Alum Anthony Evans Continues to Follow His Love for Physics

AVON PARK, Fla. – July 13, 2026 – “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” South Florida State College (SFSC) alumnus Anthony Evans quoted that line from the movie, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” in his May 2014 keynote Commencement speech.

Evans told fellow graduates, “Don’t ever take for granted how much your education will better your future, and most importantly, remember to take a step back from it all from time to time to appreciate how amazing your life truly is.”

In spring 2014, Evans had a bright future before him. However, he was met with challenges in life that he could never have imagined. Through his love for his children, his wife, his love of physics, and positive forces from the universe, he found his way back on track and is living the life he dreamed of.

Evans graduated with his Associate in Arts with a 4.0 GPA. He had been the president of SFSC’s Tau Epsilon chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society that recognizes and encourages academic achievement for two-year college students. He was awarded the 2014 outstanding Student for Honors General Physics with Calculus I and II and the 2013 outstanding Student for General Chemistry and was chosen to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa’s 2014 Coca Cola All-Florida Academic Team. In other words, he was an exceptional student.

Evans’ love for the study of physics was intense. At the time, he said, “If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would still pursue my doctorate in high-energy astrophysics. I love studying how things work. I see my professional goal as a means to apply that passion of understanding toward something that can provide a tangible benefit to our society.”

While still a student at SFSC, Evans and his wife divorced. At the time, he and his wife had a 1-year-old daughter for whom Evans wanted to provide a good life. He planned to complete a bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics.

Although, academically, all was moving forward, Evans felt that his vision of the ideal family was shattered. “I found myself frantically trying to pick up the pieces, desperately grabbing onto what little I could salvage, while continuing to pursue my academic aspirations,” he said.

Shortly before graduation, Evans met a woman who offered him emotional support and encouragement. The woman urged Evans to move to Gainesville, Fla., and he began his studies at the University of Florida (UF) in fall 2014.

“I always saw the best in others, and I was rather naïve to the toxicity that can occur in some relationships,” he said. “A year after the move to Gainesville, we had twin sons. While I hoped that our relationship would improve, it was inevitable that it would not,” he said.

Eventually, the couple ended the relationship, and Evans became involved in a custody battle that required he withdraw from UF. While fighting for custody of his children, Evans spiraled into a crippling depression. “For the next several years, I fought two custody cases — one for my twin sons and the other for my daughter. It took years of battling, saving money, fixing my debts, and struggling to overcome depression.”

About three years ago, things improved. Evans has partial custody of his three children and sees them as much as possible. In fact, he frequently plays the videogame, “Fortnite,” with his sons. Daughter Piper is now 13 years old and Evans said that she is very much a teen, “building her autonomy and independence.”

He has learned to forgive himself for mistakes he thought he had made along the way. He always felt that he had failed his children, despite knowing he’d done his best under the circumstances. Now, Evans revels in his relationship with his children. “Most importantly, they’re all happy and healthy,” he said.

He credits his current wife, Amber, for getting him back to his true calling — physics. “After hearing the excitement in my voice when talking about physics and how much I enjoyed helping fellow students when they struggled, how I excelled, she told me, ‘Anthony, you need to finish that degree. We need to make this happen for you. If you don’t get that degree, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.’ That hit me hard. I realized that I needed to pursue my dreams.”

After eight years, Evans applied to the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, where he could be closer to his children. When he received his letter of acceptance, he broke down in tears of happiness. He started his bachelor’s degree at USF in fall 2024. “Since then, everything I ever wanted in life has come together for me,” he said.

Evans became involved in research pertaining to cosmology, dark energy in particular. He worked with a visiting scholar at USF to develop a new means of evaluating dark energy. “As far as the contributions I’ll be making in physics, you’re going to have to wait another 10-15 years to see the full impact of those,” he said. “You’ll most certainly be hearing my name again in the future. I’m too determined at what I plan to do to not succeed.”

Evans graduates with his bachelor’s degree in Physical Sciences from USF at the end of this summer. He plans to continue his education and obtain a doctorate in Theoretical Cosmology. One of his goals is to gain a better understanding of the underlying nature of dark energy.

For decades, scientists considered that the expansion of the universe was caused by the Big Bang. More recently, it was discovered that the expansion of the universe is speeding up and that an invisible force, dark energy, may be the leading cause of that accelerating expansion. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) measures the effect of dark energy on the expansion of the universe.

“Until recently, dark energy wasn’t viable as an area of focus,” Evans said. “But, thanks to the data coming from the DESI, as well as our own method we’re refining at USF, it’s quickly becoming an area that’s not only viable, but might finally unravel its mysteries as we evaluate data.”

Rather than dwell on the past with negativity, Evans can stand back and see it all with positivity and as part of his life’s journey. “I can see now that the years I spent studying and applying business management earlier in life provided me with the foundation to one day run my own research facility,” he said. “My years in sales prepared me to secure grants and funding for my future work. The custody battles shaped my family dynamic in a way that makes it possible for me to pursue cosmology and astroparticle physics, while staying deeply connected with my children. Past relationships contributed to my personal growth, preparing me to handle a love as powerful and meaningful as the one I now have with my wife, Amber.”

“My story is that of perseverance and determination,” Evans said. “My path is now clearer than it’s ever been. Every single struggle makes sense now. I’ve learned that no matter how hopeless or painful life feels at times, it’s always trying to teach you something. You just have to pay attention. Learn from what life throws at you, follow your heart, and never give up. The universe won’t just move mountains for you, it will rearrange the very fabric of reality to put you exactly where you’re meant to be.”

Now, Evans never hesitates to stop and look around once in a while. He knows how amazing life can be.