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Loved ones share in the college experience at Phoenix Family Day

September 22, 2025

Florida Polytechnic University buzzed with energy on Saturday, Sept. 20, as more than 850 parents, siblings and friends joined students on campus for the annual Phoenix Family Day. Visitors explored the University, played games, tackled hands-on STEM challenges and experienced firsthand the vibrant spirit of the Florida Poly community alongside their favorite Phoenix student. Gladys Diaz, from Miramar, Florida, joined

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

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Lockheed Martin internship sets Phoenix up for career success

August 9, 2022

Working at Lockheed Martin this summer as a college student technical specialist is opening doors of opportunity for Grayson Dannecker that may shape the rest of his career. Dannecker, a rising senior at Florida Polytechnic University who is majoring in computer engineering with a concentration in embedded systems, is completing a remote summer internship with the global security and aerospace

Alum testing his engineering mettle at John Deere

August 5, 2022

Florida Polytechnic University alumnus Dorian Gray ’20 works hard to ensure the tractors and other equipment produced by global manufacturing company John Deere are correct and adhere to quality standards. “I make a lot of decisions and do a lot of investigations to solve a lot of problems,” said Gray, who received his degree in mechanical engineering from the University.

Florida Poly celebrates hundreds of in-demand grads at 2022 commencement

August 5, 2022

More than 220 Florida Polytechnic University graduates celebrated the completion of their high-demand STEM degrees on Sunday, May 8, at the University’s 2022 commencement ceremony. Students and their loved ones joined Florida Poly faculty and staff in the event at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. “Coming here to Florida Poly and meeting all my friends has honestly changed my

Internship opens Phoenix’s eyes to world of software development

July 29, 2022

The opportunity to see how software development happens on a large scale was something Florida Polytechnic University rising senior Justine Kenji Dela Cruz was thrilled to take on. The computer science major with a concentration in software engineering has been working on software development on an individual scale for years and was excited to learn the process inside out at

Talented international Fulbright cohort ready to work at Florida Poly

July 26, 2022

Outstanding international students and researchers are slated to arrive at Florida Polytechnic University in the 2022-2023 academic year to pursue their academic goals and advance research at the University as part of the United States’ Fulbright Program. A Florida Poly student and assistant professor also will travel abroad as part of the program. Joining Florida Poly during the academic year

Iconic Florida Poly building featured on international TV show

July 21, 2022

The jaw-dropping Innovation, Science, and Technology Building at Florida Polytechnic University is featured on the latest episode of the international TV show “How Did They Build That?” on the Smithsonian Channel. The series investigates the world’s biggest and greatest man-made structures, focusing on the work of the architects, engineers, and builders behind the structures, as well as their use of

Coca-Cola internship offers window to mechanical engineering opportunities

July 18, 2022

Mechanical engineering major Sam Morrison is learning the process of Coca-Cola’s supply chain inside out during a summer internship at the soft drink company’s bottling and distribution facilities in Tampa, Florida. “I am loving this real-world experience and seeing how people relate their engineering degrees to daily life,” said Morrison, a quality and supply chain intern at the company. “It’s

Professor’s new app to create one of largest 3D facial scan libraries for research

July 14, 2022

LAKELAND, Fla. – Dr. Oguzhan Topsakal, assistant professor of computer science at Florida Polytechnic University, has developed a cutting-edge, easy-to-use iOS app to collect detailed 3D facial scans. The goal is to create one of the largest 3D facial scan libraries in the world to help advance technology for facial plastic surgeries and craniofacial research. “There currently are not many

Publix opportunity paves way for promising analytics career

July 12, 2022

Senior Magelee Delgado is spending her summer maximizing a remarkable career opportunity that could define her professional future. The Florida Polytechnic University business analytics major is working for grocery giant Publix Super Markets as a purchasing analyst intern at the company’s Lakeland, Florida, headquarters. It is the first step in what she hopes will be a long career with the

Alum keeps supply chains running smoothly for South Florida company

July 5, 2022

The work Greg Dills ’18, ’21 does as a senior data analyst for Ryder System, Inc. helps keep the Miami, Florida, company’s transportation systems humming around the country. “I support the transportation management side of the business, which supports the supply chain operations for many Fortune 500 companies,” Dills said. “I assist our internal stakeholders with data analysis requests, ad

Professor recognized with prestigious industrial engineering fellow award

June 23, 2022

Dr. Grisselle Centeno, a professor at Florida Polytechnic University, recently was inducted as a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE). The award is the highest classification of membership in IISE. It recognizes outstanding leaders of the profession that have made significant, nationally recognized contributions to industrial engineering. A maximum of 20 industrial and systems engineering professionals

Florida Poly expands European footprint with presidential visit to Spain

June 20, 2022

Dr. Randy K. Avent, president of Florida Polytechnic University, strengthened European ties and shared the University’s approach to producing career-ready STEM graduates in a visit to Spain that concluded on Monday, June 20. The trip positions Florida Poly for greater international stature and collaboration. “This visit will help establish a presence for Florida Poly in Europe,” Avent said. “It will