Polk State College will celebrate 133rd commencement on December 3

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

Polk State College will celebrate its 133rd commencement on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. and include remarks by Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti, President of Polk State College, and Larry G. Williams, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and President of Peace River Center, who will be honored as the December 2025 Distinguished Alumnus.

Graduates will receive email communication from the RP Funding Center to redeem up to four tickets for their guests. Tickets are not needed for graduates or attendees 2 years old or younger.

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.

The Fall 2025 Graduating Class is comprised of 1,189 students who are eligible to participate in the 133rd commencement ceremony. Of those:

  • 98% are Polk County residents, with graduates also residing in Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Washington.
  • 255 will receive degrees from Polk State’s six baccalaureate degree programs.
    • 103 will receive the Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management
    • 22 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Sciences
    • 61 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    • 44 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
    • 19 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
    • 6 will receive the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
  • 607 will receive the Associate in Arts degree, which is fully transferable to any institution within the State University System.
  • 282 will receive the Associate in Science, which prepares students to transition directly into the workforce in fields including health sciences and engineering technology.
  • 45 will receive certificates, which give them a competitive edge in the workforce.
  • 48 will graduate Summa Cum Laude with grade-point averages (GPAs) of 3.9 or greater.
  • 88 will graduate Magna Cum Laude with GPAs between 3.75 and 3.89.
  • 187 will graduate Cum Laude with GPAs between 3.5 and 3.74.
  • 19 will graduate with 4.0 GPAs.
  • The youngest graduate is 15 and the oldest is 68.

Williams, a 1988 graduate of then Polk Community College, will be honored with the December 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Born and raised in Polk County, Williams also holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy University and a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Warner University.

He served the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for 34 years, starting as a part-time deputy and working his way through every rank, including Chief of the Department of Law Enforcement. In May 2022, he became Chief Executive Officer and President of Peace River Center, a nonprofit that offers behavioral health and emotional wellness services to assist individuals in reaching their full potential.

Williams is also a graduate of Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager Program, the FBI National Academy Class 260, the Southern Police Institute’s 114th Administrative Officers Course and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police.

Williams will provide the commencement address to the graduating class on December 3.