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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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Students embrace career opportunities at Florida Polytechnic University

October 7, 2019

Senior Osaki Pokima is making sure he doesn’t miss out on making that one professional connection that could set the trajectory for his entire career. The Florida Polytechnic University computer science major has been attending University-hosted and supported career and internship events since his sophomore year as he works to network, learn, and plan for life after graduation. “Usually juniors

Engineering her way to a bigger purpose

October 2, 2019

Kelci Wilson ’19 feels lucky to be in a scenario she never expected: living by the beach, enjoying magnificent sunsets, and loving a job that enables her to help others. Only a day after walking at the Florida Polytechnic University Spring Commencement, Wilson began her high-tech career as a quality engineer for Arthrex, a global medical device company based in

Florida Polytechnic University researcher targets next-generation cyber criminals

October 2, 2019

The malicious Android apps of the future will truly be wolves in sheep’s clothing, according to Florida Polytechnic University researcher Karim Elish. He said the inevitable practice of malware collusion will see an app operating as advertised and harming nothing until a companion app is installed. The two will then work in tandem to hijack an Android device, steal data,

Florida Polytechnic University’s entrepreneurship program receives international recognition

September 27, 2019

Florida Polytechnic University’s entrepreneurship program was recognized internationally with its selection as a finalist by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC). The program was selected for its work creating the Phoenix Nest, a pioneering software system designed to support students throughout the innovation process in universities, resulting in a new level of interdisciplinary support. The program is in the

Florida Polytechnic University celebrates ABET accreditation achievement

September 25, 2019

Florida Polytechnic University recognized its achievement of another major milestone in the University’s history on Sept. 25 with a fun and festive celebration. Four of Florida Poly’s bachelor’s degrees have received highly anticipated accreditation by the Computing and Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering

Purple Fire Robotics team battles for greatness

September 23, 2019

With powerful steel arms designed to toss its opponent out of the ring and flames intended to intimidate and destroy, Phoenix, a 250-pound combat robot, could put Florida Polytechnic University on the map for competitive battle robotics. “We’re a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) school, and this would be like having a great football team for other schools,” said

Florida Polytechnic University stands together against hazing

September 20, 2019

Joining a University club is an experience that typically comes with connection, camaraderie, and common purpose. Beginning on Sept. 23, Florida Polytechnic University will be reminding students that there’s one thing joining group membership should never include: hazing. “Students need to know that clubs are accepting people for who they are and that bullying and hazing are not part of

Florida Polytechnic University wins NSF grant to develop ethical identity in future STEM professionals

September 18, 2019

LAKELAND, Fla. – Researchers at Florida Polytechnic University will work to support and strengthen the ethical identity of engineering students and future STEM professionals thanks to a new federal grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The one-of-a-kind research will analyze the motives and barriers to ethical behavior in an academic setting, and the resulting ethical attitudes and actions exhibited

Service dog leads the way for Florida Polytechnic University junior

September 16, 2019

Hailey Skoglund walks with confidence these days through the Florida Polytechnic University campus. That wasn’t the case just a few months ago, but the business analytics major received the gift of freedom with her new best friend, Marli. “I was always very cautious before and would walk very slowly because I was nervous of where I was going,” she said.

Florida Polytechnic University student chases million-dollar math dream

September 13, 2019

For 19 years, both novice and renowned mathematicians from all over the world have tried their hand at solving seven of mathematics’ most difficult problems, each of which comes with monumental bragging rights and a $1 million prize from the prestigious Clay Mathematics Institute. Only one of these problems, which collectively are known as the Millennium Prize Problems, has been

Florida Poly breaks ground on state-of-the-art research building

September 11, 2019

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University leaders and community and state officials gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Applied Research Center, a new iconic building on campus that will serve as a research hub for students, faculty, and high-tech industry in the region. The Applied Research Center (ARC) will be an over 85,000-square-foot facility that will house research and

New vice president of advancement ready for success at Florida Polytechnic University

September 10, 2019

When Kathleen “Kathy” Bowman became chief development officer of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, the school’s development team was bringing in an average of $4 million per year over a five-year period. When she left the position of five years last month to become Florida Polytechnic University’s new vice president of advancement, the