Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) students and faculty from the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences represented PBA at the 2026 South Florida Christian Leadership Banquet on September 19, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The event was a great opportunity to, connect with leaders from businesses, government, ministries, and the South Florida community, sharing the University’s mission and academic opportunities.
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. The evening’s theme was “250 Years of Faith & Freedom” in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Throughout the exhibition and networking portion of the event, PBA representatives highlighted academic opportunities at PBA, while also giving students and faculty an opportunity to showcase their work. Computer science, among other student projects, offered attendees a closer look at the innovation taking place within the University.
The PBA representatives included: Associate Professor of Computer Science, Dr. Michael Kolta, Assistant Professor of Engineering Dr. Zijian (Terry) Weng, Professor of Engineering and Chair of the Engineering Department, Dr. Fred Browning, computer science students, Virginia Borja, Ethan Lawson, Jacob Potantus, Business Data Analytics 3+2 student Ying Yuan, and engineering student Sarah Reiff.
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 address reflected the nation’s founding principles as the country marks 250 years of freedom.
The program also included remarks from several 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:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lmrA0hyKOk&t=2s
For more information about PBA’s School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, click here.
