PBA News

PBA Connects with Community at Christian Leadership Banquet

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) students and faculty represented the University at the 2026 South Florida Christian Leadership Banquet on Sept. 19, held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, connecting with leaders from businesses, government, ministries and the South Florida community while sharing PBA's mission and academic opportunities.

Members of PBA's School of Liberal Arts and Sciences participated as exhibitors at the event, where they spoke with local professionals, prospective students and community leaders about the University and its academic programs.

The banquet, hosted by the South Florida Christian Leadership Network (SFCLN), brought together Christian leaders from across the region for an evening centered on faith, freedom and leadership, held under the theme "250 Years of Faith & Freedom" in celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary.

Representing PBA in the Community

Throughout the exhibition and networking portion of the event, PBA representatives welcomed attendees to the University's exhibition table and shared information about the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and its programs.

The display highlighted academic opportunities at PBA while also giving students and faculty an opportunity to showcase their work. Computer science projects and student work were among what was presented, offering attendees a closer look at the innovation taking place within the University.

Students also had the opportunity to speak directly with high school students considering their college options, sharing their experiences at PBA and answering questions about academics and student life.

Meet the PBA Representatives

Dr. Michael Kolta, professor of computer science, led PBA's participation at the banquet and connected with local organizations and government representatives about opportunities for PBA students. He also showcased his recently published book, Christian Ethics in Computers, Software, and Artificial Intelligence. Visit Dr. Kolta's website to learn more.

Dr. Zijian (Terry) Weng, assistant professor of engineering, represented PBA's engineering program and spoke with attendees about the University's engineering and physics offerings. Dr. Weng joined PBA in 2025 and leads the EPIC Lab, where his research focuses on flexible and wearable electronics, tactile sensing and advanced manufacturing.

Dr. Fred Browning, professor of engineering and chair of the Engineering Department, represented PBA's engineering and physics programs. The first theoretical physicist hired by PBA, he joined the University in 2003 and specializes in high energy particle theory. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Virginia Borja, a graduate of PBA's computer science and business administration programs, is pursuing her master's in computer science. As a student worker on PBA's web design team, she has designed numerous pages across the University's website and developed an AI chatbot for the team. See her portfolio and resume to learn more.

Ethan Lawson, a computer science major with a minor in psychology, showcased PEPPER, the brain-computer interface headset he helped build with fellow PBA students at USF's national hackathon, where the team earned first place. For the project, Ethan developed the backend architecture and AI pipeline that interpret real-time brain activity. Hardware, software, and the occasional rocket: see what Ethan's been building at lawsonethan.com.

Jacob Potantus, a senior computer science student and Farish scholarship recipient, showcased PEPPER, the brain-computer interface headset he helped build with fellow PBA students at USF's national hackathon. Jacob developed the front-end interface, using React, Next.js and Three.js to visualize the headset's real-time brainwave data.

Ying (Selena) Yuan, a Business Data Analytics 3+2 student and research assistant at the Rinker College of Business, showcased her research with Dr. Michael Kolta and Lawrence Burgee, published in Transformations. It explores STEAM education by integrating robotics, Python, music and mathematics to create engaging K–12 learning experiences.

Sarah Reiff, an engineering student concentrating in electrical engineering, shared her research on flexible, electrostatically-printed sensors with Dr. Weng through EPIC Lab at the banquet. She is also working on a senior capstone project modeling plasma contamination from chamber sputtering.

Creating Connections Across South Florida

The exhibition brought PBA representatives into conversation with professionals from a variety of sectors across South Florida.

Among the connections made during the event were representatives from local government interested in hiring interns, along with local businesses and community organizations. These conversations created opportunities for relationships that could extend beyond the banquet and benefit PBA students seeking internships, professional experience and connections within our Christian community.

For the students representing PBA, the banquet was also a chance to step outside the classroom — presenting their work to professionals, fielding questions from prospective students and seeing firsthand how their skills connect to the world beyond campus.

An Evening of Faith and Leadership

Following the exhibition and networking session, attendees gathered for the banquet program, which opened with a presentation of colors by the Fort Lauderdale Sea Cadets, the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem and an invocation, followed by praise and worship led by the Covenant Centre Worship Team.

The evening featured keynote speaker Bill Federer, a nationally recognized speaker, historian and best-selling author who has written more than 30 books on faith, freedom and American history. His keynote reflected on the nation's founding principles as the country marks 250 years of freedom.

The program also included remarks from a number of guest speakers from ministry, education and government, reflecting the South Florida Christian Leadership Network's broader mission of connecting Christian leaders from business, ministry and government while creating opportunities for relationships across the region.

For PBA, whose mission centers on enlightening minds, enriching souls and extending hands, participating in the banquet provided another opportunity to engage with the surrounding community while connecting academic and professional development with Christian faith.

Watch the video below to see more about the event: