
Lakeland Collegiate student heading to college with $20,000 Bailey Family Foundation scholarship

Nick Davis doesn’t talk much about the time he was living in and out of homeless shelters with his mom. He was only a toddler. But Davis and his family have come a long way.…

Collegiate high schools celebrate classes of 2018

Nearly 400 students are receiving their high school diplomas from Polk State College’s three collegiate high schools this month, although many already have their college degrees in hand. Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High…

Governor reappoints Turner and Martinez to District Board of Trustees

Governor Rick Scott has reappointed Mark Turner and Teresa Martinez to the Polk State College District Board of Trustees for terms through May 2021. Turner has served on the Board since August 2011 and Martinez…

Polk State mourns loss of longtime professor who inspired with art

Robert Morrissey only planned to be at Polk Community College for a few years when he joined the art faculty in 1965, but that quickly turned into a few decades for the artist who inspired…

From nurse to patient: Graduating student overcomes debilitating illness to achieve BSN

Amber Price has dedicated her life to helping and healing others, but soon after starting her career as a registered nurse at Winter Haven Hospital, she was forced to switch her role to patient as…

Graduating student: Polk State showed me I don’t have to be another statistic

Growing up, no one encouraged Keiona Haggins to go to school. “I was only told to not end up pregnant or in jail,” she said. She lived in a home where emotional and physical abuse…

Interns share ideas with LEGOLAND Florida Resort executives

Polk State College students interning at LEGOLAND Florida Resort recently presented ideas for enhancing the guest experience to park executives, who provided positive feedback and constructive criticism to the interns. The exchange was an invaluable…

Polk State to celebrate 118th commencement ceremony

Nearly 700 students with Polk State College’s 118th graduating class will walk the stage Thursday, May 3, at the RP Funding Center to receive their diplomas. The upcoming commencement ceremony, which will start at 6:30…

Gonzalo Gutierrez named Florida College System SGA President of the Year

The Florida College System Student Government Association (FCSSGA) has named Polk State College Winter Haven SGA President, Gonzalo Gutierrez, President of the Year. Gutierrez, who is working on a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision…

Alum, adjunct becomes Florida’s first internationally certified community paramedic

Earl Kulpa, a Polk State College alum and adjunct instructor in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program, recently became the first internationally certified community paramedic in Florida — among only 112 in the nation. Kulpa,…