Equipped with bright orange vests, litter pickers and a positive attitude, a group of Florida Polytechnic University students aims to give back to the community by keeping a two-mile stretch of highway near campus free from trash. The portion of State Road 33 near Interstate-4 is maintained by the Mu Omega chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Florida Polytechnic University is fueling Florida’s economy with more than $952 million in annual economic activity, according to a new study by distinguished economist Dr. Rick Harper. The analysis shows the University contributes over $523 million each year to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), including more than $117 million directly within Polk County. The University’s economic activity stems from
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
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 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
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
Dr. Randy K. Avent, president of Florida Polytechnic University, recently was appointed to the board of Orlando Economic Partnership. The board works to unify community strategies to build a stronger, more prosperous economy for the Central Florida region. The partnership is a public-private, not-for-profit economic and community development organization. In addition to Avent, its board includes members from organizations like
Gabriel Pinson’s fascination with energy has taken him from a student at Pasco-Hernando State College to an oil and gas employee in Wyoming to his current role as a mechanical engineering student at Florida Polytechnic University. Pinson, now a junior, said Florida Poly is offering him the best education to launch him into a career in energy or defense. He
The Florida Polytechnic University Foundation’s Board of Directors has welcomed the appointment of four members with expertise in engineering, information technology, law, and the University itself. The University’s Board of Trustees recently approved the appointments of Kristen Lowers, chief information officer at Saddle Creek Logistics Services, and Florida Poly student Madison Yonash to the Board. Dr. Muhammad Rashid, professor of
Companies from all over the state looking for high-skilled interns and employees descended on Florida Polytechnic University’s new Applied Research Center on Thursday, Oct. 13, for the annual Fall Career and Internship Fair. About 65 employers participated in the event, hoping to win the attention of highly qualified and enthusiastic students. Some of the companies included the Walt Disney Company,
Longtime attorney and higher education leader David Fugett has been named vice president and general counsel at Florida Polytechnic University. Fugett joins Florida Poly with more than 25 years of experience in law and a distinguished record of serving his community. Fugett joins the University after serving four years as general counsel and prelaw advisor at New College of Florida.
As a maintenance technician, Jorge Velazquez is proud of his hard work helping to keep the Florida Polytechnic University campus running smoothly. But it’s his volunteer work during evenings and weekends to help an impoverished community in Honduras that inspires and motivates him to keep pushing forward. This time is spent collecting and selling scrap metal, repairing discarded items to
Just three years out of college, one Florida Polytechnic University alum is thriving in an exciting career with international video game powerhouse Electronic Arts (EA). Natalie Brum ’19 is leveraging her degree in data analytics to help improve processes at the company as an agile delivery manager. She works to make processes, projects, and teams in the company’s security engineering
John Lane always has a smile, directions, or a quick golf cart ride ready to help students, employees, and visitors to the Florida Polytechnic University campus in Lakeland, Florida. He also has specialized gear that helps him rid busy sections of campus of the occasional unwanted visitor, like alligators, snakes, and other wildlife. “I love this job so much. I
Families of Florida Polytechnic University students will join their Phoenixes on campus for a day of exploration, bonding, and fun during the annual Phoenix Family Day on Saturday, Sept. 24. The beloved campus tradition offers parents, siblings, and other loved ones a window into students’ lives on campus and the many resources available to them. They also enjoy fun activities,
Select freshmen at Florida Polytechnic University can start learning valuable coding and programming skills from their first day of enrollment, thanks to a unique program designed to prepare them early for high-skill, high-wage internships and then careers in the tech industry. The Coding for Data Analytics Certificate is an 18-credit program that begins after their high school graduation. The program
Florida Polytechnic University student Andrew Franz Pulido often attracts attention from students, faculty, and staff as he practices his unusual instrument – a Hohner diatonic accordion — at the University’s Oak Grove or outside the Wellness Center. “A lot of students have been coming up to me, astonished by the instrument and the sound it produces,” he said. “It’s quite
For second year in a row, Florida Polytechnic University is ranked the No. 1 public college by U.S. News and World Report in the Southern region of the United States. In its 2022-2023 Best Colleges list, the University also ranked third among all top colleges in the region – both public and private. Nationally, Florida Poly was ranked as a
