Andrew McDonnell ’26 never stopped dreaming about the stars. As a child, he looked up at the sky, wondering what was out there, and that curiosity followed him to Florida Poly, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, took aerospace courses, and worked on a lunar mobility senior capstone project. He graduates on May 9.
Florida Polytechnic University has reached on-campus housing capacity for the upcoming academic year, reflecting continued strong demand and record student interest.
Florida Polytechnic University inducted 12 students into its highly selective Presidential Ambassadors program, where they will serve as official student representatives at key University events and engage with campus and community leaders.
Samantha Bentley ’26 didn’t always feel ready to step into leadership or research roles during her time as a computer science student at Florida Polytechnic University, but discovered she grew the most by doing it anyway. She will receive her bachelor’s degree on Saturday, May 9.
More than 360 Florida Polytechnic University seniors presented high-tech, industry-sponsored projects at the eighth annual Capstone Design Showcase on Wednesday, April 29, gaining hands-on experience and solving real-world challenges.
Florida Polytechnic University has named Mike Settle as its inaugural head softball coach, adding a veteran leader with deep Polk County roots to the University’s new Florida Poly Athletics program.
As students work their way through the spring semester, Florida Polytechnic University is making sure they have access to many virtual workshops, speaker sessions, and a career fair to improve their employability and their professional prospects. Career Opportunities Developing Evolutionary Success (CODES) kicked off its schedule of nearly a dozen events this semester on Feb. 1 with a Microsoft Mondays
Florida Polytechnic University is helping three Fulbright scholars broaden their cultural experiences while they pursue an advanced graduate education. Graduate students Clinton Elliott from Australia, Zubaidah Al-Mashhadani from Iraq, and Michael Theiler from Germany are eager to absorb all they can from the University. “Florida Poly has offered me the opportunity to work closely with faculty members in research and
When a vision for the first state university dedicated entirely to STEM began to blossom in 2012, Robert Gidel was tapped to join Florida Polytechnic University’s first Board of Trustees and help guide the creation of the new institution. Nearly a decade later, Gidel is proud of the distinguished position Florida Poly has carved for itself among Florida’s 12 state
In immense grief and mired in one of the most difficult times of her life following the death of her father, Florida Polytechnic University student Jordan Douglass sought to drop her operations research class in the spring of 2019 to allow herself time to grieve and regroup. “I went to Dr. (Grisselle) Centeno’s office during drop week and told her
LAKELAND, Fla. – The number of transfer students enrolling at Florida Polytechnic University has increased dramatically for the Spring 2021 semester, in stark contrast to national trends. Transfer applications to Florida Poly increased by 42% for the spring semester, and transfer deposits climbed by 180%. Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, vice provost of enrollment at the University, said this was a
With a commitment to campus safety and a friendly attitude, the Florida Polytechnic University Police Department prides itself on connecting with students and building relationships with those they serve and protect. “In traditional law enforcement, you may not get to know the true meaning of community policing,” said Chief Richard Holland, who previously worked at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Dr. Ajeet Kaushik, assistant professor of chemistry at Florida Polytechnic University, joined scientists around the world in shifting his attention in 2020 toward addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaushik published several scientific papers in 2020 and 2021 that explore the use of nanomedicine, biosensors, and artificial intelligence to diagnose and combat COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) has added nine of
In the face of a pandemic that challenged the way the world operates, Florida Polytechnic University worked throughout 2020 to support students, improve academic opportunities, and help the surrounding community.
Florida Polytechnic University junior Bruce Hicks has taken a giant step toward achieving his goal of representing the United States in the 2024 Olympic Games in archery. The electrical engineering major recently was ranked 48th in the country in men’s archery, his first time achieving top national ranking. “Last year I ranked around 135 and this year I’m 48, which
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University professor Dr. Muhammad Rashid has been listed among the top 2% of scientists in a global list compiled by Stanford University. At number 617, Rashid was ranked in the top 1% of the 87,611 scientists in his field of electronics and electrical engineering in the study. “Sometimes, the freshman class is asked to interview
As the number of intubated COVID-19 patients began increasing across the country this spring, an employee at Lakeland Regional Health whose family member was ill with the disease realized there was a need to make communication easier between these patients and the medical professionals caring for them. A capstone senior design team of computer science majors at Florida Polytechnic University
The holiday season will be a little brighter for pediatric patients at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. The Florida Polytechnic University community once again rallied behind an effort of the University’s Police Department to donate toys to children who are hospitalized and may need some extra cheer. “It’s our tradition to give back to the community we serve,” said Florida
Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at Florida Polytechnic University, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining Florida Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.
