Polk State Gateway’s 2022 class topped by trailblazers
Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian could probably both be described by a single word – trailblazers. Grace Joseph is the first Black female in the school’s history to…
Polk State Lakeland Collegiate’s top students get degrees for free in high school
Taylor Rickey and Laura Burse each began their high school careers elsewhere. Now, they’re leaving Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School as valedictorian and salutatorian. Rickey and Burse spent their first two high school years…
Polk State graduate gets opportunity in military cybersecurity
For Polk State College graduate Laura Jordan, a little advice from a professor has gone a long way. Come June, Jordan, 28, will be headed to Texas for basic military training as she enlists in…
Polk State Kids at College returns in person with full day & Friday options
Registration for Polk State Kids at College is open, and this summer is special in more ways than one. Not only will Kids at College return to Polk State’s campuses after two years of virtual…
Polk State Metallica Scholar overcomes adversity, gets opportunity to take guitar company to next level
As a musician, Noel Rosa’s resume speaks for itself, but there have been numerous trials and tribulations along the way. Rosa, 55, of Lakeland, takes great pride in finding solutions to his own problems. This…
Polk State graduate finishes what she started 40 years later
After five tries and four decades, Helen Hill graduated from Polk State College with a four-year degree. A 1982 graduate of Lake Wales High School, Hill, 58, of Babson Park, first attended Polk State in…
Graduating Charlie hangs up his feathers so Alex can spread his wings
Alexander Gonzalez has idolized superheroes in comic books and video games since he was a child, as their stories of overcoming adversity and doing good for the world served as inspiration and motivation while growing…
Polk State grad finishes what she started 30 years later
Jennifer Donnal was just a year out of high school when she first stepped foot on campus at Polk State College. Through trials and tribulations, Donnal is leaving the College 30 years later with a…
Sophomore Night: Baseball sophomores reflect on Polk State careers ahead of final home game
Come Wednesday night, 13 Polk State Baseball sophomores will take Bing Tyus Yard for the final time. The Eagles will celebrate Sophomore Night before playing host to Hillsborough Community College. The sophomores have varying stories…
OTA students help with stress relief in time for exams
As final exams approach, Polk State College students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program want their fellow students to do something critically important – relax. Each year, students from the program take part in…