Panthers in the Headlines: July 2020
Florida Tech is a one-of-a-kind community. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni continuously strive to achieve their goals, contribute to the greater good and relentlessly pursue greatness—so much so, they’re making headlines.
5 Panther-Proud Headlines this Month
1. Florida Tech Seniors Chloe Klare and Samantha Pryor Named 2020 Astronaut Scholars
Florida Tech seniors Chloe Klare and Samantha Pryor made the news this month when they were named 2020 Astronaut Scholars. This prestigious recognition from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation signifies they are among the best and brightest STEM students in the country.
Chloe, a double major in astronomy/astrophysics and mathematical sciences, and Samantha, an astrobiology major, are two of just 56 Astronaut Scholars from 41 U.S. universities comprising the 2020 class.
“Winning the Astronaut Scholarship is really exciting for me because so many of the former Astronaut Scholars are now amazing and successful scientists and engineers,” Chloe said.
Read the full article about the 2020 Astronaut Scholars.
2. Florida Tech Women’s Business Center Offering Free Mentorship Thanks to $450,000 COVID-19 Grant
Thanks to a $450,000 grant, weVENTURE, the Bisk College of Business’ women’s entrepreneurship center, has been helping small-business owners navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their operations. The funds support the participation of 31 businesses in weVENTURE’s IGNITE 360 mentoring program, which typically costs $2,500 or more per business.
“During normal circumstances, weVENTURE helps women launch and grow their businesses,” said Kathryn Rudloff, weVENTURE executive director. “However, in times of crisis, we accelerate our role helping entrepreneurs sustain their business by providing access to the information and resources they need to survive these unforeseen challenges. We are grateful to Congress and the Administration, as well as Bisk Ventures and the Wells Fargo Foundation, for supporting the work of Women’s Business Centers in this meaningful way.”
Read the piece about weVENTURE’s business mentorship efforts.
3. Florida Tech Garners International Recognition for Diversity, Highest-Ranked Institution in Florida
Florida tech was recognized in the 2020 rankings from the respected international agency Round University Ranking (RUR) for a host of strengths, including international diversity, natural sciences and teaching.
In fact, Florida Tech was ranked in the top-tier Diamond League in the 2020 RUR International Diversity Ranking, making us the highest-ranked institution in Florida.
Read the full article about Florida Tech’s ranking.
4. Florida Tech Signs Ireland National Basketball Team Captain Darragh O’Sullivan
Florida Tech men’s basketball picked up its third signee for the 2020 class: Darragh O’Sullivan, a 6-foot, 6-inch, 165-pound wing player who comes from The Winchendon School and is a member of the Ireland National Team program.
A prominent player on the international stage, Darragh has served as captain of his Irish National Team for the past five years. Head coach Billy Mims is excited about the recent addition, including his past history with the O’Sullivan family. In 1986-87, Mims coached Darragh’s father, Tom O’Sullivan.
“Well, you know that you’ve been in basketball a long time when you start coaching the sons of former players that you coached years ago,” Mims said.
Read the full story about Florida Tech’s new basketball signee.
5. Michael Grieves Featured on ‘BeyondBIM’ Podcast
Michael Grieves, executive vice president of operations, was a featured guest on the “BeyondBIM” podcast. In the video above, he discusses working with NASA, Boeing and General Motors Co. and how he pioneered the term “digital twin.”
