Born to Soar: First baby born at Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital receives Polk State Foundation scholarship

When baby Liam entered the world at 11:44 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, weighing 7 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 20 inches, he became the first baby born at Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital on its opening day.

Before leaving the hospital, Liam received something few newborns ever do: a pathway to a college education.

Thanks to a partnership between Orlando Health and the Polk State College Foundation, the family’s first child has been awarded the Born to Soar Scholarship, which will provide full tuition, fees and required books at Polk State College when the time comes to pursue higher education.

“It is an honor and a joy to provide this gift of a Polk State College education. From day one, Liam has a clear path to college and life-transforming opportunity, and the family can rest assured that our Foundation will provide financial support to ensure success,” Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas said. “Congratulations to them and thank you to Orlando Health for its continued partnership.”

For mom Anaïs and dad Yassir, the day was already one they will never forget.

“We are honored to welcome our first child on your very first day,” Yassir said. “Thank you to the incredible team for making such a special moment unforgettable. We’ll always share this unique connection.”

While no one can know what the future holds for Liam, one thing is certain: before taking a first step, attending a first day of school or choosing a career path, a community has already invested in the child’s potential.

“We created the Born to Soar Scholarship because every child deserves the opportunity to pursue a future defined by possibility, not financial barriers,” said Steve Warner, Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the Polk State College Foundation.

Born to Soar is funded entirely through the generosity of Foundation donors. The scholarship was announced as part of the opening of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, the first hospital to open in Lakeland in more than a century and a major investment in the health and future of Polk County.

“One of the most joyful moments at a hospital is a baby making its entrance into the world,” said Carlos Carrasco, President of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.  “We are happy for Liam and his parents and we know this birth will be the first of many newborns taking their first breath at Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.”

Polk State is a Preferred Education Program partner of Orlando Health, which allows Orlando Health team members to pursue a degree or certificate at Polk State with no out-of-pocket costs. Polk State’s Health Sciences and Nursing programs are proud to boast 100% licensure pass rates, illustrating the College’s success in training highly skilled healthcare professionals.

Born to Soar reflects a shared commitment to creating opportunity for the next generation. When eligibility requirements are met, the scholarship will cover full tuition, fees and required books for any degree program at Polk State College.

For the Polk State College Foundation, the scholarship is rooted in a simple belief: a student’s future should be determined by their talent, determination and ambition, not their ability to pay for college.

Every year, Polk State students overcome significant obstacles to earn degrees that transform not only their own lives but also those of their families. Many become the first in their family to attend college. Many go on to careers that create stability, opportunity and lasting change for future generations.

Today, those possibilities belong to Liam as well.

As family members gathered to celebrate a new life, they also received a remarkable reminder that a child’s story is unwritten yet full of potential.