Florida Institute of Technology

Have a safe Labor Day weekend, Panthers!

We wish Carson Clough '18 MBA the best of luck at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games! Carson, who also played lacrosse at Florida Tech, is competing on the U.S. Paralympic Triathlon Team. Go team USA, and go Panthers! 🐾

Learn about Clough's journey at: https://floridatechsports.com/news/2024/8/16/mens-lacrosse-mens-lacrosse-alumni-carson-clough-to-compete-in-para-triathlon-at-2024-paris-paralympics.aspx

Find competition times and ways to watch: https://www.usatriathlon.org/elite/paralympic-games

📸: World Triathlon

It is with sadness we report the passing of Kenneth Elmer Crooks, the beloved and influential professor and administrator in the College of Aeronautics whose classes in aviation law and ethics—along with his caring demeanor—helped shape the lives and careers of future deans, professors and pilots over his 22 years at Florida Tech.

In Memoriam: Kenneth Crooks - Florida Tech News The College of Aeronautics professor whose classes and caring demeanor shaped the lives and careers of future deans, professors and pilots.

This summer, shark biologist and associate professor Toby Daly-Engel and a group of her students attended the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, where they shared their zoological passions with like-minded researchers. Daly-Engel's students, who ranged from post-doc and Ph.D. students to undergraduates, had the opportunity to present their research, network, and draw inspiration from peers.

"To have undergrads working at this level is really rare and a huge endorsement of our student research program. The sooner they can start to build their professional network, the more likely they are to get into grad school and stay in the scientific profession," Daly-Engel said.

Daly-Engel, Students Attend Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Florida Tech News These meetings offer professional growth, important exposure to new research and the opportunity to networks with like-minded professionals.

Florida Tech is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the university's board of trustees, Frank DiBello and Kelle Wendling '93, '97 MBA. Together they bring decades of experience in the business of space to the university's governing body.

"Florida Tech is honored to welcome Frank and Kelle to the Board of Trustees. Their insights and guidance will enhance our decision-making and expand our Board expertise in new and important ways," President Nicklow said.

Two Trustees Named to Florida Tech Board - Florida Tech News Frank DiBello and Kelle Wendling bring insights and experience in aerospace and space to the university's governing body.

Florida Tech's newest Director of Esports, Danielle Sirekis, has been gearing up to transform the university's esports program.

"Florida Tech's esports center pulled me in. It is everything I wanted. The program is already well developed, so I felt like I could grow here and be a part of something bigger," Sirekis said.

Danielle Sirekis Aims to Lead Florida Tech Esports to New Heights Florida Tech Director of Esports, Danielle Sirekis, is ready to elevate Florida Tech esports to new heights.

Congratulations to the five Panthers and a National Championship team who have been named to the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame, which honors those who have brought excellence and distinction to the athletics program. The class of 2024 will be celebrated and officially inducted at the Legacy of 37 event this November. Learn more about their achievements, below.

Five Individuals, National Championship Team Amongst Those Named To 2024 Hall of Fame Class - Florida Tech Panthers One of the core values of Florida Tech athletics is "Build Your Legacy" and this November, five Panthers and one team will have their Crimson and Gray legacy celebrated with their induction into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame.

Next time you’re at Brevard Zoo, swing by the spider monkey complex! Discover the innovative research Florida Tech is leading at the animal cognitive research center, and read the incredible story of how Mateo and J were rescued from wildlife traffickers. Thanks to Florida Tech Aviation, Mateo was able to make the journey from Texas to his new home in Florida.

Unravel the untold story of Florida Tech in "Missiles, Mischief and Mayhem: The Secret History of Countdown College" by Gordon Patterson, faculty member since 1981. This captivating book takes a unique and compelling look at the history of Florida Tech and dives into the university's origins during the space race.

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Missiles-Mischief-Mayhem-Countdown-Technology/dp/B0CZ62C4YF/

Book Trailer | 'Missiles, Mischief and Mayhem: The Secret History of Countdown College' A book about Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech), “Missiles, Mischief and Mayhem: The Secret History of Countdown College,” was published in March...

With recent funding from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, a group of Florida Tech researchers are working to understand how deep-sea water pressure affects biofilms and larger biofouling organisms by refurbishing a handy tool: a deep-water pressure chamber.

Florida Tech Researchers Refurbish Deep-Water Pressurization Chamber to Study Submarine Biofouling - Florida Tech News The project investigates how biofilms colonize surfaces and how those biofilms are affected by changes in hydrostatic pressure.

A $1 million award from the National Science Foundation will fund a new initiative to teach young people aging out of foster care critical skills in advanced manufacturing and microelectronics at Florida Tech’s Center for Advanced Manufactured and Innovative Design (CAMID).

“This impactful program our CAMID team developed will equip young participants with a growth mindset and marketable skills that we believe position them to achieve long-term economic stability and success. Education at its best is about sharing knowledge and inspiring excellence and we are so excited to do that for those who will truly benefit,” says President Nicklow.

Learn more about the program and how to apply, below.

Florida Tech Awarded $1M for Program to Educate Foster Youth - Florida Tech News The initiative will teach participants skills for employment or further education in advanced manufacturing and microelectronics.

After spending years researching sustainable waste conversion techniques on Earth, associate professor Toufiq Reza wanted to spend his sabbatical at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) learning something new: how this process could work in outer space. Now, he’s bringing this work back to campus through a partnership between KSC and Florida Tech.

“I will encourage students to work on some of their technologies, test them in our lab and vice versa. This is a massive thing. We can learn from each other to help each other,” Reza said.

Florida Tech, Kennedy Space Center to Study Waste Treatment in Space - Florida Tech News Reza took a semester to learn how waste conversion works in outer space while strengthening the university’s already deep ties to NASA.

Happy first day of class, Panthers! 😃🐾 We're so excited to see everyone back on campus.

Congratulations to the Yellow Team on their victory in today's Color Wars Finale! Color Wars is a week-long series of activities—and a proud tradition—every new Panther experiences during Orientation Week. Students have had an exciting time competing in various challenges based on their residence hall, all leading up to today's finale. It's been an unforgettable week of building connections with the class of 2028. Enjoy the weekend, and see you on the first day of class on Monday!

Today’s Student Life Fair is a key event during Orientation Week! New Panthers connected with campus organizations, explored clubs, and began discovering what Florida Tech has to offer. It’s the perfect way to dive into campus life and start your college journey. Let’s get involved and make the most of it!

We had an exciting evening welcoming incoming student legacies and their families at the Folliard Alumni Center! During the reception we also celebrated the ribbon-cutting of The Larry Pollack Alumni Terrace. Thank you to Larry Pollack '85 M.S. for generously sponsoring the terrace, and to all the Panther families who joined us for this memorable event.

Meet some exceptional students from the College of Engineering & Science who secured sought-after summer internships. From rising sophomores to graduate students, our students are making impactful contributions in the real world at every stage of their academic journey.

Engineering Excellence: Florida Tech Students Secure Prestigious Summer Internships - Florida Tech News Florida Tech engineering students share their internship experiences, career goals and advice for future Panthers.

President Nicklow, together with university leadership, deans and faculty officially welcomed the Class of 2028 to Florida Tech at the President's Welcome and Convocation.

"I want to congratulate each of our new students. The fact that you are here, enrolled as a student at Florida Tech, is a significant accomplishment. You should be proud that you’ve taken a leap; a leap toward enrichment, toward serious intellectual growth, and toward being an educated contributor to the future of our nation and our tumultuous world," President Nicklow said.

Orientation week begins! This weekend, more than 1,000 new Panthers moved in on campus. Today, the Panther State of Mind event launches a week-long series of orientation activities for our new students and their families.

Gooo Panthers!

Move-in day one, complete! ✅ It was wonderful meeting new Panthers and their families today—we are amped for day two! Who's ready?

*cue the ice cream truck jingle* Thank you to the Nicklows for keeping everyone cool and helping these Panthers get moved-in!

Need help? Be on the lookout for members of the Orientation and Greek Life teams! They are hard at work getting our new Panthers settled in smoothly.

Check-in and move-in weekend is finally here! 🎉 Panthers, welcome to the first chapter of your college journey. We can't wait to watch you grow, learn and make this campus your new home.

We had an absolute blast at today's Faculty and Staff Welcome Back Celebration! It was the perfect way to gear up for the new school year—filled with laughter, great food, and even better company. Here’s to an amazing year ahead, Panthers!

Did you know that Florida Tech has a spider monkey cognitive research center at Brevard Zoo? Here, researchers are studying the behavior and social systems of the species—and how they resemble those of humans. Darby Proctor, associate professor of psychology, shares more below.

What's on the mind of a spider monkey? Florida Tech researchers at Brevard Zoo are finding out Florida Institute of Technology is studying how much spider monkeys at Brevard Zoo act like us. So far, the answers are surprising.

Meet Deztynee Bryan. She’s a rising senior majoring in meteorology, the president of the Florida Tech American Meteorological Society Student Chapter and academic chair of the Florida Tech Student Government Association. This summer, Deztynee is interning at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO.

"This year, I was accepted into the 28th protégé cohort of the U.S. National Science Foundation Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science, being the first student from Florida Tech since 2010 to do so. I am fortunate to be situated in the Earth Observing Laboratory working with the lead scientists of the NSF Airborne Phased Array Radar Team. Upon completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to attend graduate school, with the goal of immersing myself in hurricane research. I encourage students seeking internships to connect with both students and professionals in your field. Learning from their experiences and insights can help you discover the path you want to pursue. Additionally, involvement in national organizations and campus clubs can be incredibly rewarding. Professors in the meteorology department encourage students to attend conferences and networking events, emphasizing the importance of seeking out opportunities.”

Congratulations, Deztynee!

After collaborating on a graduate-level remotely operated vehicle (ROV) project in their freshmen year, a pair of ocean engineering students enlisted the help of other engineering students to create their own cave-mapping vehicle. TEC-V is an ROV that aims to replace scuba divers when surveying potentially hazardous underwater environments.

Florida Tech Ocean Engineering Seniors Showcase ‘TEC-V’: An ROV Designed to Explore and Map Underwater Caves - Florida Tech News TEC-V is a remotely operated vehicle that aims to replace scuba divers when surveying potentially hazardous underwater environments.

Say hello to our new 2025 Piper Pilot 100i aircraft! The planes were welcomed by a water canon salute and a hangar filled with cheering community members at our “Skyward Together! An Aviation Celebration” event. Florida Tech’s very own certified flight instructors piloted these state-of-the-art aircraft from Piper's manufacturing facility in Vero Beach, FL to Florida Tech Aviation. This addition of eight new Pilot 100i aircraft will enhance our flight programs with the latest avionics.

We’re thrilled to share that Florida Tech has received a $1 million grant from the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust, a long-time university supporter that's been instrumental in developing our renowned aviation training programs. These funds will support the College of Aeronautics mission to provide students with the highest quality aviation education.

The announcement was made this morning at our “Skyward Together! An Aviation Celebration” event, where the excitement will continue with the arrival of our new state-of-the-art aircraft. Stay tuned to find out more!