Polk State College to celebrate 134th graduating class on April 30

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

Polk State College will celebrate its 134th graduating class on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with two commencement ceremonies at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

The ceremonies will take place at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and include remarks from Dr. Anne B. Kerr, Interim President of Polk State College; Debbie Harsh, who will be honored as a Distinguished Alumna during the morning ceremony; and Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas, Florida’s Commissioner of Education, who will provide the commencement address during the evening ceremony.

The Spring 2026 Graduating Class is comprised of 1,115 students who are eligible to participate in commencement. Of those:

  • 90% are Polk County residents, with graduates also residing in Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Puerto Rico, Virginia and Washington.
  • 173 will receive degrees from Polk State’s six baccalaureate degree programs.
    • 88 will receive the Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management
    • 11 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Sciences
    • 25 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    • 28 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
    • 11 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
    • 10 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
  • 732 will receive the Associate in Arts degree, which is fully transferable to any institution within the State University System.
  • 187 will receive the Associate in Science, which prepares students to transition directly into the workforce in fields including health sciences and engineering technology.
  • 23 will receive certificates, which give them a competitive edge in the workforce.
  • 105 will graduate Summa Cum Laude with grade-point averages (GPAs) of 3.9 or greater.
  • 112 will graduate Magna Cum Laude with GPAs between 3.75 and 3.89.
  • 185 will graduate Cum Laude with GPAs between 3.5 and 3.74.
  • 49 will graduate with 4.0 GPAs.
  • The youngest graduate is 16 and the oldest is 55.

Distinguished Alumna

Harsh is a Winter Haven native who graduated in 1995 from Polk Community College with her associate degree, which laid the foundation for a career defined by leadership, service and impact. She recently retired after a distinguished four-decade career in the banking industry, in which she held senior executive roles, including Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources and ultimately Chief Culture Officer at CenterState Bank.

A dedicated civic leader, Harsh has served as Past President of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, the Auburndale Chamber of Commerce and the Polk Association of Chambers of Commerce. She is also a graduate of the Winter Haven Chamber Leadership Class XI and a graduate of Polk Leadership II. Harsh has also served on the local boards of the United Way of Central Florida and Heart for Winter Haven. Her commitment to community service and youth development has earned her numerous honors, including the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Banker’s Cup, recognizing her as Woman of the Year in 2019, and the Girls Inc. “She Knows Where She’s Going” award.

Distinguished Guest

Kamoutsas, the 29th Commissioner of Education for the state of Florida, leads the state’s efforts to expand education and career opportunities, strengthen parental rights and ensure transparency in schools across the state. Following Governor Ron DeSantis’ recommendation of Kamoutsas to serve as Florida’s next Commissioner of Education, the State Board of Education unanimously selected him on June 4, 2025. Kamoutsas is dedicated to preparing Florida’s students for their futures.

A native of Miami, Kamoutsas, began his career as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County, where he prosecuted some of the community’s most violent criminals. He later represented law enforcement officers as Counsel to the Dade County Police Benevolent Association. In 2019, he joined the Florida Department of Education’s Office of General Counsel, quickly rising to serve as General Counsel and then Chief of Staff. He went on to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff to DeSantis, overseeing policy in the Governor’s priority areas of education, law enforcement and emergency management.

Information for Graduates and Guests

Graduates have received email communication about their assigned ceremonies and information to redeem up to six tickets for their guests.

Attendees should be prepared for enhanced safety and security measures, including metal detectors and bag checks, and should review the RP Funding Center’s list of prohibited items: www.rpfundingcenter.com/group-services/prohibited-items.

Individuals who cannot attend in person can watch live streams of the ceremonies at polk.edu/academics/graduation.