Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland held a commencement ceremony May 9 for its largest graduating class of more than 430.
The keynote speaker was astronaut Koichi Wakata, a veteran of five space missions and former commander of the International Space Station. He is now chief technology officer and astronaut at Axiom Space.
“Change is the only constant in the universe,” Wakata said, as quoted in a Florida Poly news release. “To not be overcome by change and have an impact on it rather than being affected by it, one must demonstrate flexibility and adaptability. Make change your ally.”
The student speaker was Jorgeandres Alvarez-Lopez, who received a bachelor’s degree in computer science. A native of Puerto Rico, he will begin a full-time position as a test engineer at Engineering and Computer Simulations in Orlando, the release said.
Florida Poly announced that it has reached on-campus housing capacity for the upcoming academic year. As a result, students are being placed on a housing waitlist while the university evaluates immediate and long-term solutions to support its rapid growth.
Florida Poly reported a 39% increase in student net deposits compared with this time in 2025, a news release said. The administration is weighing all options to manage the current housing demand, including encouraging upper-division students to consider off-campus housing while additional capacity is explored.
“This level of interest speaks to the strength of Florida Poly’s academic programs, and the value students see in our STEM-focused education,” Bryan Brooks, vice president of student affairs, enrollment management and strategic communications, said in the release. “We are attracting some of the top students in the state, and as our reputation continues to rise, it is essential that we have the infrastructure to match that demand.”
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Florida Polytechnic graduates 430 as school faces housing crunch
Reporting by Gary White, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
