
Polk State grad goes from warehouse job to corporate career with internship & degree

Stael Saint-Eloi moved from Haiti to the U.S. in 2009 and quickly found Polk State College, where he dual-enrolled in high school and earned a public service scholarship that funded his associate degree. Saint-Eloi recalls…

Congressman Soto recognizes Polk State’s Yulonda Bell for Women’s History Month

Congressman Darren Soto recognized Polk State College’s Associate Dean of Student Services Yulonda Bell on the U.S. House of Representatives floor and during a virtual reception in honor of Women’s History Month. Bell’s accomplishments and…

Polk State grad shares how Aerospace Program puts exciting careers within reach

Shaundra Gibbs is a flight operations coordinator for Aero Air Charter in Pensacola, where she is exercising her education and training from both Polk State Aerospace’s aircraft dispatcher certification and aerospace administration degree programs. “When…

Polk State Aerospace student prepared for anything with education & training

What does Polk State College have in common with Jay Leno, Navy submarines, and a plane crash rescue? Well, they’re all part of Genesah Duffy’s journey. Duffy is a U.S. Navy veteran who was working…

Polk State EMS alum returns to program as clinical coordinator

Lisa Correll’s passion for education and pride in Polk State College’s Emergency Medical Services Program is evident upon meeting her. With a 10-year career in emergency medicine and as an alum of Polk State EMS,…

Polk State Metallica Scholar gets “new lease on life” after COVID shuttered small business

Andy Johnson owned a small video production company when the pandemic forced him to close his business and “find a way to reinvent myself.” Enrolling in Polk State College’s Metallica Scholars Program provided him with…

Young mother and daughter of migrant workers becomes first in her family to achieve degree – a Polk State Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Maricela Morales comes from a family built on a strong work ethic. Her father, from Mexico, went to school only one day in his life before his family needed him to stay on the farm…

Polk State student from Haiti graduating with Criminal Justice degree is inspired to help other immigrants

When Rooloph Rene emigrated from Haiti in 2018, he had four years of law school in his home country under his belt but thought he may have to change career paths in the United States.…

Graduating Polk State Nursing student dedicates degree to sister with rare genetic syndrome

Lorann Pate started her Polk State College journey early as a Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School student, but her calling to become a nurse began even earlier as she has grown up watching her…

Graduating Polk State student motivated by her daughters to achieve not one, but two degrees

When Millicent Whitehead came to the U.S. in 2001, she received her General Educational Development (GED) high school equivalency diploma but wouldn’t revisit her academic goals for nearly 15 years. She didn’t think then that…