U.S. Congressman Donalds encourages Polk State students to be civically engaged

Hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and community members made their way to Polk State College’s Lakeland Campus on Thursday to celebrate Constitution Day, commemorating the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution and reaffirming the importance of civic engagement and civil discourse.

U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds (R) served as the keynote speaker for the Lakeland Campus festivities. Florida Senator Rosalind Osgood (D) will serve as the keynote speaker in the afternoon on the Winter Haven Campus.

Donalds has served Florida’s 19th Congressional District, which includes parts of Lee and Collier counties, since 2021. Donalds spoke about works, like the Magna Carta, that served as a foundation for creating the Constitution and how it affects Americans today.

“We are the progeny of great work,” Donalds exclaimed. “The only way we’re going to keep our nation alive for another 250 years is for every generation to continue to choose the freedoms, protections, and liberties of the greatest governing document ever drafted in the history of mankind.”

A native of New York, Donalds holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from Florida State University. Previously in the banking, finance, and insurance industries, Donalds was elected in 2016 to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served as Chair on the PreK-12 Subcommittee during the 2018-2019 Legislative Session and as Chair of the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee during the 2019-2020 Legislative Session. Donalds has also served on the Board of Trustees at Florida SouthWestern State College and as a volunteer at his church and in youth sports.

“A kid from Brooklyn with no money on a Greyhound bus with a truck full of clothes came to Florida 30 years ago…to come to a state, build a life, build a career, build a dream, raise a family – all under the freedoms and protections that the United States Constitution has provided all of us,” Donalds said. “We have inherited a great nation. The way we keep this nation great is for the young people in this room, the young people all over Florida and all over this nation to always remember, first and foremost, that we have to protect our Constitution.”

To show their gratitude for his insights, service, and willingness to address Polk State students on Constitution Day, Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas and the College’s Presidential Ambassadors presented Donalds with a crystal eagle.

“There is no better way to recognize this important day while also advancing one of President Stasi’s priorities: creating opportunities for our students and College community to learn about civil discourse, civic engagement, and the importance of participating in our democracy,” said Presidential Ambassador Dennis Fetty, a Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School student.

Polk State’s Constitution Day festivities coincided with Kamoutsas’ Where Eagles Soar initiative. Kamoutsas has shared his vision for the College – specifically his first 90 days – which is built on preparing students for meaningful careers; ensuring that each student has the opportunity to achieve greatness; and developing responsible citizens who contribute to their communities.

“This was a great presentation,” Presidential Ambassador Christopher Jean Pierre said of the Constitution Day events. “It was great to have someone like Congressman Donalds speak to a College like ours, empower us, and remind us that this is a great country with great opportunities.”

In August, the Polk State Board of Trustees adopted an institutional neutrality statement, maintaining that the College keeps a neutral position on matters related to its operations and core business – education – while promoting intellectual diversity, freedom, of inquiry and civil discourse.

“Constitution Day is an opportunity to move beyond the classroom and connect our students with the ideas and institutions that shape our country,” Kamoutsas explained. “Congressman Donalds’ conversation with our Lakeland Campus community gave students the chance to consider the Constitution not simply as a historical document, but as a foundation for how our government operates and how citizens participate in our constitutional republic. These conversations are central to what we do as a College — encouraging curiosity, independent thought, and a willingness to engage with ideas different from our own.”

The Moccasin Battalion, Polk State’s ROTC Program hosted by Florida Southern College in partnership with Southeastern University, kicked off the festivities with the presentation of colors. Presidential Ambassador Dennis Fetty then led the Pledge of Allegiance. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd provided the welcome before Kamoutsas introduced Donalds.

“Events like this are an opportunity to come together, listen, learn and engage in the spirit of civil discourse,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who provided a welcome and introduced President Kamoutsas. “Today, as we recognize Constitution Day and reflect on the principles that shape our nation and our democracy, it is especially fitting to hear from a leader who has dedicated his career to education and public service.”