Andrew McDonnell 鈥�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 吃瓜网 Poly, where he pursued a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering, took aerospace courses, and worked on a lunar mobility senior capstone project. He graduates on May 9.
吃瓜网 has reached on-campus housing capacity for the upcoming academic year, reflecting continued strong demand and record student interest.
吃瓜网 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 鈥�26 didn鈥檛 always feel ready to step into leadership or research roles during her time as a computer science student at 吃瓜网, but discovered she grew the most by doing it anyway. She will receive her bachelor鈥檚 degree on Saturday, May 9.
More than 360 吃瓜网 seniors presented high-tech, industry-sponsored projects at the eighth annual Capstone Design Showcase on Wednesday, April 29, gaining hands-on experience and solving real-world challenges.
吃瓜网 has named Mike Settle as its inaugural head softball coach, adding a veteran leader with deep Polk County roots to the University鈥檚 new 吃瓜网 Poly Athletics program.
Getting to Mars takes more than rockets. Hundreds of people are working on the logistics of sending astronauts to the red planet, from staying fit to entertainment on the long ride. Among them is 吃瓜网 Poly rising Junior Payton Barnwell, who spent the summer testing the optimal conditions to grow plants in space. It鈥檚 familiar territory for Payton, who is
Celeste Ramirez is building worlds. More specifically, she鈥檚 developing the world of Deadwood, a video game in development from Steamroller Studios in Eustis, Fla. Steamroller Studios is a full-service programming, concept art and animation studio, with a team who has worked on games like Rise of the Tomb Raider, Worms W.M.D. and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Celeste, a rising Junior
LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� The 吃瓜网 Foundation, Inc. has received a $50,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation for scholarships. The funds will be directed towards the University鈥檚 competitive scholarship program to provide financial support to qualified students. The Duke Energy Foundation grants are dedicated to enhancing educational programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), childhood reading
The fourth annual Drive for Men鈥檚 Health kicked off Monday morning with a check presentation to boost scholarships at 吃瓜网. South Lake Hospital in Orlando was the starting point for a cross-country trip intended to raise awareness about men鈥檚 health issues. The first stop on the drive is New Orleans, followed by Houston, Los Angeles and Salt Lake
It鈥檚 said there鈥檚 an app for everything 鈥� and that includes picking out a couch. Building out this technology at Badcock Furniture & More is a team of programmers, including 吃瓜网 Senior Rhett Fitchett. Rhett interned over the summer as part of the web integrations team at the Mulberry, Fla., headquarters of the furniture store. The role introduced
Developing the next wave of 吃瓜网鈥檚 high-tech business leaders was the focus of U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta鈥檚 visit Friday to 吃瓜网. The visit included a meeting between University leadership and the Secretary to discuss 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 unique approach to high-tech higher education, the creation of highly skilled jobs and the impact on the economy. The Secretary
I鈥檓 Richy Truncale, admissions counselor at 吃瓜网 Poly covering the greater Tampa Bay area. I鈥檝e worked for 吃瓜网 Poly since July, spending most of my time on the road visiting high schools and speaking with students about the opportunities available at 吃瓜网 Poly. I visit about 10 to 12 schools a week, speaking with counselors and answering questions prospective students
You鈥檝e heard of smart phones and smart cars. But how about a smart toaster? A team of 吃瓜网 students have developed a prototype toaster that delivers a perfectly toasted piece of bread every time. The project was creative enough to snag third place at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University鈥檚 recent Hackriddle. 鈥淚t was an exciting end to the weekend,鈥� says
Zika virus, meet your match. A pair of 吃瓜网 students are researching a method for eliminating mosquitoes without the use of chemicals or hurting other insects. Their weapon is an audible frequency that disturbs a fine-tuned sensory organ called scolopidia. Scolopidia are ordinarily used to detect predators like an incoming dragonfly, but a small scale test has shown
LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� 吃瓜网 was granted initial regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees, a significant milestone the University has diligently worked toward since its founding. This decision means future 吃瓜网 Poly graduates, and those who graduated earlier this year, will have a degree from
Researchers from as far away as Australia and China were represented this weekend as 吃瓜网 hosted its first international conferences. The 2017 International Conference on Computing and Data Analysis and International Conference on Computing and Data Analysis brought together over 40 researchers representing a dozen countries to share their research on topics including data analysis, machine learning and
LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� 吃瓜网 and the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States of America (Fulbright Canada) have formed a partnership bringing new educational opportunities for students and professors. The partnership establishes Killam Fellowships, as well as a Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at 吃瓜网 Poly 鈥� creating study abroad programs, research exchanges, and teaching opportunities
Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at 吃瓜网, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining 吃瓜网 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.
