Pinning Ceremony May 2019
Polk State held its annual Pinning Ceremony on May 1, 2019, for nursing graduates. The candlelight processional represents the traditional “Light of Knowledge” and “Ray of Hope” associated with the lamp that Florence Nightingale carried…
Polk State Aerospace hosting open house May 30
Polk State College’s Aerospace Program will host an open house at Airside Center – East in Lakeland on Thursday, May 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to provide prospective students with information about degree…
Polk State professor receives national AACC Faculty Distinction Recognition
Polk State College Professor of Biology Lisa Smelser is making a difference both inside and outside the classroom, and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recently presented her with the 2019 Dale P. Parnell…
Polk State celebrates 120th graduating class
Polk State College celebrated nearly 700 graduates Thursday during the College’s 120th commencement ceremony, including Polk State’s first Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education class. Graduates, their families, and guests listened to motivational messages…
Polk State’s youngest and oldest graduates have more in common than you may think
They have 55 years between them, but Polk State College’s youngest and oldest spring 2019 graduates have more in common than you may think. Miles Carson, 17, and Toni Hession, 72, will receive Bachelor of…
Polk State graduate wants to be there for students like teachers were there for her
Growing up, Heather Monteleone didn’t have a strong female role model in her life, so she looked up to her teachers. She recalls one buying her a jacket when it was cold outside, and another…
Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School student is heading to MIT
Sergio Perez will receive his Polk State Associate in Arts degree before his high school diploma is even in hand, and once he has both, the first-generation-in-college student is heading to Massachusetts Institute of Technology…
Polk State student is heading to Stetson University’s prestigious Bonner Program
Andrea Gutierrez didn’t always want to go to college, but now she’s heading to Stetson University’s competitive and prestigious Bonner Program with a $40,000 scholarship. A first-generation Mexican-American and the first in her family to…
Polk State Fire Science Coordinator designs Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial
Jim Davis is well known for rigorously training highly-skilled professionals for central Florida fire departments, and that includes instilling in firefighters the importance of honor. After 42 years in the fire service, 30 years as…
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Polk State Theatre presented “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” April 11-14 and 18-21 at the Polk State Winter Haven Fine Arts Theatre. Directed by Professor Mark Hartfield, the classic musical…