
Polk State’s EMS Program steps up to fill Polk County Fire Rescue’s need for paramedics

When Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) approached Polk State about its need for paramedics, the College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program didn’t hesitate to figure out a way to put students on a fast track…

Miriam Spisak, founder of Polk State’s Radiography Program, leaves legacy of rigor and passion for students

Miriam Spisak maintained a reputation of rigor and excellence as the founder of Polk State College’s Radiography Program. She was strict, expecting her students to exhibit the highest levels of professionalism and passion for patient…

Supervisor in country’s busiest ER: Polk State Nursing is top notch


Thrill of critical thinking led Polk State alum to EMS career

Allison Skinner lives for the thrill of responding quickly and critically to the needs of her patients as a paramedic with Manatee County Emergency Medical Services. And after only four years on the job, Skinner…

Alum, WNCC EMS Program Director Graham Judd: Polk State’s program serves as exemplary model

Polk State College alum Graham Judd says Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program Director Don Guillette runs a tight ship, which Judd admits he didn’t fully understand when he was a student. But after more than…

Pinning Ceremony May 2018

Polk State held its annual Pinning Ceremony on May 2, 2018, for nursing graduates. The candlelight processional represents the traditional “Light of Knowledge” and “Ray of Hope” associated with the lamp that Florence Nightingale carried…

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…

Respiratory Care Program receives Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award

For the fourth consecutive year, Polk State College’s Respiratory Care Program has received the Distinguished RRT (registered respiratory therapist) Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The award is presented…

Nursing programs achieve reaccreditation, continue to meet standards of excellence

Polk State College’s Associate in Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs recently received reaccreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for exceeding standards and meeting criteria that determine…

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,…