
Florida Poly kicks off women’s soccer program with inaugural head coach
Florida Polytechnic University has named Jack Paris as the first head coach of its women’s soccer program as the University continues building its new athletics department.

Florida Polytechnic University has named Jack Paris as the first head coach of its women’s soccer program as the University continues building its new athletics department.

Florida Polytechnic University marked a significant milestone on Saturday, May 9, celebrating its largest graduating class to date as more than 430 students crossed the stage at the University’s 2026 commencement.

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.
Florida Polytechnic University was awarded its first National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to sponsor a cutting-edge research project proposed by computer science professors Drs. Luis Jaimes and Ilhan Akbas. The research on cyber-physical systems applications focuses on crowd-sensing to leverage the power of crowds to monitor a variable of interest such as temperature, pollution or state of infrastructure in smart
At 19, Kirsten Benjamin found herself with her hands full and dealing with exciting responsibilities she never saw coming. She was just a freshman at Florida Polytechnic University, yet she was already hiring employees for a high-tech project. Benjamin successfully completed an internship with the Boston tech company VisitDays, where she learned new program languages, reviewed code, and immersed herself
Business, government and economic development leaders gathered at Florida Polytechnic University for its first Economic Development Symposium in early March, to begin discussions on how to create long-term economic growth partnerships around the university campus. ABB, Heacock Insurance and Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty were among the businesses represented at the event, which was sponsored by the Central Florida Development Council,
Growing up, Alex Kiss watched his uncle build computers for neighbors and friends. “I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,” said Kiss. “I couldn’t believe you could go from almost nothing, put a few pieces together, and then be able to do all these amazing things.” His fascination with computers grew stronger while growing up, and once
Students at Florida Polytechnic University have a new state-of-the-art facility designed enhance their on-campus experience. The Student Development Center is located at 4600 Polytechnic Circle and officially opened its doors on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The 8,600 square feet building is shaped like a phoenix (the university’s mascot) and has a strength and cardio training area with exercise machines, free weights
David Duré walks the hallways of Florida Polytechnic University like a man on a mission. And at age 30, his career mission is very clear: to become an aerospace military contractor. The Marine veteran will graduate from Florida Poly in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. This summer he’ll intern with Goldman Sachs, a global investment firm, in
A panel of industry experts had the difficult task of judging eight innovative ideas presented by Florida Polytechnic University students during the Great Eight competition, which was held on Friday, Feb. 23 at the university’s Innovation, Science & Technology building. The students pitched their projects “Shark Tank” style to a group of six successful entrepreneurs, investors, and business mentors: Todd
Florida Poly junior Payton Barnwell is about to expand her career wings into an out-of-this-world internship, as a winner of the prestigious 2018 Brooke Owens Fellowship. The program awards internships and senior mentorships to exceptional undergraduate women seeking careers in aviation or space exploration. A total of 41 young leaders from major research universities, Ivy League schools, historically black colleges
Florida Polytechnic University welcomed a record number of companies for its third annual Career and Internship Fair held on Tuesday, Feb. 20. A total of 50 employers participated in the event this year, up from 26 in 2017 and 13 companies in 2016. Over 350 students took advantage of the opportunity and attended the fair at the Innovation, Science and
Faculty and students at Florida Polytechnic University are developing a critical component for the next generation of spacesuits that will not only make astronauts more comfortable and efficient, but will also keep them happy. Depression is a major problem in space, as astronauts can be adversely affected by factors like insufficient exercise, excessive exposure to light and lack of sleep.
Seven of the ten science and engineering students selected to receive the prestigious Hays Travel Award are from Florida Polytechnic University. The award, given by the Florida Academy of Sciences (FAS) Council, enables the students to attend and present their research projects at the FAS Annual Conference on March 9, 2018 at Barry University in Miami Shores. “At Florida Poly,
Ecieno Carmona, Mechanical Engineering Mentor: Dr. Sesha Srinivasan This project looks for ways to maximize the effects of UV-visible light to break down the organic contaminants in waste water. A series of 3D printed batch reactors have been designed and successfully commissioned that have act as a shield against the UV light and protect the eyes of the lab personnel.
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.