
Polk State celebrates graduates and first Education baccalaureate class

Polk State celebrated nearly 400 graduating students, including the first Education baccalaureate class, on Thursday during the College’s 119th commencement ceremony. Graduates heard inspirational messages from Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti and Distinguished Alumnus…

Single mom overcomes “culture shock” to achieve Polk State degree

Stephanie Cooper-Stewart emigrated from Jamaica in May 2009, leaving behind a good job, her family, and everything she once knew in her home country. After nearly a year of unemployment and becoming a single mother,…

Graduating student is living American Dream with Polk State degree

Konrad Sojko dreamed of a better life in the United States for more than a decade, and on Dec. 13, the Poland native will celebrate this achievement as he receives his Associate in Arts degree…

Graduating Polk State student doesn’t plan to use degree due to illness, but finished as an example for her children

Britainny Palmer may never use her degree due to illnesses that prevent her from working, but she was determined to graduate as an example for her three children and will celebrate this accomplishment on Dec.…

Polk State faculty and staff help student overcome adversity on path to graduation

Roxane Aupont’s mother sent her to the U.S. when she was only 15 in hopes of affording her opportunities she couldn’t obtain in Haiti. Since then, Aupont has overcome abuse and homelessness to ensure that…

Polk State will celebrate graduation of first Education baccalaureate class at College’s 119th commencement

Polk State College’s first Education baccalaureate class will graduate on Thursday, Dec. 13, during the College’s 119th commencement ceremony, and all of the teacher candidates have accepted positions with Polk County Public Schools. Nearly 600…

Lakeland Collegiate valedictorian, salutatorian heading to Ivy League schools

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School’s valedictorian, Kaitlyn Kelley, and salutatorian, Harrison Chen, will be attending Ivy League schools. Kelley has a 4.739 grade-point average (GPA) and will attend Dartmouth College. Chen has a 4.728…

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…

Top grad caps of Spring 2018

Polk State College’s 118th commencement ceremony was the largest yet, but many students stood out from the crowd of nearly 630 grad caps that filled the RP Funding Center in Lakeland on May 3. While…

Polk State celebrates largest graduation yet

Polk State College celebrated its largest commencement ceremony yet on Thursday, May 3, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. A sea of nearly 630 students filled the arena for Polk State’s 118th graduation, which…