Polk State’s High School Graduations are May 31, June 2 and 3

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

Each of Polk State College’s three high schools will celebrate their commencement ceremonies in the coming week.

Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School will be the first to graduate its Class of 2014. The school’s ceremony will take place May 31 at 3:30 p.m. at the Polk State Winter Haven Health Center, 999 Ave. H N.E.

Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College High School’s ceremony follows on June 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk State Lakeland Technology Building, 3425 Winter Lake Road. Gateway is the College’s newest high school, having just launched in August. This is its first graduation.

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School wraps up the high school commencement schedule at 6:30 p.m. on June 3 at the Polk State Winter Haven Health Center.

Polk State College operates three public charter high schools, including Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate in Winter Haven, Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate, and Polk State Lakeland Collegiate. All three high schools allow students to fulfill requirements for their diplomas while also earning college credits.

Details on the 2014 graduating classes at each school follow:

Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate

  • 139 graduates
  • 133 of those will graduate with honors, having earned a 3.2 or higher GPA
  • 58 graduates have a 4.0 or higher GPA
  • 49 students have earned their Associate in Arts degree from the College
  • Cumulatively, graduates have earned more than $3.5 million in college scholarships. Members of the class plan to attend colleges and universities across the country.
  • The valedictorian is Raani Islam, 18, a Winter Haven resident who has a 4.671 GPA and already earned her Associate in Arts degree from the College. Islam plans to continue her education at the University of South Florida to study biomedical sciences. Her career goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon.
  • The salutatorian is Christina Durrance, 18, a Fort Meade resident who has a 4.632 GPA and already earned her Associate in Arts degree from the College. She plans to attend Nova Southeastern University to earn a degree in chemistry.

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School

  • 139 graduates
  • 38 graduates have a 4.0 or higher GPA
  • 55 graduates have earned their Associate in Arts degree from the College
  • The class includes a recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship and a student who has received a commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corp.
  • Graduates will attend universities including Florida A & M University, Florida Southern College, Florida State University, Fordham University, New York University, Nova Southeastern University, Southeastern University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, and University of South Florida. Three students received full-ride scholarships to the institution they plan to attend.
  • The valedictorian is Jessica Killingsworth, 18, a Lakeland resident who has a 4.735 GPA and already earned her Associate in Arts degree from the College. She plans to continue her education at the University of Florida to study pre-med. Her career goal is to become an internist.
  • The salutatorian is Aubrey Salamin, 17, a Lakeland resident who has a 4.65 GPA and already earned her Associate in Arts degree from the College. She plans to continue her education at the University of North Florida to study chemistry and pre-med. She is considering becoming either a doctor or a physician’s assistant.

Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College

  • Nine graduates
  • Average GPA is 2.5
  • Average number of college credits earned per student is 8.33
  • Age range is 17 to 21

 For more information on Polk State’s high schools, visit polk.edu/highschool.