
Mom, son & daughter attending Polk State in person & online receive same great education

Tania Chandler and her son, Michael Garcia, are enjoying their Intro to Digital Media class at Polk State College in the hybrid format, which mixes online learning with face-to-face time in the classroom. Meanwhile, Chandler’s…

Metallica Scholar finds senses of stability and home at Polk State

Christopher Needham had a difficult upbringing and “had to do what I had to do to make ends meet.” But his life is now a bit easier thanks to his determination, a scholarship from Metallica’s…

Pandemic brings three generations to Polk State Digital Media

Katelin Downing is pursuing an Associate in Science in Digital Media Technology degree at Polk State College, where she now has the company of her aunt and grandmother in their Intro to Digital Media class.…

Polk State Metallica Scholar goes from strenuous jobs to rewarding career

From working in roofing, construction, truck driving, and warehouses, Billy McGahee has spent most of his life jumping from one physically-demanding job to another. At 36, he decided it was time for a change and…

Polk State grad says Lakeland Collegiate High School gave her tools and room to grow

For Adeika Looby, Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School benefited her in a variety of ways, from graduating high school with a college degree for free to accelerating her path to a career in criminal…

Polk State Chain of Lakes student on fast track to engineering degree thanks to opportunity to get free college in high school

Matthew Graham is a two-time International Science and Engineering Fair finalist whose future is undoubtedly bright as he plans to pursue his higher education and a career in engineering. He’s already on the fast track…

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School provided alumnus with free college and valuable experiences

Monte’kis Jones is a young college graduate who is gainfully employed as a financial analyst, but he wasn’t always so certain of his goals and the pathway to achieving them. Through his experience as a…

Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate student: Get the best parts of high school and a college degree at COL

Jenna Webb always anticipated going to Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School as her brother and sister did, and as a lifelong accelerated learner herself, having attended Berkley Accelerated Middle School and Polk…

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School graduate to students: Don’t think you’re not smart enough for college

Ciera Baldwin was hesitant when her mother encouraged her in middle school to one day enroll at Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School, where she could complete her high school diploma and her associate degree…

Polk State grad whose education was made possible by public transportation lands job with Citrus Connection

Chandrionna Norman is graduating with Polk State College’s fall 2020 class and, because public transportation made it possible for her to get to and from class throughout her college journey, Norman aspires to dedicate her…