Panthers in the Headlines: October 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.

1. Recent Graduate Launches Sustainable Clothing Line

What started as a few college friends selling eco-friendly clothing has turned into an exciting business venture for Dylan Cross ’19. With the help of Groundswell Startups, Dylan has raised $53,000 to launch Sea Threads, the first clothing line made from 100% certified ocean plastic.

Learn more about how Dylan Cross launched Sea Threads.

2. Florida Tech Student Receives STEM Scholarship from Jacksonville Jaguars

Did you know that Florida Tech is the official STEM education sponsor for the Jacksonville Jaguars? Thanks to this partnership, Hailey Swanson was awarded a $5,000 STEM scholarship. Hailey plans to study planetary science as she pursues her dream of working in the space industry.

Watch Hailey receive the scholarship check at the Oct. 18 Jaguars game versus the Detroit Lions.

3. Construction Set to Begin on Health Sciences Research Center

On Oct. 16, we broke ground on our new Health Sciences Research Center! The future facility will house—and is expected to increase the size of—the undergraduate biomedical engineering and premedical programs. It will complete the Olin Quad, joining the F.W. Olin Engineering Complex and Physical and Life Sciences buildings.

Read Florida Today’s story about the new Health Sciences Research Center.

4. NASA Selects Florida Tech Research for Testing

NASA has selected 31 promising space technologies for commercial flight testing in an effort to further the agency’s lunar exploration goals as well as its utilization of commercial suborbital flight and low-Earth orbit platforms for research applications. From Florida Tech, the mechanical system of a plant incubator will be tested to validate its operation in microgravity and inform development of a larger-scale space farming system. The technology is planned to fly on ZERO-G’s G-Force One.

Check out NASA’s press release announcing the space technologies selected for commercial flight tests.

5. Florida Tech Recognized as one of Best Universities in Florida

The 2021 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking has reaffirmed our position as one of the best universities in the Sunshine State and as an elite institution nationwide.

“Schools that fare the best on this list have graduates who generally are satisfied with their educational experience and land relatively high-paying jobs that can help them pay down student loans,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

Learn more about the 2021 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings.