Polk State Professor of Business brings research & worldly experience to the classroom
At Polk State College, students have access to professors with extensive professional experience, published research, and prestige among international industries. One of these faculty members is Professor of Business Paul Howe, who brings decades of…
Polk State grad driven to give family the American dream
Orlando Vera Perez’s journey as an undocumented immigrant in the United States has not been easy, especially as a student paying out-of-state tuition and having to overcome obstacles including the inability to legally drive or…
Polk State student lands internship on Capitol Hill with Congressman Soto
Polk State College student A’Lysha Neloms will take to Capitol Hill this summer as an intern with U.S. Congressman Darren Soto’s office. The Lakeland native who comes from a single-parent household with three siblings hasn’t…
Polk State graduate’s journey to nursing career started with believing in herself when others already did
As a child, Margarita Garcia felt the odds were stacked against her, preventing her from ever reaching her fullest potential. Her family had emigrated to the U.S., and she worked in the fields with her…
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…
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…
Single mom of five earns Polk State degree after 20+ years
It will be 22 years after she first stepped foot on a college campus that Sheena Blake will have earned her Associate in Arts degree, but the 39-year-old single mother of five is just getting…
Graduating Polk State Education student takes over her kindergarten teacher’s classroom
Myla Bence always knew she wanted to be a teacher, but it is serendipity that led her to taking over her own kindergarten teacher’s classroom at Berkley Charter Elementary, where she secured a job before…
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…
Polk State grad goes from warehouse job to corporate career with internship & degree
Stael Saint-Eloi moved from Haiti to the U.S. in 2009 and quickly found Polk State College, where he dual-enrolled in high school and earned a public service scholarship that funded his associate degree. Saint-Eloi recalls…