
First-generation-in-college student: Mom’s dreams are my dreams, my dreams are her dreams

Marielys Cirilo’s parents moved from Puerto Rico to the U.S. as young adults with big dreams of going to college. But they quickly married and had children, and higher education became financially out of reach.…

Graduating student practices what she preached to her children

Teretha Robinson has attended Polk State College on and off for more than 30 years, coming up with “all of the excuses in the world” as to why she couldn’t complete her degree. “I had…

Polk State’s youngest bachelor’s student to receive degree May 3

Harrison Broer said his first day of college was weird. That’s because he was only 15 years old, and after completing his Associate in Arts degree a semester before graduating from Polk State Lakeland Collegiate…

From nurse to patient: Graduating student overcomes debilitating illness to achieve BSN

Amber Price has dedicated her life to helping and healing others, but soon after starting her career as a registered nurse at Winter Haven Hospital, she was forced to switch her role to patient as…

Clays for Courts

The Polk State College Foundation presented the annual Regal Lakeland Clays for Courts in partnership with The A.D. Morgan Corporation on April 20, 2018, at Catfish Creek Sporting Clays in Haines City. The event benefits the…

Graduating student: Polk State showed me I don’t have to be another statistic

Growing up, no one encouraged Keiona Haggins to go to school. “I was only told to not end up pregnant or in jail,” she said. She lived in a home where emotional and physical abuse…

Polk State to celebrate 118th commencement ceremony

Nearly 700 students with Polk State College’s 118th graduating class will walk the stage Thursday, May 3, at the RP Funding Center to receive their diplomas. The upcoming commencement ceremony, which will start at 6:30…

Alum, adjunct becomes Florida’s first internationally certified community paramedic

Earl Kulpa, a Polk State College alum and adjunct instructor in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program, recently became the first internationally certified community paramedic in Florida — among only 112 in the nation. Kulpa,…

Polk State Theatre’s 50th year concluding with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Polk State College will conclude its 50 years of theatre celebration with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” And on opening night, Thursday, April 12, Polk State Theatre and the Polk State College Foundation will host an…

Polk State College Victorious in 2018 Legislative Session

Senate Bill 540 is dead, the Polk State JD Alexander Center is safe, and Polk State College is victorious in securing funding for operational support this Legislative Session. Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed the…