Presidential Ambassadors Group Photo
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2021-22 Presidential Ambassadors

Meet the Ambassadors

 
Ahna Cecil Data Analytics

Ahna Cecil `23

Data Analytics | Pensacola, FL

Ahna Cecil

Honors & Scholarships

  • President's List, spring 2020
  • Horatio Alger Scholarship
  • Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholarship
  • Florida Poly Scholarship

Activities/Clubs

  • Office of Advancement Student Associate
  • Orientation leader

Career Plans

I aspire to attend a graduate program in either machine learning or bioinformatics with the end goal of making a lasting impact in the biomedical field through the use of technology.
 
Andre Archer Mechanical Engineering

Andre Archer `22

Mechanical Engineering | Pensacola, FL

Andre Archer

Honors/Scholarships

  • Presidents List, spring 2020-spring 2021
  • Florida Poly Scholarships 
  • Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Activities/Clubs

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers, president
  • Florida Poly Ultimate Frisbee, treasurer
  • SGA, associate justice
  • Student research assistant, mechanical engineering
  • Student education assistant

Community Service

  • A. Weis Elementary volunteer
  • Pensacola Humane Society

Internships 

  • Draken International, aircraft modifications engineer
  • NSF REU at University of Florida MAE in healthcare

Career Plans

In my career, I hope to conduct research using computational mechanics techniques to optimize advanced materials for commercial and military aerospace applications. Additionally, I plan on continuing my education to receive a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with a focus on computational techniques. Eventually, I would like to return to academia as a professor and researcher.
Austin Adams Business Analytics

Austin Adams `23

Business Analytics | Winter Garden, FL

Austin Adams

Honors/Scholarships

  • Provosts List, fall 2020 and spring 2021
  • FPU Poly Scholarship 

Activities/Clubs

  • Ablaze Christian Fellowship Club
  • Academic Excellence Club 
  • Astro Club
  • Phi Beta Lambda

Internships

  • Lockheed Martin – Missiles and Fire Control, AGMS Hellfire, Launcher, & JAGM

Career Plans

After graduating, I plan to work within the aerospace and defense industry as a supply chain professional, while also pursuing an MBA. Throughout my career, I will strive to follow a simple motto of: “go buy it, go deliver it, and go get it done,” to enable any firm’s supply chain to remain a strong focal point of their business.  

  
Brandon Nickas Computer Science

Brandon Nickas `22 (Chair)

Computer Science | Jacksonville, FL

Brandon Nickas

Honors/Scholarships

  • President’s List, fall 2018 - fall 2021 
  • Florida Poly Scholarship 
  • Florida Bright Futures Scholarship 
  • National Honors Scholar 
  • Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction Award 

Activities/Clubs

  • American Sign Language Club, vice president 
  • Phoenix League 

Community Service

  • Jacksonville Athletics Club 
  • Jacksonville Humane Society 

Career Plans

I endeavor to pursue a career in the world of technology, as this has always been my passion. I want to push myself to expand the boundaries of computer science and cybersecurity to contribute to the never-ending growth and development of our society.

 
Braxton Kuder Computer Science

Braxton Kuder `24

Computer Science | Pensacola, FL

Braxton Kuder

Honors/Scholarships

  • Florida Poly Scholarship
  • Bright Futures Academic Scholars Scholarship
  • President’s/Dean’s List, freshman-junior year

Activities/Clubs

  • Cybersecurity Club
  • Boundball group cofounder
  • Community service
  • Get Grounded - Chain Reaction
  • Kids College

Career Plans

I plan to work somewhere in the private sector to help ensure the safety and integrity of a

company's data and network. Along with this, I plan to work on my masters degree and

bolstering my portfolio within a few years of graduating.
 
Brennan Halsey Engineering Physics

Brennan Halsey `24

Engineering Physics | Milwaukee, WI

Brennan Halsey

Honors/Scholarships

  • P&H Legacy Scholarship
  • Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies Scholarship
  • KelbenMilwaukee Foundation Scholarship 
  • Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Scholarship
  • Florida Poly Scholarship

Activities/Clubs 

  • SGA Elections chair (current)
  • Astro Club
  • Research Garden Club
  • Admissions Ambassador

Community Service

  • National Honor Society volunteer
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee

Career Plans 

My plan is to get degrees in engineering physics, mechanical engineering, and astrophysics to work on fusion propulsion systems for interspace transport, allowing humanity to travel to places like Mars or the moon efficiently while leaving the smallest carbon footprint as possible.  

 
Hailey Skoglund Business Analytics

Hailey Skoglund `22

Business Analytics | Spring Hill, FL

Hailey Skoglund

Honors & Scholarships

  • President's List
  • Florida Poly Scholarship 
  • Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholar 
  • Business and Professional Women Scholarship 
  • S. Presidential Scholars Program Nominee 
  • Ronald Reagan Scholarship

Activities/Clubs

  • Student Government Association, chief justice
  • Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Board Director
  • Professional violinist 
  • Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, vice president 
  • Psi Beta Honor Society 
  • Swim Team

Community Service

  • HPH Hospice volunteer 
  • Oak Hill Hospital volunteer 
  • Hernando County Courthouse volunteer 
  • Lighthouse for The Visually Impaired and Blind volunteer

Career Plans

I have a passion for providing data-driven solutions to help businesses achieve their goals. In the future, I plan to pursue my master’s in data science and pursue my JD with a focus in intellectual property law.

 
Jenelle Fernando Computer Engineering

Jenelle Fernando `24

Computer Engineering | Apopka, FL

Jenelle Fernando

Honors/Scholarships

  • Florida Poly Scholarship
  • Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
  • Provosts List, fall 2020 and spring 2020

Activities/Clubs

  • Society of Women’s Engineering
  • Rotaract
  • Parking and Transportation worker
  • Orientation leader

Community Service

  • Florida Poly Pi Run volunteer
  • Children’s Sunday school volunteer
  • Church technical staff

Career Plans
I aspire to find a stable internship that will transition me to a full-time job. I plan to go into a STEM career that both interests me and challenges me every day. As a computer engineer, I aim to use my understanding of hardware and software to build and create computer systems that will improve the lives of those around me.

 
Korrie Smith Mechanical Engineering

Korrie Smith `24

Mechanical Engineering | St. Catherine, Jamaica

Korrie Smith

Honors/Scholarships

  • President’s List, spring 2021
  • Provost’s List, fall 2020
  • Florida Polytechnic University Poly Scholarship
  • Florida Poly Latin American & Caribbean (LAC) Scholarship

Activities/Clubs

  • Resident assistant
  • Student Development Center (SDC), campus recreation and fitness
  • National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), senator
  • Intramural soccer

Community Service

  • University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Mona

Career Plans

Coming from a third-world background, I have been climatized to normalcies that the average first-world citizen finds next to impossible. What are deemed ordinary tasks here in the professional world of the United States are groundbreaking advancements in my country. As an engineer, I seek to bridge the immense gap in cultural and technological experiences that our societies confine us to, and in the process make the world a smaller, yet more expansive, place.

 

 
Madison Yonash Business Analytics

Madison Yonash `24

Business Analytics | Orange Park, FL

Madison Yonash

Honors/Scholarships

  • President's List, fall 2020 and spring 2021
  • Florida Poly Presidential Scholarship
  • National Merit Scholarship finalist
  • Excellence in Spanish Language Medallion
  • International Baccalaureate diploma

Activities/Clubs

  • Admissions Ambassador
  • Orientation leader
  • Women's Club Soccer, founder and captain
  • Women’s Powerlifting, founder and captain

Community Service

  • Mobility Worldwide
  • Crosby Sanctuary volunteer

Career Plans

I plan to use the information I learn in my business analytics classes to have a successful career in the travel industry. In doing so, I will have the opportunity to help connect people and cultures by optimizing systems and facilitating their movements, all while gaining a more internationally minded perspective.

 
Magelee Delgado Business Analytics

Magelee Delgado `23 (Vice Chair)

Business Analytics | Lake Alfred, FL

Magelee Delgado

Honors/Scholarships

  • Inaugural Valedictorian, Discovery High School, 2019
  • Executive Director Scholar Award, Discovery High School, 2019
  • Florida Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship
  • Bailey Family Foundation Scholarship
  • Florida Poly Scholarship
  • Provost’s List, fall 2019 and spring 2020
  • President’s List, spring 2020, fall 2020, and spring 2021

Activities/Clubs

  • Admissions Ambassador

Community Service

  • Life Church Auburndale, youth leader
  • Life Church Auburndale, check-in coordinator

Internships

  • W.S. Badcock Corporation, supply chain intern (summer 2021)
  • W.S. Badcock Corporation, e-commerce intern (fall 2021)

Career Plans

I plan to utilize my knowledge and skills learned at Florida Poly to help businesses such as Publix, Disney, or W.S. Badcock improve and enhance their supply chain in an ever-changing world, while also being in an environment that allows me to serve others and experience growth on a daily basis.

 
Matthew DeCicco Mechanical Engineering

Matthew DeCicco `24

Mechanical Engineering | Lakeland, FL

Matthew DeCicco

Honors/Scholarships

  • Provost Scholarship
  • President’s List, fall 2020

Activates/Clubs

  • Orientation leader for class of 2025
  • Student education assistant for the physics department
  • Chief of staff for American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Community Service

  • Researched and integrated an assisted hearing system for the Middle Park High School Auditorium
  • Volunteer for Mountain Family Center

Career goals

Studying aerospace engineering has produced a desire to work with rockets; more specifically, I would love to design rocket engine technologies for NASA or Space X. However, some part of me desires to stay in academia and further pursue an education in the mechanical engineering field.

Mykell Spencer Computer Science

Mykell Spencer `23

Computer Science | Port Charlotte, FL

Mykell Spencer

Honors/Scholarships

  • Florida Polytechnic University Provost Scholarship
  • Saddle Creek Logistics Endowment Scholarship
  • Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholars Scholarship

Activities/Clubs

  • Presidential Ambassador, recruitment chair
  • Student Government Association, associate justice
  • IEEE Computer Science Committee, chair
  • Academic Excellence Club, chief of staff

Community Service

With my activities around the University, I am constantly providing community service to my peers. Through Academic Excellence Club and IEEE’s Computer Science Committee, I am aiding students of all degrees in their academics and tactics to keep them organized and successful. Through Student Government Association and the Presidential Ambassador program, I am able to be a changemaker for the internal and external portions of my University.

Career Plans

After graduating from Florida Poly, I want to continue my education and obtain my master’s degree and work in the field of game design. I want to progress my way to a creative director of a game development studio such as Ubisoft, Activision, or Deviation Games.

Zachary Kaiser Mechanical Engineering

Zachary Kaiser `24

Mechanical Engineering | Genoa, IL

Zachary Kaiser

Honors & Scholarships

  • Provost List, spring 2021
  • Florida Poly Scholarship

Activities & Clubs

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Peer Learning Strategist

Community Service

  • Genoa United Way
  • Dekalb Animal Shelter

Career Plans

I strive for innovation in all that I do, and after I obtain my undergraduate degree, I am planning on either going to grad school or going straight into the workforce and using the skills I’ve obtained here to push the boundaries of our current limitations.