’s

Student video game developers take 1st and 2nd place at statewide game jam

January 24, 2024

Two teams of Florida Polytechnic University students showcased their exceptional video game creation skills and swept the first- and second-place awards at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) two-day Collegiate Game Jam, which ended in Orlando on Sunday, Jan. 14. The video game competition tasked 17 teams of undergraduate students from across the state to build a fully playable video

Capstone team paves way for road development on the moon

January 22, 2024

A team of senior capstone students at Florida Polytechnic University is taking on the challenge of developing an innovative autonomous navigation system for a marsupial rover. The project is intended to contribute to the development of future infrastructure on the moon. The project’s goal is to assist in the development of roads on the moon or other planets, specifically focusing

Florida Poly #1 most affordable cybersecurity degree program in nation

January 17, 2024

Florida Polytechnic University has been ranked the No. 1 most affordable cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program in the country for 2024. Cybersecurity Guide, an online resource specializing in cybersecurity and cybersecurity education, based its rankings on overall degree cost divided by the number of credits needed to graduate. Florida Poly’s bachelor’s degree in computer science features a concentration in information assurance

Police officer returns to Florida Poly to serve and protect

January 9, 2024

In an unusual twist of fate, Officer Abby Payne has come full circle, returning to Florida Polytechnic University, not as a student, but as a member of the University Police Department. Payne was part of Florida Poly’s inaugural class, pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. “It’s bittersweet coming back to where I started,” she said. “It’s a wild ride being

Alum thrives as Microsoft software engineer

January 5, 2024

Phelippe Souza-Herod ’21 is rocketing toward his professional goals as a software engineer at Microsoft in Atlanta, Georgia. The computer engineering graduate has found success in the dynamic world of technology, working with Microsoft’s Azure division. “I love my job so much. It still feels a little like a dream to be able to do what I always wanted at

Florida Poly Makerspace sparks student ingenuity

January 3, 2024

The Makerspace at Florida Polytechnic University is giving students a creative haven to independently work on personal or classroom projects. The informal lab opened during the fall 2023 semester and is overseen by the University’s library. It is equipped with a diverse array of tools and equipment, including ordinary implements like wrenches and hammers, as well as specialized equipment such

Florida Poly’s top stories of 2023

December 22, 2023

Each year brings new accomplishments and good news for Florida Polytechnic University and 2023 was no different. The University earned stellar national rankings, received generous donations, and got to work on several new buildings around campus. Students, alumni, and faculty members also continued to make academic and professional impacts on the state and across the nation. As Florida Poly looks

Florida Poly average SAT scores among highest in state

December 18, 2023

Students accepted to Florida Polytechnic University have the second-best SAT scores among public universities in the state, according to an analysis of federal data published recently by the Palm Beach Post. Among all Florida universities both public and private, Florida Poly ranked third in top SAT scores with an average admitted student SAT score of 1295 in 2021, the most

Fulbright Scholar propels wind turbine innovation at Florida Poly

December 15, 2023

Dr. Alejandro Rolán, a researcher and professor from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain, is concluding his Fulbright Scholar term at Florida Polytechnic University this December. During his four-month stay, Rolán worked in collaboration with Dr. Edwar Romero-Ramirez, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Florida Poly, on innovative research aimed at revolutionizing wind turbine sensor technology. Rolán, whose academic

Student projects wow with real-world tech presentations

December 14, 2023

A catapult, knitting machine, autonomous car, and robot were among the many student-designed projects on display last week as part of course presentations at Florida Polytechnic University. Dr. Rawa Adla is an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering who teaches the microprocessors class that prompted the diverse designs. She said the presentations on Wednesday, Dec. 6, were part of