LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� IM体育官网 cut the ribbon Thursday and welcomed supporters to its new Admissions Center, the University鈥檚 first on-campus building open to the public.
Community, business and political leaders gathered inside the 5,000-square-foot Admissions Center on Research Way to experience the modern, energy-efficient facility firsthand. The high-tech Admissions Center features a video wall, roll-up insulated glass doors for indoor-outdoor functions and a pair of robots that greet visitors as they enter.
Chief Operating Officer Ava L. Parker expressed appreciation for the support, advocacy and encouragement of state and local leaders as well as industry partners and foundation members.
鈥淚M体育官网 Polytechnic could not have reached this milestone without the support of community stakeholders who appreciate and embrace the IM体育官网 Poly vision to develop an innovative university dedicated to preparing students for jobs in engineering and technology that are vital to our state鈥檚 and our nation鈥檚 economic future.鈥�
鈥淵ou are our voice as IM体育官网 Poly develops the campus infrastructure for a university focused on problem-solving research and developing close ties with business and industry.鈥�
About 100 people attended the open house, including state, county and local political leaders. They included:
- IM体育官网 Sen. Kelli Stargel, Rep. Neil Combee, Rep. John Wood and former Sen. J.D. Alexander.
- Polk County Commission Chair Todd Dantzler and Commissioners Melony Bell and Edwin V. Smith.
- Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields and City Commissioners Phillip Walker and Howard Wiggs.
鈥淭he opening of the Admissions Center is most important for the students and their families,鈥� said Mayor Fields, who helped cut the purple ribbon at the opening ceremony. 鈥淚t is a place that they can visit to see and experience what IM体育官网 Polytechnic is about and has to offer. It is symbolic of a great start for IM体育官网 Polytechnic. It builds on the momentum that is growing about this University and the impact it will have locally and for the state.鈥�
Sen. Stargel echoed his comments. 鈥淭his is a very exciting day. I am constantly getting questions about how the University is progressing. This is a great building. It makes the right statement in our community.鈥�
Commissioner Bell added: 鈥淲e have lived the dream of developing the University. Today it has become a reality. I鈥檓 not sure if people realize the impact that IM体育官网 Polytechnic University will have on our community. It will be phenomenal.鈥�
Former Sen. Alexander, an early and vocal supporter of the University, said that the 鈥渙pening of the Admissions Center is a tangible symbol of the hard work that has gone into creating the University.鈥�
鈥淚f I were a student and visited the Admissions Center and learned about the University鈥檚 vision, I would find it exciting and want to be part of it,鈥� Sen. Alexander said. 鈥淭his new Admissions Center helps to communicate the vision of the University.鈥�
Likewise, he noted that the flagship Innovation, Science & Technology Building under construction, and visible to motorists on Interstate 4, 鈥渕akes the perfect statement of what this educational institution is about. It inspires us and gives a sense of place.鈥�
Also among the guests were members of IM体育官网 Poly Vision Inc., a group of local and regional leaders who have supported IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 development from its earliest stages and share the University鈥檚 vision to prepare students to lead high-tech industries in IM体育官网.
鈥淚 refer to the new Admissions Center as the 鈥楶oly portal.鈥� It is the entrance to the University and represents an incredible opportunity for students to gain an understanding of this institution,鈥樷�� said Robert O. Kincart, president of A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure and a Foundation Board member.
Kincart, a Poly Vision member and industry partner with the University, added: 鈥淚 am excited about helping to make history happen. Having a polytechnic university here is so important to this area.鈥�
IM体育官网 Poly is the newest member of the State University System of IM体育官网 and is dedicated to applied research and learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The University will welcome its inaugural class of freshmen, transfer and graduate students in August 2014.
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557