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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

NSF-funded study uses brain data to rethink engineering education

September 3, 2025

Fueled by a new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, innovative research at Florida Polytechnic University aims to redefine the way professors approach engineering design education. Dr. Elisabeth Kames, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received a $200,000 grant to study how students cognitively engage with engineering design challenges. The research will employ neurocognitive tools such as electroencephalography (EEG), as well as

Florida Poly student research uncovers laser light from peacock feathers

August 27, 2025

Undergraduate discovery sparks nationwide scientific attention Florida Polytechnic University senior Anthony Fiorito has captured national attention in the scientific community with groundbreaking research revealing that peacock feathers can emit precise laser light. Fiorito, an engineering physics major, is the first author of a study that has been spotlighted by leading publications including Science, Ars Technica, Interesting Engineering and MSN. The

New SGA president focuses on student voices, organizational strength

August 22, 2025

Connection, communication and advocacy are Colby Manrodt’s top goals as the new president of Florida Polytechnic University’s Student Government Association. “I think our University is in a period of transitioning and going through a lot of change, so we are going to focus this year on bringing better forms of communication to our student body,” said Manrodt, a senior majoring

Florida Poly’s enrollment hits record high, momentum soars

August 18, 2025

Florida Polytechnic University welcomed the new academic year on Monday, Aug. 18 with a record-breaking total enrollment of more than 1,900 students, marking a more than 10% increase over last year’s historic enrollment and the second consecutive year of growth. “This remarkable enrollment underscores the growing recognition of Florida Poly’s value in preparing students for high-demand STEM careers,” said Dr.

Florida Poly reaches new heights with record Fulbright participation

August 13, 2025

Florida Polytechnic University is welcoming the largest cohort of distinguished Fulbright awardees in its history, with international scholars and students set to pursue advanced research and graduate studies during the 2025-26 academic year. The group of 21 graduate students and scholars participating in the prestigious U.S. State Department program reflects the University’s solid commitment to fostering global collaborations and advancing

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Students cook up new way for Red Lobster to access recipes

April 22, 2021

Chefs inside Red Lobster kitchens across the country may one day be able to easily access the restaurant chain’s latest recipes with a simple voice or touchscreen command thanks to work started by a team of Florida Polytechnic University senior capstone design students. “We’re building prototypes for a digital recipe card system so that Red Lobster can understand how to

Former Sen. LeMieux visits Florida Poly and inspires next generation of trailblazers

April 21, 2021

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux visited Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland and encouraged students to become the next generation of impactful leaders charged with driving Florida’s economy forward. During the recent visit, LeMieux met with University leadership to discuss Florida Poly’s role as an economic engine for the state, and how the institution is creating a pipeline of highly skilled

Music Club strikes a chord within Florida Poly students

April 20, 2021

Students at Florida Polytechnic University who make their way to the Wellness Center on Friday afternoons can quickly find themselves swaying to the energetic melodies pouring from the Nest as the Music Club hones its funky rhythms. The club’s main focus is simply gathering in jam sessions to play music, and it welcomes players of all instruments and skill levels.

Q&A: Cindy Nguyen finds confident self and sets to conquer big data field

April 19, 2021

Cindy Nguyen ’21 joined Florida Polytechnic University as a brilliant, but timid student who was only interested in learning in class. She quickly realized that stepping out of her comfort zone would give her a more fun, well-rounded college experience. The graduate of Seacoast Collegiate High School in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, became an Admissions Ambassador and discovered a new

2021 Ablaze awards honor outstanding employee contributions at Florida Poly

April 16, 2021

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University celebrated its fourth annual Ablaze awards ceremony to honor the hard work, determination, and perseverance of its employees in helping the University achieve its academic goals. The event was held on Friday, April 16, and recognized employees who have demonstrated excellence in areas such as teaching, service to others, and research. This year’s event

Florida Poly students win prestigious X-Force fellowships

April 12, 2021

Florida Polytechnic University students Karun Mackoon ’20 and Vanessa Townsend will spend their summer helping the military devise solutions to real-world problems as part of the 2021 cohort of National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) X-Force fellows. Townsend, a mechanical engineering junior with an aerospace concentration, said she was thrilled to get the news of her selection to the prestigious program.

Q&A: Jaimie Davis readies for a high-voltage career

April 7, 2021

Jaimie Davis ’21 embraced every opportunity that came his way at Florida Polytechnic University. The electrical engineering major is a graduate of Florida SouthWestern Collegiate High School in Fort Myers, Florida. He is the founding president of the Mu Omega Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN) academic honor society and the Florida Poly

Q&A: Jacinto Diego achieves longtime dream and readies for bright future

April 2, 2021

When Jacinto Diego ’21 joined Florida Polytechnic University four years ago, he became the first in his family to go to college. This summer, he will earn his business analytics degree with a concentration in logistics and supply chain management, fulfilling a longtime dream. Diego had an active campus life as a member of the Astro Club and LASA. This

Alum grows into tech-forward career with Publix Super Markets

April 1, 2021

When Greg Willard ’20 took a high school job packing and bagging grocery items at Publix Super Markets, he never imagined his time with the company would evolve from the supermarket floor to its website’s technological infrastructure. “I started as a bagger and worked my way up to customer service clerk – it’s a good company to work for,” said

Students get taste of tech start-up life at Embarc Collective

March 30, 2021

Embarc Collective, a Tampa Bay education nonprofit that helps startup businesses build scalable, successful companies, opened its doors to Florida Polytechnic University students recently and offered them a peek at the possibilities for those considering an entrepreneurial future. “It’s not every day you get to talk to the CEO of an emerging company,” said Florida Poly senior Jason Chua, a

Florida Poly entrepreneurial team wins funding at Catapult LAUNCH Pitch Night

March 22, 2021

LAKELAND, Fla. – An entrepreneurial team of Florida Polytechnic University students earned funding for their development of an innovative gesture-control device for electric longboards at the 2021 Catapult LAUNCH Pitch Night in Lakeland. Seniors Aaron Apigo, Kevin Racktoo, and David Terry walked away from the March 18 event with a $2,500 microgrant to evolve their prototype and advance their business, dex. Interfaces.

Capstone team creates next-generation risk assessment tool

March 18, 2021

In business, it’s important to know whether potential partners have hidden risks that could one day affect either company’s operations. A team of Florida Polytechnic University senior capstone design students are developing a tool to assess this risk and help companies make more informed decisions. “It’s a way to quickly scan the web and give a report of whether or