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NBA champion to lead Florida Poly Men’s Basketball

June 16, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. – Few coaches can match a resume that includes winning an NBA championship alongside Michael Jordan and leading a college program to sustained success on the national stage. Dennis Hopson has done both. Now, Florida Polytechnic University has named the NBA champion and longtime coach as the inaugural head coach of its Men’s Basketball program, adding a leader whose career spans the highest levels of the sport as the University continues building Florida Poly Athletics. Hopson brings decades

Student research drives progress toward next-generation silicon chips

June 10, 2026

David Zambrano ’26 is on the pioneering edge of a field that could one day replace modern electronics. Zambrano, who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Florida Polytechnic University in May, is advancing research in silicon photonics – a technology that uses light instead of electricity to transmit and process data. He is returning to the University this fall to continue his work as a master’s student in electrical engineering. Zambrano has presented his work at the SPIE Photonics

Florida Poly steps up to the plate with first baseball coach

June 9, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University has named TJ Marik as the inaugural head coach of its baseball program. The addition brings another instrumental leader to campus as the University continues to establish the Florida Poly Athletics program. Marik brings substantial head coaching experience and a strong background in player development to the new role. Before joining Florida Poly, he served as head coach at Siena Heights University following a successful tenure at Missouri Valley College, where his teams earned all-conference

Austin Lubetkin '19 is a software engineer at Northrup Grumman and an accomplished digital artist. His Florida Poly degree is in computer science.

Art and engineering drive Florida Poly alum’s success

June 5, 2026

Austin Lubetkin ’19 has built a career at the intersection of technology and creativity, balancing software engineering at Northrop Grumman with a passion for visual art. Now, the Florida Poly alumnus is bringing those worlds together in “Memories of Water,” an exhibit at the Orlando Science Center.

Clay Roberts is Florida Poly's first men's soccer head coach.

Florida Poly scores veteran coach for men’s soccer

June 3, 2026

Florida Polytechnic University has named Clay Roberts the first head coach of its men’s soccer program, adding an experienced team builder as the University continues launching its new athletics department.

Florida Poly leaders and Presidential Ambassadors at the Florida State Capitol.

New state investment fuels Florida Poly’s continued momentum and growth

May 29, 2026

Florida Polytechnic University is poised to continue its strong trajectory of growth following the Florida Legislature’s approval of $19 million in the state’s 2026-2027 budget to support student success initiatives, infrastructure growth and strategic enrollment expansion.

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Florida Poly graduate project aims to transform traffic in Brazilian city

May 27, 2021

LAKELAND, Fla. – A new partnership between Florida Polytechnic University and the prestigious Centro Universitário Facens in Brazil is off to a strong start with the completion of a project that promises to improve traffic congestion in the bustling Brazilian city of Sorocaba. Diego de Paula ’21, who recently his completed his master’s degree in computer science on Florida Poly’s data science track, worked

New state-of-the-art 3D printers await returning students at Florida Poly

May 25, 2021

Florida Polytechnic University’s fleet of 3D printers is getting a high-tech boost. The MakerBot Replicators that have long brought student ideas to life are being phased out and replaced with advanced Prusa MK3S+ and Prusa MINI+ printers. More than 15 Prusa printers will be available for student use by the start of the fall semester. The new printers produce higher

Florida Poly president appointed to prestigious European academy of doctors

May 19, 2021

LAKELAND, Fla. – Dr. Randy K. Avent, president of Florida Polytechnic University, has been selected as a correspondent academician to the Royal European Academy of Doctors. He will travel to Barcelona, Spain, this fall for an inauguration ceremony, during which he will deliver an inaugural address. “I am honored to be selected to join this revered group of the world’s

Alum thrives in successful career with major supply chain company

May 17, 2021

Early in his college days at Florida Polytechnic University, Travis Hills ’19 began an internship at Saddle Creek Logistics Services that changed the trajectory of his professional life. “I was a freshman about to be a sophomore, so I was a little odd and nervous, but it was a good opportunity, and it was definitely right for me,” said Hills,

New SGA leadership gears up for active 2021-22 academic year

May 14, 2021

After an academic year stymied by COVID-19 restrictions and limits on in-person events, the Florida Polytechnic University Student Government Association (SGA) is ready to go big in the coming academic year. New SGA leaders recently were elected, including executive board members Samantha Ashby, president; Antonio Hendricks, vice president; Victoria Correa Andrade, chief of staff; and Jake Greenberg, treasurer. “This past

Florida Poly scholars program receives $1.5 million gift

May 12, 2021

A scholarship program, supporting talented students in achieving their technology-fueled goals at Florida Polytechnic University, received a significant boost from the family of one of the school’s first and biggest advocates.

High-tech education drives Haitian student’s dreams for his homeland

May 11, 2021

The computer engineering degree sophomore Widler Noel is pursuing at Florida Polytechnic University is a world away from the computer education he received as a young student in Haiti. “We had computer class, but we had no computers. It was all theory,” said Noel, an international student from Ouanaminthe, Haiti. “When I moved here, it was different. I had to

New class of Presidential Ambassadors prepared to lead

May 6, 2021

Dedicated, motivated students with a passion for supporting their University are ready to take on the job of advancing the success of Florida Polytechnic University as the 2021-2022 cohort of Presidential Ambassadors. The new group includes six returning students and eight new ambassadors. Students selected to the group must apply to the program and complete an extensive interview process. The

Engineering alumna puts skills to work in ARC construction

May 5, 2021

As a project engineer with Albireo Energy, Mehgan O’Connor ’18 is getting to make her mark on Florida Polytechnic University in a way that is unrivaled by the rest of her graduating class. O’Connor is playing a major role as a controls engineer in the construction of the sleek, new Applied Research Center (ARC) on campus. “I did the controls

Florida Poly celebrates classes of ’20 and ’21 commencement

May 2, 2021

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University celebrated the graduation of its classes of 2020 and 2021 on Sunday, May 2, at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The long-awaited in-person commencement ceremony marked the culmination of four years of hard work for more than 325 graduates who earned high-demand STEM degrees. “This really means a lot to me,” said Daniel

Q&A: Grit, perseverance speed Jace Cooper to 3-year degree achievement

April 30, 2021

Jace Cooper ’21 set his sights on an early college degree while he was still a student at Palmetto High School in Palmetto, Florida. With discipline, determination, and hard work, Cooper racked up college credits while still in high school and pressed forward with the same enthusiasm toward his mechanical engineering degree from Florida Polytechnic University, earning the bachelor’s degree

IEEE-HKN students get their hands dirty to beautify Lakeland

April 29, 2021

Just off Interstate 4 near the Florida Polytechnic University campus, a group of students is working to ensure a long stretch of road remains clean and reflects the University’s commitment to the community. The Mu Omega Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN) academic honor society at Florida Poly has joined the Florida Department