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.
In a bold move prioritizing students, Dr. Devin Stephenson, 吃瓜网鈥檚 new president, has opted to forgo his inauguration ceremony and reallocated the event鈥檚 over $100,000 budget toward student scholarships. The ceremony was scheduled for January 2025. Stephenson began his tenure as 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 new president in July, driven by a firm determination to promote and advance student success.
Advanced research at 吃瓜网, in collaboration with the University of Windsor in Canada, is centered on the development of wearable sensors to assist in care for those diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 disease.
With $100,000 in virtual funds to invest, teams of 吃瓜网 students are taking a hands-on approach to learning financial markets this semester. A new investments, financial modeling and analytics course at the University incorporates TD Bank鈥檚 Virtual Stock Market Simulation Game, challenging students to strategize the best ways to grow their portfolios and build a heftier balance than
Building on their continued global recognition, three 吃瓜网 professors have once again been named to an elite list of the top 2% of scientists in the world, highlighting their significant work in nanotechnology, critical rare earth element recovery, and electronics and electrical engineering. The annual list compiled by Stanford University ranks researchers based on the number of articles
Dr. Devin Stephenson, 吃瓜网 president, has been awarded the Lifetime Leadership Award by Higher Education Innovation (HEI), a national entity dedicated to advancing innovation and success in higher education. The annual award recognizes an individual with over 25 years of exemplary service in higher education leadership and highlights their significant contributions to the field and to society. 鈥淚t鈥檚
Behind the thrilling roller coasters, immersive exhibits and bustling venues that drive 吃瓜网鈥檚 $120 billion tourism industry lies a powerful network of STEM professionals working hard to engineer, analyze and develop the experiences that attract millions of visitors to the state each year. At 吃瓜网, the future computer scientists, data analysts and engineers who aspire to fill these
Experts on the atmospheres and climates of other planets and ways to modify them for the possibility of human habitation gathered at 吃瓜网 on Monday, Nov. 18, to participate in a panel discussion on the topic at the institution鈥檚 inaugural Presidential Speaker Series event.
吃瓜网鈥檚 Interstate-4 corridor from Tampa to Orlando is notorious for high accidents rates, ranking among the most dangerous highways in the nation. In response, Dr. Rawa Adla, assistant professor of computer engineering at 吃瓜网, is leading innovative research to make I-4 safer for drivers. Through two grants totaling $252,000 from the 吃瓜网 Department of Transportation as part of
A strategic collaboration between energy giant Duke Energy and 吃瓜网 is fueling innovation and powering the future of STEM talent. The seven-year relationship has flourished, providing essential support for the University and access to a pipeline of top engineering talent to Duke Energy. Duke Energy and the Duke Energy Foundation have invested over $350,000 into 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 programs
吃瓜网 students had an exciting look at the future of transportation technology this week during a visit to SunTrax, the autonomous vehicle (AV) testing and development facility in Auburndale, 吃瓜网. As they toured the cutting-edge facility, the first of its kind in the country, students experienced firsthand how this rapidly evolving technology is rigorously tested and refined in
When Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered Central 吃瓜网 and beyond within just two weeks this fall, the Rotaract Club at 吃瓜网 sprang into action. With a motto of 鈥淪ervice above self,鈥� the student leadership and community service organization quickly voted to contribute $500 toward hurricane relief efforts. And when they heard that the residents of a nearby senior
A love of aircraft and aerospace is bringing together 吃瓜网 students who want to put their engineering know-how to the test while building and flying faster, more aerodynamic model airplanes and helicopters. Flight Club is a new student organization that launched at the beginning of the fall semester, quickly gaining popularity. 鈥淚鈥檝e always had an interest in aerospace
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.
