Florida Polytechnic University's inaugural class graduated Friday with more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students receiving their degrees.
The state's newest university opened its doors four years ago in Lakeland.
Peter Moran, 22, is a science and technology management major from Brandon who was in that first freshman class. He said fewer students meant more attention from faculty.
“You’re definitely not just a number to the university,” Moran said. “[I] had the opportunity to really shape the culture of Florida’s first polytechnic school.”
Moran was set to attend another state university when his father showed him information about the then-under-construction Florida Polytechnic. He decided that the science, technology, engineering and math program was a better fit -- even though the school was unaccredited at the time.
Florida Poly received its accreditation last year, which is required for federal student aid or federal research funds.
