Polk State Business student to become first graduate of ROTC Program

Alondra Oquendo Cosme will be among more than 90 students to graduate with their Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management during Polk State College’s 133rd Commencement on Wednesday night. In another regard, however, Oquendo Cosme is a trailblazer.

Oquendo Cosme is the first graduate to complete the Polk State ROTC Program – a partnership between Polk State and Florida Southern College.

“To be the first is pretty neat,” Oquendo Cosme exclaimed. “The ROTC Program provides a lot of experiences and opportunities. It’s been a lot, but I’m happy I did it and I’m proud of myself.”

Through the program, Florida Southern provides the full ROTC curriculum, training and military science instruction for all cadets enrolled through its partner schools. Students remain fully enrolled at their home institution while completing their ROTC military science classes, leadership labs and field training at Florida Southern.

“Polk State and Florida Southern have provided great environments,” Oquendo Cosme added. “I really love having the opportunity to learn on different campuses. The ROTC Program also provides a lot of study abroad opportunities.”

A 2022 graduate of Haines City High School, Oquendo Cosme has been a member of the U.S. Army Reserves since 2021 – when she was just 17 years old. Upon graduating, she hopes to join the U.S. Army as an active-duty member.

“I stayed in the reserves and joined ROTC to keep military service as a possibility,” Oquendo Cosme noted. “It gave me options.”

Oquendo Cosme already has one degree from Polk State. She took classes as a dual enrollment student while at Haines City and completed her Associate in Arts in 2023. Oquendo Cosme credited Polk State for expediting her academic journey in a number of ways.

Oquendo Cosme said she’s noticed more of her peers taking an interest in the ROTC program. She credits her professors in the Business Program and Shavonda Harris, Oquendo Cosme’s Student Success Advisor, for aiding in her success. It was Harris who made Oquendo Cosme aware of the program in the first place.

“All the Business Program professors have helped me to get where I am,” she exclaimed. “My advisor has helped tremendously with navigating my schedule while giving me life advice as well. Shavonda has really made me aware of all the opportunities that are out there.”

She hopes to take advantage of the U.S. Army’s Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), which annually accepts 35 active-duty officers to attend law school. Oquendo Cosme ultimately hopes to work as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG), which serves as the military branch’s legal arm.

“The Army gives you a bracket of networking that I haven’t found elsewhere,” Oquendo Cosme said. “I love to travel, and the military would allow me to do that.”

An automotive enthusiast, Oquendo Cosme took advantage of Polk State’s flexibility, which allows for online and in-person classes, to complete her studies while working full-time at the Walmart Automotive Center. She offered advice for those considering the ROTC Program or Polk State.

“Don’t give up,” Oquendo Cosme concluded. “I worked full-time, went to school and put a lot into it, but the staff have allowed me to find a way to balance everything. There are great people in the ROTC Program and at Polk State who are willing to help you get to where you want to go.”