News

Latest News

Florida Poly opens new hub for innovation: the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center

November 18, 2025

Florida Polytechnic University celebrated a major milestone with the debut of its 40,000-square-foot Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center (GCW) on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The $15 million facility adds state-of-the-art laboratory space and equipment designed to elevate student learning, fuel innovation and solidify the University’s role as an economic driver for the state of Florida. The GCW features advanced research and

Florida Poly alum at the heart of bioprinting innovation

November 17, 2025

Dr. Steven Chisolm ’19 believes the future of medicine is being built layer by layer, literally. What may sound like science fiction, such as 3D printing functional hearts or kidneys for transplant, is quickly becoming possible, and he is among the innovators helping turn that vision into reality. A proud Florida Polytechnic University mechanical engineering graduate, Chisolm is now a

Florida Poly faculty joins national committee on recycling innovation

November 14, 2025

Florida Polytechnic University’s Dr. Malak Anshassi has earned national recognition for her research advancing recycling, solid waste management and sustainability. She was recently appointed to serve as a recycling expert on a prestigious committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to address the pressing problem of waste reduction. Anshassi, an assistant professor of environmental engineering, was selected

From boot camp to Blue Origin: Engineering student builds future at Florida Poly

November 10, 2025

Celebrating Veterans Day Every Veterans Day, Florida Polytechnic University student Jonny Anderson can’t help but reflect on the journey that led him from serving in both the Marine Corps and Air Force Reserve to helping build rockets for space technology company Blue Origin. With determination squarely focused on earning a mechanical engineering degree, Anderson is living a dream many students

Florida Poly and South Korean university GIST team up to drive global STEM research

November 6, 2025

A new partnership between Florida Polytechnic University and South Korea’s Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is set to boost academic and research collaboration at both institutions, widely recognized for advancing STEM education. The partnership facilitates student and faculty exchanges as well as research initiatives, with the goal of elevating the quality and impact of each university’s scholarship and

New podcast spotlights Florida Poly alumni lessons and achievements

November 4, 2025

Graduation marks a major milestone in a student’s life, but learning doesn’t stop there. A new podcast showcases how Florida Polytechnic University alumni continue to grow, adapt and lead in their fields. Now working in high-tech careers across industries, Florida Poly alumni are sharing their personal journeys, insights and lessons they’ve learned on the “The Legacy Podcast,” presented by the

All Stories

Wrap up 2022 with these top 10 stories

December 30, 2022

So many big things happened for Florida Polytechnic University in 2022. We launched degrees, opened the long-awaited Applied Research Center, and saw the return of a beloved campus tradition. The students, faculty, and staff at Florida Poly worked hard to make possible all of the achievements of the past year. As we look ahead, 2023 is poised to be better

Capstone team designs critical planetary rover component for NASA

December 22, 2022

A senior capstone design team at Florida Polytechnic University worked at a lightning speed throughout the fall semester to design and build an updated shoulder for a marsupial planetary rover. The 10-member team worked closely with the Florida Space Institute as it progressed through the super capstone project, which is compressed into a single semester rather than an entire academic

Passionate about aerospace, students design self-correcting rocket engine

December 20, 2022

Florida Polytechnic University seniors Mac Feilmeier and Austin Rumancik spent the last several weeks of the fall semester designing and building a thrust vectored rocket, or a rocket that self-corrects its direction if it detects any deviation from its planned flightpath. “In our microprocessors class, we were essentially asked to make something cool and creative with what we’ve been learning,”

5 Florida Poly researchers among world’s top scientists

December 16, 2022

Five researchers from Florida Polytechnic University have been recognized as being among the top 2% of scientists globally on a prestigious annual list compiled by Stanford University. The findings are published in PLOS Biology.

Winter break campus hours and closures

December 13, 2022

The 2022 winter break begins on Saturday, Dec. 17. As Florida Polytechnic University prepares for its winter break, please note the operating hours of some campus services may be affected through the end of the month. The list below outlines the affected services. We look forward to seeing students back on campus when classes resume on Monday, Jan. 9. Florida

New physics society offers educational, networking opportunities

December 12, 2022

Florida Polytechnic University members of Sigma Pi Sigma and the Society of Physics Students are taking advantage of opportunities that expose them to internationally recognized scholars, new research, and specialized educational events. The University chapter of the national honor society recently attended the 2022 Physics Congress in Washington, D.C. Ten engineering physics students attended conference events and discussions, and also

Florida Poly powerlifters muscle their way to spring national championship

December 9, 2022

Ten members of the Florida Polytechnic University Women’s Powerlifting team competed in the USA Powerlifting Collegiate State Championship in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 3-4. Madison Yonash, the team’s captain and coach, and Breanne Menikheim qualified for the national powerlifting championship competition to be held next April in Texas. “It was a super amazing experience,” said Yonash, a junior majoring in

Fulbright Finland pact broadens global opportunities at Florida Poly

December 8, 2022

Officials from Florida Polytechnic University and the Fulbright Finland Foundation have signed an agreement to provide educational opportunities between the University and Finland. The memorandum of understanding, which was signed by Dr. Randy Avent, Florida Poly’s president, and Terhi Mölsä, CEO of the Fulbright Finland Foundation, will allow for the development of new international research collaborations. Finnish researchers and scholars

Annual police toy drive boosts seasonal cheer in Lakeland and beyond

December 6, 2022

Deep into each fall semester, the Florida Polytechnic University Police Department starts preparing for one of its biggest outreach efforts of the year. The department is the mischievous group behind the annual toy drive benefitting children at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and a small rural community in Honduras. University faculty, staff, and students donated dozens of unwrapped toys for

Fall Game Expo spotlights student-created video games

December 3, 2022

High school students from across the region flocked to Florida Polytechnic University on Saturday, Dec. 3, to try out student-created video games and learn about education and career paths in computer science during the annual Fall Game EXPO. “The Game Expo provides Florida Poly students with a great experience seeing a project from design to completion, then presenting the project

Renowned academic leader joins Florida Poly Board of Trustees

November 30, 2022

Florida’s Board of Governors has appointed Dr. Dave Williams to the Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees. Williams is emeritus dean and professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University “We are very excited to be welcoming Dave and his distinguished academic experience to the board,” said Cliff Otto, the board’s chair. “His unique

Thanksgiving holiday campus services and closures

November 21, 2022

As the long-awaited holiday weekend draws near, Florida Polytechnic University wishes the entire University community a happy Thanksgiving. Those staying on campus and those leaving to spend the holiday with friends and family should be mindful of the following changes to campus services and closures during the break. There will be no classes Wednesday, Nov. 23 through Friday, Nov. 25.