Three Polk State collegiate high school students graduate with bachelor’s degrees

Three students from Polk State College’s collegiate high school programs are celebrating a remarkable achievement: earning their bachelor’s degrees before even receiving their high school diplomas.

Madison Gillis, Georgia Medrano-Flores, and Nia Bonney graduated with Polk State’s 132nd class on May 1 and represent a growing number of students who are taking full advantage of Polk State’s unique dual enrollment and collegiate high school opportunities. Through Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School and Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High School, these students have earned both their high school diplomas and college degrees — all at no cost to them.

“To graduate high school with a bachelor’s degree means I’m saving money, but I also have a head start in life,” said Bonney from Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate. “When I start my career, I’m younger and have more time to really do what I want to do.”

The collegiate charter high school programs, which also include Polk State Lakeland Collegiate, allow students to earn college credits while still enrolled in high school, with tuition, books, and fees fully covered. The initiative aims to break financial and educational barriers by providing motivated students access to higher education earlier than traditional pathways. The majority of students graduate with their Associate in Arts degrees.

For Gillis, the opportunity was a family tradition.

“I’m a third-generation Polk State student,” said Gillis from Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate. “I loved the variety of classes I was able to take here and this has given me a really interesting academic experience because I got to do all these different classes and not be restricted to one category.”

Medrano-Flores, also from Chain of Lakes Collegiate, echoed this sentiment of gratitude, crediting Polk State for giving her the ability to pursue academic ambitions beyond high school while still enjoying the structure and support of high school life.

“My experience in the collegiate program has been amazing,” she said. “The faculty, administrators, and teachers have all been incredibly supportive in my time there.”

Each of the three students has bold plans for the future. Gillis plans to begin her career in federal prosecution through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Attorney General Honors Program and aspires to ultimately work in a federally elected position. Medrano-Flores will pursue a law degree focused on public interest law to support underserved communities. Bonney is set to begin a master’s program in industrial and organizational psychology at Florida Southern College, aiming to work within healthcare organizations to improve systems through employee support.

All three credit Polk State’s programs with not only helping them save time and money, but also for equipping them with the confidence and preparation to succeed in college and beyond.

“You get that true dual enrollment experience,” Gillis said. “You are on the college campus…, but you still can participate in high school clubs, have high school friends, and have the guidance and the guidance counselors you have in high school that sometimes can’t transfer to college.”

“I would recommend Polk State’s collegiate high schools because of the opportunity for growth here,” Bonney added. “No matter your path in life, Polk State will accommodate it — and I really do love that.”

“It means a lot to me and my family to be able to graduate with my bachelor’s degree in high school,” Medrano-Flores shared. “The resources and the financial aid from Polk State have been incredibly helpful to me and my family.”

These students’ stories are a testament to the life-changing impact of Polk State’s collegiate high schools — where ambition, opportunity, and support come together to support student success.