
Polk State Chain of Lakes valedictorian earns top spot and bachelor’s degree

Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School valedictorian Georgia Medrano-Flores is no stranger to challenging herself academically. Doing so, however, hasn’t kept her from being active in extracurricular activities, doing what she loves and…

Aviation enthusiasts claim Polk State Lakeland Collegiate’s top spots for 2025

Both Polk State College Lakeland Collegiate High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian have an aviation background. Over their two years at Lakeland Collegiate, both soared to great heights. As is the case with most of Polk…

Gateway valedictorian and salutatorian heading to Florida universities

Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High School’s top two graduates plan on going in different directions career-wise, but the two will remain in state. Valedictorian DeLacey Kennedy and salutatorian Jamania Colo topped the…

McKeel student follows in sister’s footsteps, earns Polk State bachelor’s degree in high school

For high school students looking to earn a college degree, Polk State College offers multiple paths. Perhaps no one knows that better than the Burse family. A dual enrollment student at McKeel Academy of Technology…

Polk State collegiate high school student to graduate with AS in Aerospace Administration

About 70% of students enrolled in one of Polk State College’s three collegiate high schools earned an Associate in Arts degree with their diploma in 2024. This year, Tristin Petrosky has proven that an Associate…

Gateway student to earn Polk State degree at just 15

At an age where most students are just beginning high school, one Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High School student is set to earn a college degree. At just 15 years old, Arielle…

Mother and son to graduate together with Polk State AA degrees

Melissa Simon first enrolled in college a quarter-century before her son Stephen was born. On Thursday, however, they’ll be sitting next to one another as proud graduates of Polk State College. The two will each…

Polk State grad gets degree five decades after dropping out in memory of loved one

More than 50 years after dropping out of high school, Steve Gardner is prepared to walk across the RP Funding Center stage as a Polk State College graduate. Gardner will earn his Associate in Arts…

Live performances and exhibits return to Polk State’s renovated Fine Arts Building

With the newly renovated Polk State College Winter Haven Fine Arts (WFA) Building fully reopened, student and faculty performances and exhibits in Theatre, Music, and Visual Arts have returned for the Spring 2025 Semester. The…

Polk State collegiate high school students take top three spots in annual MLK essay contest

Coming back from winter break isn’t always a thrill, but for three Polk State College collegiate high school students, it was a victorious January. Polk State 10th-grade students took the top three spots in the…