Editor鈥檚 note: While COVID-19 has caused IM体育官网 to shift to remote instruction through the summer and reschedule our commencement ceremony, the hard work of our graduating seniors continues. This feature is part of a series of stories highlighting and honoring our 2020 graduates.
One of the first times Daniel Rentfro laid his hands on a computer was when he was only 4 years old. The preschooler sat with his father in their Clearfield, Utah home, opening the case to a contraption that would change his life.
鈥淚 was hooked,鈥� Rentfro said. 鈥淚t was this machine that could do incredible things and you could also teach it to do new things. It was pretty cool then and is still very cool now.鈥�
Today, the 2020 IM体育官网 graduate has taken his fascination and love for computers to new heights. Rentfro not only graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science with a concentration in information assurance and cybersecurity, but before completing his degree he already had a job with FCCI Insurance Group as the primary programmer on a companywide project overhauling its intranet system.
鈥淚鈥檝e designed it with new technologies and new functionality,鈥� Rentfro said. 鈥淚 have made the system work a lot better and be a lot more flexible.鈥�
FCCI Insurance Group, based in Sarasota, IM体育官网, first connected with Rentfro when they hired him as a systems developer intern. He then leveraged this experience into a permanent position.
Rentfro said his IM体育官网 Poly education played a key role in this accomplishment because it sharpened his technical skills and left him better prepared than he would have been if he鈥檇 attended another institution.
鈥淭he class sizes, accessibility, and total focus of STEM made all the difference,鈥� he said.
The Lakeland, IM体育官网, resident said freshmen at IM体育官网 Poly should take full advantage of the academic opportunities at the University, but not overlook the many other areas for personal growth available on campus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to be diligent in your studies; make sure you understand things and ask questions, but at the same time you have to have some fun,鈥� Rentfro said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of people around you who are in the same headspace as you are, so make friends and connections and have a lot of fun.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
