Florida Poly swimmer makes second straight nationals appearance

Skip to content Reid Johnson, a senior and mechanical engineering major at Florida Polytechnic University, competed at the College Club Swimming Nationals for the second year in a row. Florida Poly swimmer makes second straight nationals appearance April 22, 2026 Reid Johnson, a senior and mechanical engineering major at Florida Polytechnic University, recently competed at the College Club Swimming Nationals for the second year in a row. He raced in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly during the competition held April 10-12 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Johnson will graduate on May 9 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with an aerospace concentration. He plans to continue his education through Florida Poly’s 4+1 program, pursuing a master’s degree in engineering management. He has also secured a full-time engineering position at Duke Energy, where he interned in the summer of 2025. “It feels really good because I’ve put in a lot of hard work to be where I am right now, both in terms of athletics and in school,” he said. “This kind of success on both sides of the equation has been a huge blessing.” Johnson said returning to nationals was the perfect way to wrap up his undergraduate years at Florida Poly after a season that included a new coach, a new training approach and a stronger finish than last year. A native of Moscow, Idaho, Johnson said a competitive college swimming career felt natural after growing up spending much of his time in the pool. His dad swam for the University of Idaho while in college and his brothers swam for the University of Wyoming and Trinity Western University in Canada. Florida Poly stood out to Johnson for its all-STEM curriculum and close-knit environment. While he thought his competitive swimming days were behind him, that quickly changed. “I missed it too much, so I decided to join the club swim team they already had here,” he said. The decision gave him both a strong academic path and a chance to return to the pool. “I think having great academics is really, really nice, and definitely something a lot of employers look for, but having athletics on top of academics is a huge bonus,” Johnson said. “With athletics, companies are able to see that you’re willing to get uncomfortable, put in hard work, and get something done while you keep growing.” Contact: Lydia Guzmán Director of Communications 863-874-8557 Search Academics Explore Academics Programs Undergraduate Graduate All Programs Resources Student Resources Faculty Academic Calendars Course Catalog Support Career Services Student Success Admissions Explore Admissions Undergraduate Admissions Tuition Financial Aid International Transfer Graduate Admissions Tuition Financial Aid International Helpful Links Admissions Team Paying for College Financial Aid Resources Parents & Families Veterans & Military Student Life Explore Student Life Campus Housing & Dining Health & Wellness Campus Store Central Florida Opportunities Athletics & Recreation Clubs & Organizations Student Employment Event Calendar Services Parking & Transportation Safety & Security Disability Services IT & Help Desk Research Explore Research Research Research Initiatives Industry Partners Institutes Curriculum Internship Experience Capstone Design Labs Alumni Explore Alumni Get Connected Alumni Alumni Impact Foundation Athletics Explore Athletics About Explore Florida Poly Learn More About Florida Poly Our Campus Our Location Facts & Rankings Accreditation FAQs Who We Are University Leadership Board of Trustees History Faculty & Staff Departments Resources Public Policy Events Careers Give to Florida Poly News Event Calendar Contact MyFloridaPoly Request Info Visit Campus Contact Giving Session Details This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises. Presenter Profile Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.