News

Latest News

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

All Stories

Florida Poly’s new VP to champion student growth and success

August 9, 2024

Bryan Brooks is stepping into his role as Florida Polytechnic University’s new vice president of student affairs, enrollment management and strategic communications with the drive to rapidly build upon the University’s strong foundation and the experience to make it happen. “Florida Polytechnic University stands at the threshold of possibility. This is an environment where collaboration fuels creativity, driving our progress

Florida Poly senior tackles water quality challenges in Fort Myers internship

August 6, 2024

Anabelle Lopez spent the summer working as a utility engineering intern with the City of Fort Myers – an experience she spent countless hours researching and working toward. “I wanted to see the different ways I could apply the education I’ve received to the real world, whether in the public or private sector,” said the environmental engineering major from Miami.

Florida Poly’s new Parent Network supports students

August 1, 2024

When students begin pursuing their rigorous STEM degrees at Florida Polytechnic University, their parental support doesn’t end with care packages and treats sent from home. The University has launched a new Parent Network that allows families to financially contribute to enhancing the student experience beyond tuition costs. “Our goal was to create a program that reached out to families of

Florida Poly study reveals complex AI limitations in simple games

July 31, 2024

Dr. Oguzhan Topsakal, assistant professor of computer science at Florida Polytechnic University, and two undergraduate research assistants have created a pioneering benchmarking tool to evaluate the capabilities of artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT and Gemini. The tool uses simple games like tic tac toe to assess the strategic reasoning and planning abilities of these large language models (LLMs), which include

Motorola Solutions internship provides insight, inspiration

July 29, 2024

A summer internship with Motorola Solutions is opening Alexandra Juarbe eyes to the world of possibilities available to her as a rising senior majoring in business analytics at Florida Polytechnic University. “The speed at which everyone and everything moves, as well as their ability to keep calm in any situation, has been surprising,” she said. “The number of opportunities I’ve

Solar racing team makes strong debut at national competition

July 24, 2024

The Phoenix Racing team took its inaugural solar competition racecar onto the track in Kentucky last week and began speeding down a path toward Florida Polytechnic University history. The team’s debut in the annual Formula Sun Grand Prix solar race resulted in their lock of seventh place in a field made up of teams representing some of the nation’s most

Florida Poly student electrified by SEL engineering internship

July 18, 2024

Spencer Robinson has gained more from his student internship at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) than he could have ever expected. The rising senior at Florida Polytechnic University began his engineering internship with the company in Wesley Chapel, Florida, in November of 2023 during the first semester of his junior year. SEL has kept him on since then, and Robinson is

Florida Poly expands global footprint with new Fulbright Brazil agreement

July 16, 2024

As Florida Polytechnic University aims to grow its international impact, the all-STEM institution has partnered with the Fulbright Commission Brazil to foster top-quality educational opportunities, strengthening the alliance between the University and the South American country. The memorandum of understanding paves the way for a new academic collaboration, enabling distinguished Brazilian researchers and scholars to conduct cutting-edge research at Florida

Computer science student lands dream internship at Lockheed Martin

July 11, 2024

When Florida Polytechnic University student Jaleel Rogers was applying for summer internships, working at aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin was at the top of his list. The rising senior applied for several of the company’s available internships, hoping each time that he would be accepted. The hoping came to an end when Rogers, a computer science major with a

Phoenix Racing revved up for first Formula Sun Grand Prix

July 10, 2024

The final finishing touches are in place and excitement is high as Florida Polytechnic University’s first solar racing team prepares to head to Bowling Green, Kentucky, this week to participate in its first ever Formula Sun Grand Prix solar car race. Light, eye-catching, and aerodynamic, the car is ready to be loaded up and begin its nearly 800-mile trek to

Dr. Devin Stephenson takes the helm: Meet the Phoenix in Chief

July 8, 2024

Those who meet Dr. Devin Stephenson quickly understand two things: 1) He’s ready to take on and elevate every part of the Florida Poly experience, and 2) being on his team means you’re committing yourself to excellence. Stephenson begins his tenure as the second president of Florida Polytechnic University today, July 8, and said he’s ready to fully immerse himself

A vision fulfilled: President Avent reflects on decade of leadership

July 1, 2024

When Florida Polytechnic University opened its doors for instruction in August of 2014, every bit of the STEM-focused institution was brand new – including its president. Now, 10 years later, Dr. Randy K. Avent, is wrapping up his tenure as the University’s founding president and reflecting on the decade spent leading Florida Poly from an audacious experiment to a nationally