
Student clubs spark competition at first Engineering Olympics
Nearly 100 Florida Polytechnic University students put their engineering skills to the test at the University’s first-ever Engineering Olympics on Thursday, Sept. 17.

Nearly 100 Florida Polytechnic University students put their engineering skills to the test at the University’s first-ever Engineering Olympics on Thursday, Sept. 17.

Just two years after graduating from Florida Polytechnic University, Melia Rodriguez ’24 is putting her skills to work on technology used by one of the world’s leading providers of real estate data and analytics. As a software engineer at CoStar Group in Richmond, Virginia, she develops tools that help support critical business operations and the company’s expansion into new international markets.

When Colby Manrodt ’26 stepped up to become president of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Florida Polytechnic University in the fall of 2025, he prioritized strengthening students’ sense of community and restructuring the organization. Now in his second term, the now graduate student aims to take those goals even further.

The Detroit Tigers and Florida Polytechnic University are launching a new partnership that brings together data science, academic research and professional sports to tackle real-world challenges in player health and performance.

Florida Polytechnic University’s data science and computer science programs are earning top recognition in newly released rankings from Research.com, including No. 1 spots among Florida’s public universities and a top 20 national ranking for the University’s undergraduate data science degree.

More than a dozen students, scholars and faculty from around the world are expanding their research and academic experiences through a growing range of international exchange programs at Florida Polytechnic University this semester.
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. She grew up in Chicago and went to an all-girls school specializing in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics). Now, Megan Sheeran ’18 is a member of the growing community of Florida Polytechnic University alumni.
CANBERRA, Australia – Officials from Florida Polytechnic University and the Australian-American Fulbright Commission (Fulbright Australia) formalized an agreement at a ceremonial signing, March 1, at the U.S. Embassy in the Australian capital of Canberra. The agreement allows the University to begin accepting graduate students and faculty from Australia beginning in the fall of 2019. Florida Poly President Randy K. Avent
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University is ready to celebrate its 5thAnnual Florida Poly Pi Run, scheduled for Saturday, March 16. The event was created by the University’s inaugural class and it’s scheduled each year on or near National Pi Day, which is observed March 14. The race is slightly longer than a 5K, exactly 3.14 miles representing the mathematical
LAKELAND, Fla. – For the first time, Florida Polytechnic University won first place at the well-known HackRiddle competition, a 24-hour hackathon held annually at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event brought together more than 200 college students from across Florida to compete in front of judges, mentors, and industry leaders. Florida Poly students took first place out
Florida Polytechnic University hosted its Career and Internship Fair, Tuesday, Feb. 19, at its Innovation, Science, and Technology Building. More than 50 companies were on hand recruiting students for internships as well as career positions. The turnout of prospective employers set a new high for the annual event. “We are extremely grateful to everyone who came out today,” said Dr.
Florida Polytechnic University students and a Tampa technology company are developing a mobile app that could help those with brain-based language impediments to express their emotions. This includes people with autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, aphasia, those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or stroke, and many other language-impaired conditions. The app, called OiGO–which comes from the Spanish word
One of the most stressful moments for college students is interviewing with prospective employers. The question and answer session may only last a few minutes, but there’s much more that goes into preparing for that big moment. That’s why Florida Polytechnic University is offering its students a comprehensive program to provide the expert advice they need in topics ranging from
LAKELAND, Fla. – After 18 months of intense negotiations, Florida Polytechnic University announced that its administration and the United Faculty of Florida (UFF) Florida Poly chapter have signed a collective bargaining agreement. This is the first formal agreement between the University and the faculty union, which approved it unanimously on Jan. 16. “We are very pleased with the outcome of
Dr. Bradford Towle’s office door in Florida Polytechnic University’s Innovation, Science, and Technology Building is always open. Students stop by often, many times outside his office hours. He’s there. “I like being available to them,” said Towle, who is an assistant professor of computer science. “They come with questions, concerns, asking for advice, and I’m always there as a sounding
One doesn’t have to travel far to see how Florida Polytechnic University is impacting Florida’s economy. In fact, a 45-minute drive within Polk County takes you from Florida Poly’s iconic campus to Lake Wales, Florida. There you’ll find IronRock Software, Inc.,a company that continues to increase its footprint in software development and database consulting services. IronRock’s trajectory has been paralleled
Shooting for the stars has never intimidated James Mavo. The mechanical engineer graduated from Florida Polytechnic University in the fall of 2018, and when looking for a job, the sky had no limits. Literally. “I thought, why not try NASA? I always wanted to work with great minds,” said Mavo, who is from West Palm Beach, Florida. “Working with pioneers
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University is set to hold its signature philanthropic event of the year, PIVOT, aimed at raising money to fund scholarships and strategic University priorities. It will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Saddle Creek Logistics Commons in the Innovation, Science, and Technology Building, located at 4700 Research Way, in Lakeland, Florida. The