With the fall 2026 semester just days away, Florida Polytechnic University’s first student-athletes donned their new uniforms, laced up their cleats and stepped into the spotlight Monday, Aug. 10, for the University’s inaugural media day for the men’s and women’s soccer and cross country teams as they prepare for their first season of competition.
The Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE), a nascent institutional accreditor, today announced the successful completion of its inaugural site visit at Florida Polytechnic University on Aug. 5-6, marking a historic milestone for both organizations. The visit was the first conducted by CPHE, making Florida Poly the first institution to advance through this critical phase of the Commission’s accreditation process.
When astronauts venture outside the International Space Station to perform critical maintenance, it is essential for them to access and store their tools quickly and conveniently. Every tool must remain securely attached to their spacesuit while still being readily available when needed. A team of Florida Polytechnic University mechanical engineering students spent 10 months developing a one-handed wearable tool dock designed to make that process easier, faster and more efficient. NASA put the team’s tool to the test at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Avery Reef, a mechanical engineering student at Florida Polytechnic University, is getting a front-row seat to how products progress from a simple idea to the factory floor. The hands-on experience is helping shape his future engineering career. Reef is an intern with Watts Water Technologies, a global leader in water system solutions.
Phoenix Racing crossed the finish line to place third among U.S. teams and sixth overall in its debut at the biennial Electrek American Solar Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Polk State College and Florida Polytechnic University have entered into an articulation agreement, establishing the Eagle to Phoenix Pathway program for students. Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas and Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson signed the agreement on Thursday, July 30, strengthening the partnership between the institutions and expanding opportunities for students.
Anabelle Lopez spent the summer working as a utility engineering intern with the City of Fort Myers – an experience she spent countless hours researching and working toward. “I wanted to see the different ways I could apply the education I’ve received to the real world, whether in the public or private sector,” said the environmental engineering major from Miami.
When students begin pursuing their rigorous STEM degrees at Florida Polytechnic University, their parental support doesn’t end with care packages and treats sent from home. The University has launched a new Parent Network that allows families to financially contribute to enhancing the student experience beyond tuition costs. “Our goal was to create a program that reached out to families of
Dr. Oguzhan Topsakal, assistant professor of computer science at Florida Polytechnic University, and two undergraduate research assistants have created a pioneering benchmarking tool to evaluate the capabilities of artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT and Gemini. The tool uses simple games like tic tac toe to assess the strategic reasoning and planning abilities of these large language models (LLMs), which include
A summer internship with Motorola Solutions is opening Alexandra Juarbe eyes to the world of possibilities available to her as a rising senior majoring in business analytics at Florida Polytechnic University. “The speed at which everyone and everything moves, as well as their ability to keep calm in any situation, has been surprising,” she said. “The number of opportunities I’ve
The Phoenix Racing team took its inaugural solar competition racecar onto the track in Kentucky last week and began speeding down a path toward Florida Polytechnic University history.
Spencer Robinson has gained more from his student internship at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) than he could have ever expected. The rising senior at Florida Polytechnic University began his engineering internship with the company in Wesley Chapel, Florida, in November of 2023 during the first semester of his junior year. SEL has kept him on since then, and Robinson is
As Florida Polytechnic University aims to grow its international impact, the all-STEM institution has partnered with the Fulbright Commission Brazil to foster top-quality educational opportunities, strengthening the alliance between the University and the South American country. The memorandum of understanding paves the way for a new academic collaboration, enabling distinguished Brazilian researchers and scholars to conduct cutting-edge research at Florida
When Florida Polytechnic University student Jaleel Rogers was applying for summer internships, working at aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin was at the top of his list. The rising senior applied for several of the company’s available internships, hoping each time that he would be accepted.
The final finishing touches are in place and excitement is high as Florida Polytechnic University’s first solar racing team prepares to head to Bowling Green, Kentucky, this week to participate in its first ever Formula Sun Grand Prix solar car race. Light, eye-catching, and aerodynamic, the car is ready to be loaded up and begin its nearly 800-mile trek to
Those who meet Dr. Devin Stephenson quickly understand two things: 1) He’s ready to take on and elevate every part of the Florida Poly experience, and 2) being on his team means you’re committing yourself to excellence. Stephenson begins his tenure as the second president of Florida Polytechnic University today, July 8, and said he’s ready to fully immerse himself
When Florida Polytechnic University opened its doors for instruction in August of 2014, every bit of the STEM-focused institution was brand new – including its president. Now, 10 years later, Dr. Randy K. Avent, is wrapping up his tenure as the University’s founding president and reflecting on the decade spent leading Florida Poly from an audacious experiment to a nationally
The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease could become more definitive and measurable thanks to cutting-edge research being developed at Florida Polytechnic University. Dr. Chris Kelley, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has received a $200,000 National Science Foundation Grant to apply control theory to improve the understanding of movement dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. The progressive brain disorder causes unintended, uncontrollable movements like
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.
