LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� 吃瓜网 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.
吃瓜网 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 industries. Dedicated exclusively to applied learning and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), 吃瓜网 Poly delivers a project-based curriculum focused on solving real-world challenges in collaboration with industry partners.
鈥淥ur goal is to produce highly capable and successful graduates; individuals who hit the ground running whether it鈥檚 at a company or research institution. Our graduates have the drive and ability to continuously learn and to apply their learning toward solving problems that will improve technology and advance society,鈥� said 吃瓜网 Poly Provost Dr. Terry Parker. 鈥淚 applaud these students, our inaugural class of graduates, for their achievement in acquiring their respective degrees, and I look forward to following their ongoing success.鈥�
吃瓜网 Poly opened in August 2014 with just over 550 students, including first-time freshmen, transfers and graduate students. In fall 2016, the student population topped 1,300 with an average high school GPA of 3.78 and average ACT and SAT scores of 26 and 1,672 respectively. Graduating its first class is not only a historic milestone for 吃瓜网鈥檚 newest university, but a required step in the process toward achieving regional accreditation.
鈥淭hese graduates are among 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 earliest pioneers,鈥� said 吃瓜网 Poly President Dr. Randy K. Avent. 鈥淚t took ambition, vision and an entrepreneurial spirt to come to a brand-new university, and I have no doubt they will carry those same qualities into the workforce as leaders and business starters in high tech. I鈥檓 so excited to see all they will do in the years to come.鈥�
Fifteen graduates attended the ceremony to receive their degrees, which took place in the second-floor Commons area of the Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) Building in Lakeland.
吃瓜网 Poly Graduate Gabriela Martines was the featured student graduation speaker. She has already been hired by Millennium Engineering and Integration Company to work on a NASA contract. Martines said being part of the inaugural graduating class is something she will always remember.
鈥淚 felt like I was making history when I first came to 吃瓜网 Poly, and I feel like I鈥檓 doing so again as a member of the first graduating class,鈥� said Martines, who majored in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Motion Intelligence. 鈥淭he entire 吃瓜网 Poly experience has taught me that with vision, collaboration and hard work, people can create great, new things and really make an impact. That鈥檚 one of the biggest takeaways I鈥檓 going to reflect on time and time again as I grow in my career.鈥�
JD Alexander, 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 founder and former Chairman of the 吃瓜网 Senate Budget Committee, delivered the Inaugural Graduation commencement address.
鈥淥nly five short years ago, 吃瓜网 was just an idea. Today, we鈥檙e graduating our first class,鈥� said Alexander. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a remarkable achievement that all of us should take a great degree of pride in 鈥� the faculty, staff, supporters, partners, and most importantly, the students.鈥�
Tuesday鈥檚 Inaugural Graduation ceremony is one of many significant milestones 吃瓜网 Poly reached over the past academic year. Others include:
Enrolling more than 1,300 students 鈥� a record 鈥� for the fall 2016 semester.
Achieving 鈥淐andidacy for Accreditation鈥� status by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Partnering with the 吃瓜网 Department of Transportation to create SunTrax, a high-tech hub for the research, development and testing of emerging transportation technologies.
Signing international agreements with universities and organizations in Morocco and Brazil to create study abroad and faculty exchange programs.
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