Polk State Center for Public Safety to Open in 2016, Will House Criminal Justice, EMS, Fire Science and Public Safety Institute
Polk State’s physical footprint will expand yet again with the Center for Public Safety, scheduled to open in January 2016. The Polk State Center for Public Safety will be located at 1251 Jim Keene Blvd.…
Polk State-Trained Paramedic: “The Patient Always Comes First”
Gov. Rick Scott has declared Jan. 5-9 First Responder Appreciation Week. Polk State College commends and thanks all those working in the public safety field. Here, News@Polk highlights Jared vanHoek, a firefighter/paramedic with Polk County…
Polk State Grad Finds Fulfillment Each Day in Work as Paramedic
Two pivotal years and a Polk State degree set Margaret Orozco on a path she never thought possible, and in following it, she’s found fulfillment she never could have imagined. “I love coming to work,” said…
“Father of EMS” Makes Textbook Come to Life for Polk Students
An education is built over time, assignment by assignment, lecture by lecture, course by course, semester by semester. Between registration and graduation, every day of a student’s education is a building block, a pivotal piece…
Polk State EMS Student Helps Revive Man After Heart Attack
Even weeks afterward, Tim Williams still gets the chills when he thinks about the scene that unfolded at the Lakeland Family YMCA, during his shift at the check-in desk. And as he recounts the story…
Polk State EMS Gives Annual Instructor, Preceptor Awards to Alumni
Polk State College’s Emergency Medical Services program presented its annual Instructor and Preceptor of the Year awards Saturday, recognizing two alumni who now dedicate countless hours to teaching current students. Receiving Instructor of the Year…
Polk State’s EMT Program Ranked Nationally for Return on Investment
Polk State College’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program offers one of the nation’s highest returns on investment, a new ranking shows. The College’s inclusion in the ranking, as well as that of several other Florida…
Polk State Lakeland Collegiate Student Wins Silver Garland Award
Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School student Rachel Kinder has received the county’s prestigious Silver Garland award for her more than 1,000 volunteer hours. The 37th annual Silver Garland award ceremony, co-sponsored by The Ledger…
Rescue Chief Shane Reynolds Eager to ‘Give Back’ to Polk State
It wasn’t that long ago that Shane Reynolds was studying to be an air conditioning technician, a field he didn’t love but that would pay the bills. Today, he’s the recently promoted rescue chief of…
Polk State EMT Students Now Best in State on Certification Exam
Polk State’s Emergency Medical Services Program is now No. 1 in the state in terms of students passing the emergency medical technician licensing exam. More than 90 percent of students passed the National Registry of…