Determined, Kind and Bright: Polk State Mourns Professor Bane Cheek
Retired Polk State Biology Professor Bane Cheek, who spent over 20 years challenging his students and instilling in them respect for the environment, died Friday. He was 55. According to his obituary in The Ledger,…
Five Questions with Howard Kerner: Reflecting on 25 Years of Teaching Interpersonal Relationships
A quarter century ago, Polk State English Professor Howard Kerner quietly launched Interpersonal Relationships, hopeful that a dozen or so students might register for a course about communication, trust, and ultimately, love. Kerner filled…
Polk State Professor Publishes Collection of Short Stories, Poems
Polk State Humanities and Film Professor Mary Ann Murdoch has published her first book. “Of Earnest Grasping,” published earlier this year by Prana Press, is an 86-page collection of Murdoch’s short stories and poems. The…
Polk State Music Instructor to Perform at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art
Just months after garnering national attention for his performance during Pope Francis’ inaugural visit to the United States, Polk State Music adjunct professor Benjamin Pila will perform at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Pila’s concert…
Polk State’s Shea Nationally Recognized for Improvements to Online Criminal Justice Courses
Polk State Criminal Justice Program Director Sgt. Christen Shea has received national recognition for her efforts to improve the online learning experience for students. Shea, a sergeant with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, received the…
Five Questions With Herbert Nold: In Modern Business World, Adaptability Is the Key to Success
On his curriculum vitae, Polk State Business Professor Herbert Nold describes his research interests as such: “interpreting the organizational culture and dynamics needed to integrate diverse functional disciplines into a cohesive unit to improve performance…
Polk State Music Coordinator Conducts Statewide Chorus, Pays Tribute to Early Mentor
Polk State Music Department Coordinator John Anderson was selected to conduct the 2015 Florida Vocal Association’s Choral Directors’ Chorus, an honor that allowed him to pay tribute to his longtime mentor. “I’ve never been so…
Polk State Mourns Math Professor Carolyn Horseman, Who Spent Final Weeks Doing What She Loved — Teaching
Polk State College is mourning Carolyn Horseman, a dedicated educator who taught until the last weeks of her life. Horseman, 68, died Sunday. According to her obituary in The Ledger, Horseman was a native of…
Five Questions With Mary Ann Murdoch: How Everyone, Even Professors and Students, Can Incorporate Yoga Into Their Lives
Those who are less familiar with yoga may think of it merely as exercise that people do while in a specific location, during a specific period of time, and while wearing a specific type of…
Retired Polk State Professor Fulfills “Jeopardy!” Dream
A retired Polk State College professor has fulfilled her lifelong dream of competing on the game show “Jeopardy!” Kathy Riley will appear on “Jeopardy!” on July 9. Locally, the show airs on weekday nights at…