Andrew McDonnell ā€™26 has never stopped dreaming about the stars. As a child, he looked up at the sky and wondered about what was out there, and that curiosity followed him to ³Ō¹ĻĶų, where he pursued a bachelorā€™s degree in mechanical engineering, took aerospace courses, joined NASAā€™s Lā€™SPACE Program, and worked on a senior capstone project centered on the lunar mobility. The project earned second place in its large team category at the Universityā€™s annual capstone showcase.

McDonnell, a graduate of Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, ³Ō¹ĻĶų, will receive his degree on Saturday, May 9, at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Polyā€™s commencement ceremony at Lakelandā€™s RP Funding Center.

Why did you choose your major?

I like the design process and have been a big fan of Legos ever since I was a little kid. I also like playing Minecraft. Iā€™ve always enjoyed building things and coming up with new ideas. If I can create something that helps people, even if itā€™s not in the aerospace industry but is something like designing hospitals, roadways or bridges, I just want to make the world a better place.

What was your greatest accomplishment at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly?

Getting accepted into graduate school has been my biggest accomplishment. Besides my dad, nobody else in my family has really done a masterā€™s program, so being the first in my family to take that step after him is really special. It means a lot to me to continue that path and keep building on what I started here.

How well do you feel ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly prepared you for life after graduation?

Iā€™m coming back for my masterā€™s degree, and ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly has prepared me well, especially through capstone. Our sponsor, ³Ō¹ĻĶų Space Institute at NASAā€™s Kennedy Space Center, gave us an idea, and we turned it into a directive, created our scope, narrowed it down and produced an actual product. It was the coolest and most hands-on thing Iā€™ve done, and it taught me how to work through challenges and create something real from the ground up.

What are your plans after graduation?

Iā€™m staying here for graduate school because I think it will give me an extra boost in the job market, and the classes Iā€™ll take are really cool and relevant to industry. Iā€™m looking forward to continuing my growth here.

What advice do you have for an incoming student?

Donā€™t take the simpler classes lightly. I was guilty of thinking I could put off homework or skip studying for a quiz, but you should always be on top of your game and on top of your grades. I didnā€™t take that as seriously as I should have at first, but I learned quickly.

Editorā€™s note: This story is part of aĀ series of Q&AsĀ featuring ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly Class of 2026 graduates.

Contact:
Lydia GuzmƔn
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

The post Q&A: Mechanical engineering grad turns curiosity into a career path appeared first on ³Ō¹ĻĶų.

Samantha Bentley ā€™26 didnā€™t always feel ready to step into leadership or research roles during her time as a computer science student at ³Ō¹ĻĶų, but discovered she grew the most by doing it anyway. ā€œThatā€™s where all my best opportunities have come from,ā€ she said. Bentley will receive her bachelorā€™s degree at the Universityā€™s commencement on Saturday, May 9.

This approach to learning and life has led her to becoming a published researcher, SGA Senate president, and career-ready graduate. After graduation, Bentley is set to begin a full-time position with global engineering company KBR.

Why did you choose your major?

I was drawn to computer science because of the strong career opportunities and financial stability the field offers, but I also genuinely enjoy working with technology. What kept me interested was realizing how flexible the field is. Iā€™ve been able to combine it with areas I care about, like psychology, project management and virtual reality.

What was your greatest accomplishment at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly?

One of my biggest accomplishments was co-authoring a research paper on virtual reality leadership simulation for introverts, which was accepted to a national conference. On top of that, I placed first in two undergraduate competitions at IEOM (10th North American International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management). The research topic was something I had hoped to pursue before even coming to college, and working with Dr. Abdelwahab Hamam made that possible. His mentorship helped turn that goal into something real.

How well do you feel ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly prepared you for life after graduation?

Iā€™ve always believed college should do three things: help you build a strong network, prove to employers you can handle challenging material, and give you space to explore different interests. ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly gave me all three. The coursework challenged me, and as a smaller school, it allowed me to build meaningful relationships with both peers and faculty. That environment made it easier to take on leadership roles and pursue research opportunities that shaped my direction.

Where did you complete your internship(s) and what did you gain from the experience?

I worked with KBR supporting project management tools using Excel and Power BI. I helped build systems that track project data and improve visibility for teams. What I gained most was an understanding of how technical tools support real decision-making in complex environments, especially in government and defense-related projects. After graduation, I plan to continue working full-time with KBR in a technical role focused on data and project systems, with plans to explore international opportunities.

What are your long-term career goals?

I want to work at the intersection of technology and human behavior, especially in areas like training, simulation, and data-driven decision support. Iā€™m interested in building tools that not only function well, but also help people perform better in real-world environments. As much as I love to think about long-term career goals, I also want a simple life ā€“ a house with dogs. Career-wise, I want to do work that makes me happy and fuels that goal.

What advice do you have for an incoming student?

Get involved early, because if you wait until you feel ready, time can pass you by. Most of my growth has come from stepping into opportunities before I felt fully prepared and then learning as I went. Take steps toward your goals, no matter how far-fetched they may seem ā€“ start with one step, then another, and just keep going.

Editorā€™s note: This story is part of aĀ series of Q&AsĀ featuringĀ ³Ō¹ĻĶų PolyĀ Class of 2026 graduates.

Contact:
Lydia GuzmƔn
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

The post Q&A: Computer science grad steps into leadership and opportunity appeared first on ³Ō¹ĻĶų.

For James Young ā€™26, a love of math and curiosity about how systems work opened the door to an unexpected passion for cybersecurity. That discovery led to leadership roles, competitive success, and a clear path into the field after he graduates from ³Ō¹ĻĶų with a bachelorā€™s degree in applied mathematics on May 9.

As president of the Cybersecurity Club, Young led the team to earn spots in regional competitions for two straight years. ā€œThe club is like my baby. I got into it and found that it is such a massive, expanding world with an always-changing landscape. Iā€™ve met some of my closest friends in the group and being able to pass on my knowledge feels really fulfilling,ā€ he said.

During his time at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly, Young has served as president and vice president of the Cybersecurity Club, president of the Rock Climbing Club, secretary of Nerf-Tech, and vice chair of the IEEE Computer Science Society.

Where did you complete your internship(s) and what did you gain from the experience?

I had an internship under the National Science Foundationā€™s REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program and did research at UCF. I worked in applied linear algebra and used techniques I learned in class to solve real problems. We were given a set of equations and asked to use linear algebra to solve them more efficiently. We ended up making it faster, and it was really cool to see how we can apply mathematics and use it in the real world.

What was your favorite course and why?

Ethical Hacking with Dr. Arijet Sarker. I loved it because we were assigned a final project around the fourth week of class that we had to finish by late April. We had to find a real system, get permission to hack into it, and hack into it. If you found a vulnerability ā€“ if you could actually hack into it ā€“ you got extra credit on your project. My group did gain access to a system and found a vulnerability.

How well do you feel ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly prepared you for life after graduation?

Very prepared. One of the most important things I have picked up during my time at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly is strong soft skills. Through leading the Cybersecurity Club and presenting projects in classes and even to the club, Iā€™ve developed confidence in communication and leadership. I feel very well prepared in my ability to succeed in interviews and confident in my technical knowledge. I believe I have a strong foundation in both mathematics and computer science that gives me an advantage.

What was your greatest accomplishment at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly?

That was competing in the NSA Codebreaker Challenge, a massive national competition for undergraduate and graduate students. They set up a controlled scenario with cybersecurity threats and forensic threats. You might discover issues like malware and figure out that it connects to some cryptocurrency laundering scheme. It shows you what itā€™s like to work for the real NSA. The competition was from September to January, and I was one of 81 student solvers nationwide. Itā€™s the hardest thing Iā€™ve ever done in cybersecurity.

What advice do you have for an incoming student?

You are going to graduate with many other students in your major, and just having your degree wonā€™t set you apart. Your GPA might be a little bit higher and help with your first job, but you need to find a way to stand out with employers. Get involved in extracurriculars and take on leadership positions. That will differentiate you and strengthen your resume.

Editorā€™s note: This story is part of aĀ series of Q&AsĀ featuringĀ ³Ō¹ĻĶų PolyĀ Class of 2026 graduates.

Contact:
Lydia GuzmƔn
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

The post Q&A: Math grad finds his future in cybersecurity appeared first on ³Ō¹ĻĶų.

Becoming a Presidential Ambassador set JorgeandrĆ©s Alvarez-Lopez ā€™26 on a path leading to a professional internship, his ā€œdream job,ā€ and an opportunity to address his fellow graduates as the Class of 2026 student speaker at ³Ō¹ĻĶųā€™s commencement ceremony on May 9. He said itā€™s everything he ever wanted.

Alvarez-Lopez, who will receive a bachelorā€™s degree in computer science with a concentration in software engineering, assisted with the 2025 commencement as a Presidential Ambassador and was captivated by the student speakerā€™s message. ā€œIt got me thinking that I also had some important things to say,ā€ Alvarez-Lopez said. Since then, he has been collecting bits of wisdom and life lessons to include in his own hoped-for address.

ā€œI want to encourage the graduates to remember that they have to always be students and keep striving to learn,ā€ the Puerto Rico native said.

After graduation, Alvarez-Lopez will transition from his internship at Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) in Orlando to a full-time role as a test engineer at the company ā€“ a role made possible through connections he developed as a ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly Presidential Ambassador.

While at the University, Alvarez-Lopez also worked as a research assistant and lifeguard and was active in IEEE, the Roboboat team, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Why did you choose your major?

Iā€™ve always had a love of video games, software and the internet, so it was my mission to learn as much as I possibly could about computers on the inside, the software side, because the world of software is ever-changing and ever-growing. I wanted to code from the very beginning and learn all these different software languages, so I knew I wanted to go into software engineering.

How well do you feel ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly prepared you for life after graduation?

What hasnā€™t ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly prepared me for? This school has prepared me to be ready academically, socially, technologically ā€“ there are so many things that I’ve worked with here that I know are going to be used in the field.

What was your favorite course and why?

I took object-oriented programming during my sophomore year with Dr. Igor Mirsalikhov, and he is so smart and speaks so plainly and directly that itā€™s hard not to love how he teaches. It was tough, but I wanted to go to his class and be taught by him. I also just love object-oriented programming in general because we learned Java, which is an object-oriented programming language that weā€™re going to use in the workplace.

Where did you complete your internship(s) and what did you gain from the experience?

My current internship with ECS turned directly into my full-time job offer. I gave a campus tour to the CEO and a vice president of the company as a Presidential Ambassador and I always reach out afterward ā€“ thatā€™s something the Presidential Ambassadors program taught me. Two months later, they messaged me back and asked me to come to a convention where I met so many people, and a week after that, I started my internship. It was so amazing.

What are your plans after graduation?

I canā€™t go into too much detail because of clearance requirements, but I can say that Iā€™ll be a test engineer at ECS working on computer simulations for military leadership. Iā€™m in the process of getting my government clearance for them now and Iā€™m so excited. Iā€™ve been working since day one to get a job like this. I have a lot to look forward to, but I wouldnā€™t be here without the Presidential Ambassadors.

What advice do you have for new students?

Life is full of leaps of faith. The more leaps you take and the more you learn, the more confident you become. It’s so important to step outside your comfort zone.

Editorā€™s note: This story is part of aĀ series of Q&AsĀ featuring ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly Class of 2026 graduates.

Contact:
Lydia GuzmƔn
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

The post Q&A: Presidential Ambassador and Class of 2026 speaker ready for his ā€˜dream jobā€™ appeared first on ³Ō¹ĻĶų.

The laboratory became like a second home to Sabrina Roggero ā€™26 as she pursued a bachelorā€™s degree in environmental engineering at ³Ō¹ĻĶų. She worked with Dr. Daren Watson on observing the effects of raindrops on ants and spent two years working with Dr. Jun Kim on projects to help improve Winter Haven, ³Ō¹ĻĶųā€™s drinking water supply and provide outreach to public schools. Along the way, she earned the prestigious Roy Likins Scholarship from the American Water Works Association.

Roggero, who will receive her degree at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Polyā€™s commencement on Saturday, May 9, is president of Womenā€™s Club Soccer and previously served the Student Government Associationā€™s legislative aide. After graduation, she hopes to participate in a research program in South Korea and later pursue a doctoral degree.

What was your greatest accomplishment at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly?

Winning the American Water Works Association award. I was dumbfounded when I got the email. I was sitting in my car, stressed out and I was having doubts. I was thinking that even though I was doing research that might continue and get published after I graduate, was I even doing it right? Was I even going to have in impact on the people who live in Winter Haven? That award made everything feel real.

How well do you feel ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly prepared you for life after graduation?

I feel really prepared. Everything really started to pick up sophomore year when I began research with Dr. Watson and Dr. Kim. That hands-on experience, combined with class labs, gave me the confidence to continue working in research and design. I’ve applied to do research in South Korea at my professor’s alma mater and itā€™s scary, but I know I can handle it. Iā€™m excited and Iā€™m ready for whatā€™s next.

What was your favorite course and why?

The environmental engineering lab was the best. Since there were only five of us, it was a tight-knit group. We had a big project at the end, and I learned so much. I got to see everything I had learned about in my intro courses actually working. In class, it can seem like just equations on a board, but being able to get hands-on and see results that match the theory was amazing. It was like, ā€˜Wow, I just did that. This is real and itā€™s happening right in front of me.ā€™

What did you enjoy most about your time at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly?

Before I even came here, the former soccer captain messaged me and asked if I wanted to join the team. Iā€™ve played soccer my whole life and I wanted to play in college, but I chose ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly over a larger Division I school, and it was the best decision. Whether we had games or not, Iā€™ve had so much fun the past four years. Being in a demanding STEM field, having that outlet made a huge difference and itā€™s been the best experience ever.

Whatā€™s something youā€™ll never forget about your time here?

My freshman year, our soccer team played against Stetson University. We hadnā€™t won a match yet, but I scored six goals against Stetson and we won! I was elated. It was an amazing feeling, and everyone was so happy for me. I don’t think Iā€™ll ever forget how it felt scoring that sixth goal.

What advice do you have for an incoming student?

Talk to everybody. Everyone here is on your side and wants to help you. Even if a professor seems strict, they want you to succeed, so go to their office hours and connect with them. The school is small enough that weā€™re blessed to be able to get to know our professors. Iā€™ve connected with almost half of the professors Iā€™ve taken classes with, even on LinkedIn. I feel like I truly know who they are and what they do.

Editorā€™s note: This story is part of aĀ series of Q&AsĀ featuring ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly Class of 2026 graduates.

Contact:
Lydia GuzmƔn
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

The post Q&A: Environmental engineering grad scores big with research and leadership appeared first on ³Ō¹ĻĶų.

For ³Ō¹ĻĶų electrical engineering major Josh Alletto ā€™26, earning his bachelorā€™s degree on May 9 will mark the culmination of four years of hard work and determination. The Chicago native parlayed his curiosity about how things work into a series of high-profile internships, a NASA program experience, and a post-graduation position as a power engineer at Northrop Grumman. After commencement, the first-generation college graduate will move to ³Ō¹ĻĶųā€™s Space Coast with his fiancee, Kailey Gibbons ā€™26, also an electrical engineering graduate who will begin her career with the same company.

Why did you choose your major?

Toward the end of high school, I knew the world was heading toward more autonomy, machines and computers, and I wanted to know where I fit in. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, especially electronics, so I knew that electrical engineering was at the core of how almost everything around us works. Even something as simple as when I used to take apart a TV remote as a kid just to see what was inside of it ā€“ all of it connects back to electrical engineering.

What are your plans after graduation?

I recently accepted a position at Northrop Grumman as a power engineer for aircraft, and I canā€™t wait. While thereā€™s not a lot I can say about what Iā€™ll be doing, Iā€™ve been working on getting my top-secret security clearance. I’ve always known I wanted to be hands-on, working on-site and seeing firsthand where things are made. Iā€™m really excited to see my work get out there and not just be behind a laptop.

What are your long-term career goals?

I want to be a senior engineer in the defense industry because that would open so many possibilities. I could work on aircraft, spaceships, tanks, laser weapons, submarines ā€“ anything. If youā€™re a senior engineer in defense, you can go almost anywhere.

What does earning your degree mean to you?

It means everything because Iā€™m a first-generation college student. Most of my family is still back in Chicago, where everyone has worked blue-collar jobs. To be the first to not only go to college, but have a great job lined up feels awesome. My familyā€™s dream has been to move to ³Ō¹ĻĶų, and I would like to help make that happen for them.

What did you enjoy most about your time at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly?

Definitely the people. I didnā€™t have a lot of super close friends in high school, but I found people here who are like me. Iā€™m not really a partier and donā€™t go out a lot; I like staying in and hanging out with friends. Itā€™s been cool meeting people who feel the same way. We love building new things and talking about new technologies and robotics. I always have something in common with other students.

What advice do you have for new students?

Look for internships early and often. There are a lot of people who like to enjoy their summers, which is great, but you can have fun and have an internship or work experience at the same time. I’ve done it. You need to do things in your field to build experience you can show when itā€™s time to apply for a job, and summer is the perfect time to do that.

Editorā€™s note: This story is part of aĀ series of Q&AsĀ featuring ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly Class of 2026 graduates.

Contact:
Lydia GuzmƔn
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

The post Q&A: First-generation grad sparks his future with Northrop Grumman appeared first on ³Ō¹ĻĶų.

First-time-in-college applications increased by 31% this year, and by 101% since the fall of 2019. Among admitted students, the average SAT score was 1355 ā€“ the highest average in the Universityā€™s history ā€“ and the average ACT score was 30.

Additionally, 95% of first-time-in-college students had completed calculus or pre-calculus in high school, positioning them to do well at ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly, the only public university in the State University System completely dedicated to STEM education.

ā€œThe quality of our programs is not only strong, but itā€™s extremely relevant as we see more and more of our graduates being placed in positions with very high salaries,ā€ said Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, vice provost for enrollment management. ā€œOur graduates earn the highest salaries of any public college in the state of ³Ō¹ĻĶų.ā€

Another mark of the classā€™ quality is the fact that 84% are Bright Futures Scholarship winners.

ā€œItā€™s not just about high salaries; our students want to change the world and see the opportunity to do that in our STEM disciplines in a more intimate environment,ā€ Corpus said. ā€œMany of the brightest students want to be here because weā€™re small and our majors are cutting-edge relevant.ā€

This was a strong consideration for Vladjimir Nicolas, a freshman focusing on software engineering from Pembroke Pines, ³Ō¹ĻĶų

ā€œ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly is great because itā€™s one of the best STEM schools I can go to for my major in the area, and Iā€™m not too far from home,ā€ Nicolas said. ā€œEverything here is geared toward STEM, and because itā€™s a small school, they can cater to students a lot, too.ā€

The geographic diversity of new ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly students is also increasing.

Out-of-state, first-time-in-college student applications increased by 49%, and incoming students hail from states as far as Washington, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Arizona. Other students are from countries such as England, Argentina, Iran, Ghana, and Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean.

The incoming class also was successful both in and out of the high school classroom. New Phoenixes have won regional and state awards in areas such as robotics, soccer, ROTC, and coding. Others have been employed in fields as varied as cybersecurity, health care, and food service. Many also were active in student clubs such as robotics and Dungeons and Dragons, or on high school varsity athletic teams such as soccer, football, basketball, and lacrosse.

ā€œWhen I was looking for schools, I wasnā€™t really having a good time choosing where to go until my guidance counselor told me about ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly and it just stuck out,ā€ said Robert Grant, a freshman computer science major from Jacksonville, ³Ō¹ĻĶų. ā€œI liked the idea of smaller classes because itā€™s close to what I had in high school.ā€

³Ō¹ĻĶų Polyā€™s 2022 incoming class

• All new students: 564
• First-time-in-college applications: 31% increase over 2021 and 101% over 2019.
• Admitted student average SAT score: 1355
• Admitted student average ACT score: 30
• Bright Futures Scholarship winners: 84%

Contact:
Lydia GuzmƔn
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

The post ³Ō¹ĻĶų Poly welcomes standout incoming class appeared first on ³Ō¹ĻĶų.