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.
Dr. Rahul Razdan, a globally recognized expert in autonomous vehicle technology and senior director of special projects at Florida Polytechnic University, is preparing to head to Hungary this August to begin research funded by the esteemed John von Neumann Distinguished Award in STEM. Razdan will be hosted by the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Automotive Engineering at Széchenyi István University. Fulbright
Dr. Randy K. Avent is giving himself a gift that would make his father proud. For the last three years, the Florida Polytechnic University president has spent many of his weekends outside his Lakeland, Florida, home carefully restoring his dad’s 1983 Chevrolet C10 pick-up truck to its original condition. It was the first new vehicle his dad ever owned. Avent’s
A new Student Achievement Center will soon provide even greater support to Florida Polytechnic University students as they pursue the in-demand STEM degrees that help fuel Florida’s high-tech economy. Florida Poly received $5.7 million in funding for the achievement center’s preliminary design stage after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state budget on Wednesday, June 12. The new budget takes effect
The Polk County Sherriff’s Office announced the creation of a new law enforcement unit focused on cybercrime related to artificial intelligence. The new AI investigative unit was developed in partnership with Florida Polytechnic University, which will provide essential technical and research support.
The Phoenix Racing team at Florida Polytechnic University received a financial boost from Tampa Electric (TECO) to support its first-ever entry into the national collegiate 2024 Formula Sun Grand Prix solar car race in mid-July. TECO donated $7,500 in shareholder funds to the interdisciplinary student team, which has spent the last two years honing their ideas and constructing the car,
The Atlantic hurricane season starts on Saturday, June 1, bringing with it the potential for strong storms in Central Florida. While the exact timing and strength of storms can’t yet be known, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center again expect an above-average hurricane activity in the Atlantic with 17-25 named storms this season. Of those,
In a prestigious international exchange of research, ideas, and culture, Florida Polytechnic University is again expecting robust participation in the U.S Fulbright Program for the 2024-2025 academic year. Fulbright Scholars are professionals like college or university faculty members, administrators, artists, and others who travel to other countries to reach, lecture, research, and exchange ideas. This year, Florida Poly will host
In the six years since Chris Dowdy ’18 earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering as a member of Florida Polytechnic University’s inaugural class, he has built a solid career as a project manager at Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, a nationwide construction management, design-build, and integrated project delivery firm. Before joining the company’s Nashville, Tennessee, office two years ago, he was
In a display of generosity and commitment to education, Dr. Faeza Rashid Kazmier and her husband, Dr. Peter Kazmier, have each made significant contributions of $50,000 to Florida Polytechnic University. Their gifts have resulted in the naming of two classrooms in their honor, symbolizing their dedication to supporting the University’s mission and fostering a culture of philanthropy. “We cannot control
Dr. Ajeet Kaushik’s expertise in nanotechnology, sensors, biosensors, and nanomedicine for health and environmental management has carried his stellar reputation across the country and around the world. The assistant professor of chemistry at Florida Polytechnic University spent much of the 2023-2024 academic year sharing his knowledge both in the classroom and among his vaunted peers. “Doing research in a particular
The Florida Board of Governors (BOG) voted unanimously today to confirm Dr. Devin Stephenson as the next president of Florida Polytechnic University. Stephenson was selected as the institution’s second president by the Florida Poly Board of Trustees (BOT) on April 15. His selection followed a thorough presidential search which narrowed the field to five highly qualified finalists. “I believe all
Florida Polytechnic University celebrated the conferral of more than 200 bachelor’s and master’s degrees at its commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 5, capping off years of intensive coursework and the attainment of a high-demand STEM degree. The event, which took place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, marked the University’s 10-year anniversary and the end of a strong academic
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.
