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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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Dozens of math whizzes compete at Florida Polytechnic Universitys Integral Bee

April 15, 2019

Florida Polytechnic University celebrated its third Integral Bee, an annual contest to determine who is the fastest at solving math problems known as integrals. The event has become a tradition at the University with the purpose of making mathematics more approachable and enjoyable to students. It was organized by the Math Club and supported by the math department. “The goal

Florida Polytechnic University Game EXPO brings innovation and industry together

April 12, 2019

“Pick your car, choose your color, and get ready to battle,” said Christina Thomas, one of the nearly 50 Florida Poly students who presented their online games at the University’s fifth annual Florida Poly Games EXPO on April 11. The senior computer science and information technology major from Stuart, FL helped players prepare their vehicles and then unleashed them to

Q&A: Vamsi Hanumanthu chases opportunity after game-changing experience at Florida Polytechnic University

April 10, 2019

When computer science major Saivamsi Krishna Hanumanthu ’19 left Raleigh, North Carolina, to attend college at Florida Poly, he knew he wanted to make the most of his experience. And boy has he done just that. Since moving to Lakeland, Florida, “Vamsi,” as the Florida Poly community knows him, has taken on every challenge that’s come his way. He’s excelled

Florida Polytechnic University and Estonian university TalTech team up on autonomous vehicles

April 10, 2019

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in Estonia, are joining forces to advance the research and application of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology in Florida and Europe. Through a memorandum of understanding, both universities agreed to collaborate on ways to develop this emerging technology for the public transportation sector. “TalTech has demonstrated prototype AV shuttles

Applying effective skills in impactful ways

April 5, 2019

Florida Polytechnic University senior Hans Arndt has always had an engineering mindset. He’s always been interested in knowing the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of how things work. As an intern at Wilson & Girgenti, a mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering firm with offices in Tampa, Florida, Hans is able to get hands-on experience before he leaves the classroom. Having already

Q&A: Celeste Ramirezs dream internship leads to her dream job

April 3, 2019

When Celeste Ramirez ’19 came to Florida Poly as a freshman in 2016 she dreamed of interning at Steamroller Studios, an animation powerhouse headquartered in her hometown of Eustis, Florida. Not only did she make that dream come true (she interned there as a sophomore), she turned it into a part-time gig as a technical writer during college. After graduation

Florida Polytechnic University to host 5th FLPolyCon in most interactive fashion

March 27, 2019

The Florida Polytechnic University campus will soon turn into a geek culture extravaganza as students expect 1,500 enthusiasts at their 5thannual FLPolyCon on Saturday, March 30, at the Innovation, Science, and Technology Building in Lakeland, Florida. The all-day event is open to the public and has become a fun tradition as the University celebrates and shares its culture with the

Florida Polytechnic University student beats odds to become EA Madden NFL champion

March 26, 2019

LAKELAND, Fla.– Florida Polytechnic University student Christian Lomenzo is the new EA Madden NFL 19 Challenge champion, after surprising the sports gaming world with an incredible play in overtime that sealed his victory and a $35,000 grand prize. The nationwide competition was held at the EA headquarters in Redwood City, California, on March 15-17. Hundreds of thousands of players from

Solving today’s transportation challenges drives this Florida Polytechnic University faculty member

March 25, 2019

Editor’s Note: This story is part of a series of feature stories highlighting female students and faculty as Florida Poly celebrates Women’s History Month. Dr. Sravani Vadlamani was born in India where she recognized firsthand the importance of having an efficient transportation system. Now an assistant professor within Florida Polytechnic University’s Department of Data Science, she has already amassed a

Seeking challenges in pursuit of happiness

March 22, 2019

Editor’s Note: This story is part of a series of feature stories highlighting female students and faculty as Florida Poly celebrates Women’s History Month. Florida Polytechnic University graduate student Maria Paula Gomez has been out of her comfort zone for a while, and that’s how she likes it. She left her loved ones behind in her native Argentina to take

Making autonomous vehicles more secure many attacks at a time

March 21, 2019

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University researchers are using newly invented attacks to improve the security and resiliency of cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as autonomous vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and power systems. As today’s CPS evolve and become more complex, they also grow increasingly more vulnerable to attacks. Dr. Arman Sargolzaei, assistant professor of electrical engineering, has been awarded a

Florida Polytechnic University celebrates first Phoenix Family Day

March 18, 2019

Florida Polytechnic University welcomed hundreds of visitors to campus Saturday, March 16, as part of its inaugural Phoenix Family Day. From food trucks to student research to kite flying, it was a day for celebrating all things Florida Poly. The festivities began with the student life showcase, which featured a collection of student-developed projects. Giant Jenga, Zen yoga, and even