Every online Amazon order triggers a complex, behind-the-scenes system, speeding the product to its recipient as quickly and efficiently as possible. This summer, Florida Polytechnic University senior Megan Demeritt is getting an inside look at those operations while helping make them even better as an area manager intern with the e-commerce giant.
Florida Polytechnic University’s Phoenix Racing team is preparing for its first 1,500-mile cross-country solar race, the centerpiece of two national competitions in Minnesota this month. The team will compete in the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix and the Electrek American Solar Challenge, a grueling endurance race from the Twin Cities to Texas.
Gov. Ron DeSantis approved $19 million for Florida Polytechnic University in the state’s 2026-2027 budget on Monday, June 29, fueling the University’s continued growth and expansion as Florida’s only public STEM university.
Florida Polytechnic University had the largest one-year performance gain among all state universities in the Florida Board of Governors’ 2025-26 Performance-Based Funding Model, earning a score of 87 out of 100 and securing nearly $11 million in performance funding.
Florida Polytechnic University graduates earn the highest salaries among alumni from Florida’s public universities five years after graduation, according to a recent analysis by the Tampa Bay Business Journal based on new Florida Department of Education data.
The Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Board of Directors has new leadership, five new members, and five reappointed community leaders. The Florida Poly Board of Trustees approved the appointments on May 22.
Seconds on the clock usually seem insignificant. But Calvin Ingram knows better. The Florida Polytechnic University junior deals in time and efficiency. It’s the basis of his study of Mechanical Engineering and Motion Intelligence. Motion intelligence examines the movement of people and objects. For example, specialists use this science to plan the flow of fans leaving and entering a stadium,
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University Professor Dr. Christina Drake has received a $1.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to study new methods of predicting fog on Florida roadways, helping forecasters better alert travelers of dangerous weather conditions. Florida Poly will work with PraxSoft, an information technology and engineering company based in Orlando, to refine, develop and
You won’t find presidents or treasurers in Florida Polytechnic University’s Next Tech Entrepreneurs club. Instead, they’re preparing for their future with titles like CEO and CFO. “We wanted to create a place where we could learn the fundamentals of a start-up,” explains club founder and CEO Elijah Campbell, who is majoring in Advanced Technology. “A lot of students have great
Italian Consul General Gloria Marina Bellelli toured Florida Polytechnic University on Wednesday, soaking in the architecture of the Innnovation, Science and Technology Building and learning more about the university’s approach to teaching science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Bellelli and her office represent more than 35,000 Italian citizens living in the Southeastern U.S. and Caribbean nations. On Wednesday, Bellelli described
Lakeland, Fla, Feb. 6, 2017 – The Quebec-Florida Chamber of Commerce (CCQF) held its first trade mission in Central Florida on Wednesday, Feb. 1, highlighted by a visit to the campus of Florida Polytechnic University in Polk County. Hosted by the Polk Global Trade Alliance (PGTA), an initiative of the Central Florida Development Council (CFDC), and Florida Poly, the event
Florida Polytechnic University is now home to a collection of analytical instruments typically found in some of the top research labs in the country. While most of the general public has never heard of an X-ray diffractometer, they’ve certainly seen its products. A diffractometer uses X-rays to determine the structure of a crystal. It’s a test used to study the
Florida Poly students are natural problem solvers. Just ask Gabriel Hutchison, a junior who applied his Computer Science studies to a problem every college student can relate to: class enrollment. More specifically, how to coordinate open classes and their specific days and times, a required course load and a schedule outside classes. Gabriel is also a commuter, so it’s helpful
A robotics team from Lakeland Christian School enjoyed several victories this semester, often against students much older than themselves. Their secret weapon: Florida Polytechnic University students. “It’s a transformative experience in the lives of young students when they have college kids ready to help them out,” says Jennifer Canady, director of the RISE Institute at Lakeland Christian. While the team
LAKELAND, Fla. – Students at Florida Polytechnic University are now eligible to apply for Federal Student Aid after the University successfully completed a series of steps required by the US Department of Education. This new designation for Florida Poly means current and prospective students can submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2016-17 academic year to
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University named the commons area inside the Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) Building after Saddle Creek Logistics Services on Monday. Saddle Creek has been an industry partner with Florida Poly since the University opened its doors in 2014. The naming of the commons area after Saddle Creek reflects the importance of the partnership. “Saddle Creek’s
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University graduated its first ever class during a historic commencement ceremony on campus Tuesday. Eighteen students received degrees in Innovation and Technology, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Florida Poly was established to be an innovative institution and powerful resource for economic advancement, training the next generation to be leaders and entrepreneurs in high-tech
The magic of Harry Potter met the hard reality of science under a class taught recently at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by three Florida Polytechnic University students. The class was part of a weekend event called Splash, which brings together high school students from all over the country for a weekend focused on learning more about science, technology,
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.
