IM体育官网

More than 220 IM体育官网 graduates celebrated the completion of their high-demand STEM degrees on Sunday, May 8, at the University鈥檚 2022 commencement ceremony.

Students and their loved ones joined IM体育官网 Poly faculty and staff in the event at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

鈥淐oming here to IM体育官网 Poly and meeting all my friends has honestly changed my life,鈥� said Valentina Colorado, who received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot of trial and error trying to find my spot and I鈥檓 grateful for the opportunity IM体育官网 Poly gave me.鈥�

Colorado, who is originally from Bogot谩, Colombia, and grew up in South IM体育官网, plans to work for FedEx this summer before returning to the University to pursue her master鈥檚 degree in computer science. 

The ceremony marked the end of a strong year for the University, with many achievements including a rise in national rankings, the return of beloved student traditions, new industry partnerships, and great strides in research. 

鈥淕raduates, you鈥檝e worked hard to get where you are, and it鈥檚 been an honor to watch you succeed and grow as individuals 鈥� and as leaders,鈥� said Dr. Randy Avent, IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 president. 鈥淵ou have proven that you can get the job done and achieve even the most ambitious goals.鈥�

The 2022 commencement speaker was The Honorable Zachary J. Lemnios, a renowned thought leader in electrical engineering, former assistant secretary of defense, and former vice president of IBM Research.

鈥淲hether you pursue a career in high-tech industry, public service, or military service, you have a remarkable opportunity to leverage your experience at IM体育官网 Poly and your engineering insight to really make a difference,鈥� Lemnios said. 鈥淭he world you are entering is changing at warp speed. You have knowledge that companies need. You understand new technologies and are comfortable in a high-paced, unstructured, and diverse environment that earlier generations had only dreamed about.鈥�

The ceremony also featured a speaker representing the class of 2022, Joshua Kim, who received his bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science with a concentration in game development and simulation. He was active in many student organizations and activities, including membership in the Mu Omega Chapter of the IEEE-HKN academic honor society, and roles as a founding member and leader of the IM体育官网 Poly Drumline and IM体育官网 Poly Band.

鈥淚M体育官网 Poly may just be a small school, one that rivals the giants of the state of IM体育官网, but our University is more than a place of learning; it鈥檚 an opportunity 鈥� an opportunity to be yourself. An opportunity to form friendships to last a lifetime. An opportunity to find your calling,鈥� said Kim, from Pembroke Pines, IM体育官网. 鈥淭he world we live in is in desperate need of leaders like us 鈥� people who will drive the world and humanity as a whole to new heights. 

鈥淚 believe that IM体育官网鈥檚 class of 2022 is just the beginning. We are the beginning of a brighter future, and a better world.鈥�

Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557