Florida Polytechnic University has received the first philanthropic gift for its new athletics program, a $60,000 contribution from longtime Lakeland residents Bob and Deedra Knight. The money will help cover organizational needs as the university builds its inaugural sports teams.
The Knights, who have spent decades building businesses and supporting organizations around Lakeland, saw an opportunity to get involved while the program was still taking shape. With other donors supporting different parts of the university, Deedra said the couple wanted to help build something new.
“Other supporters are assisting with various other facets of the University, so we thought we would do this and take on something different,” she said. “It’s nice to be able to get involved at the beginning and help something grow.”
Florida Poly, a public university focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is adding collegiate sports to campus life as its first teams get underway. The university has not specified which expenses the Knights’ contribution will cover beyond the athletic department’s organizational needs.
Bob Knight believes athletics can help introduce Florida Poly to people across Florida and beyond, giving students something to rally around while raising the university’s profile.
“Everybody needs things to rally around, and sports have a way of bringing people together,” he said. “Athletics will help more people learn about Florida Poly, both statewide and around the country.”
Knight worked at Linder Industrial Equipment before founding Knight Industrial Equipment in 1984, building a Lakeland-based engineering and construction business that managed multimillion-dollar contracts across the United States, Canada, Morocco and Russia. A U.S. Navy veteran, he later served as chairman of the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo from 2012 to 2018, while Deedra owns Interiors and Accessories, a Lakeland interior design company.
Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson joined the Knights and student-athletes Thursday, Oct. 22, to recognize the contribution, which comes as the university seeks to establish its athletics program.
“Their contribution sets a powerful example for others to follow and helps lay the foundation for a successful athletics program that will enrich the student experience and bring our University and the community closer together,” Stephenson said.
Bryan Brooks, the university’s vice president of student affairs, enrollment management and strategic communications, said athletics will help build school spirit and become part of the student experience as Florida Poly grows. The university has not disclosed the program’s overall budget or how much additional funding it expects to seek.
“I think there’s great potential here,” Bob Knight said, “and it’s wonderful to be part of something that’s just getting started.”