Polk State-LEGOLAND® Building Higher Prepaid Scholarship student celebrates graduation and career

Traditionally, students land their careers after years of schooling and graduation from college. For Lilith Johansen, school came after she was already happily employed and building her career at LEGOLAND^® Florida Resort.

That’s because LEGOLAND^® Florida Resort incentivizes its employees — known as Model Citizens — to pursue their higher education and career goals. And the company trusts Polk State College with providing the highest quality of education and workforce training for its employees; that is why in 2018 LEGOLAND^® Florida launched the Polk State College Network at the resort and in 2021 it invested $30,000 through the Polk State College Foundation to establish the Building Higher Prepaid Scholarship Program.

In December, Johansen became the first Model Citizen to graduate from Polk State through the program. She received her Associate in Arts degree and is now enrolled in the College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management Program while serving as a Hotel Team Leader at LEGOLAND^® Florida Resort.

“While working at LEGOLAND^® I found a direction with my career,” Johansen explained. “That gave me a lot of drive to come back to school and complete a bachelor’s degree.”

Her family moved from Washington to Florida while she was in high school. She ended up getting her GED and enrolling at Polk State, but quickly paused her studies to go to work. She landed a job at LEGOLAND^® in 2021.

That’s when she learned of the Building Higher Prepaid Scholarship opportunity, which covers Polk State tuition costs for eligible Model Citizens up front that are not already covered by other forms of financial aid.

“Polk State College was a really great local option for me, and it was one of the most affordable ones in the area,” Johansen said. “[Building Higher] helped me pay my way through my tuition with what I wasn’t able to cover through financial aid.”

“Graduating with my AA meant a lot to me because I never got to have that experience walking across the stage wearing the cap and gown,” she reflected. “When I get my bachelor’s degree it will mean a lot to me because it’s something that I never thought that I would have completed.”

Johansen added how the Building Higher Prepaid Scholarship paired with the flexibility of Polk State’s classes sets her up for success in balancing both her academics and her career.

“I do online classes in order to balance my work and home and school life. That helps me with being able to continue working full time, taking care of my family at home, as well as getting my education completed,” she said.

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management Program also applies directly to her experiences in the field.

“I’m using my education from Polk State at LEGOLAND^® by applying the things that I learn into my every day. Right now I’m taking a number of business courses and an advanced communications course which are very useful. The skills that I’m learning [are] very useful for what I do [in] my job, whether it’s with guests, other departments, or other people within my department; the skills I am learning help me with being able to provide better customer service and to also be able to communicate with my peers better,” she said.

As she looks ahead to completing her bachelor’s degree, Johansen shared her goals and appreciation for her employer and college for making them possible.

“I’d like to continue my career at LEGOLAND^® Florida Resort. I would encourage other LEGOLAND^® employees to take advantage of the Building Higher scholarship,” she said. “It’s never too late to complete your education and if it’s something that you’re not able to afford, Polk State and LEGOLAND^® are willing to work with you to make sure that that’s something that you’re able to achieve.”