Polk State presents Fiesta and ¡Viva Polk! scholarships

The Polk State Foundation presented two students with scholarships during the College’s Fiesta celebrations on the Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses.

Christine Herrejon was honored as the recipient of the Fiesta scholarship and Mario Aguirre was recognized as the recipient of the ¡Viva Polk! scholarship established by Polk State District Board of Trustees Chair Teresa V. Martinez, Editor and Publisher of ¡Viva Polk! magazine. Each scholarship is worth $500 and can be used toward tuition and books.

“A scholarship will help me so much with paying for transportation, such as gas, to get me to my different assigned clinicals throughout the next two years of my program,” Herrejon wrote in her scholarship application.

She is a student in Polk State’s Radiography Program.

“Getting into this program is an absolute dream and I am learning so much already,” she said. “A scholarship will also lift the stress off my back financially so I can be focused [on] my future career.”

Aguirre, an Aerospace Sciences student, expressed similar gratitude for the opportunity to be considered for a scholarship.

“When I was just a small child, I dreamed of being able to join all the birds and aircraft in flight up in the sky,” he wrote. “Watching these vessels glide smoothly across the horizon, utterly unphased by the bounds of gravity inspired me to want to get involved with aviation in some shape or form.”

As Aguirre got older and researched a career in aviation, he realized that education and training can be costly. However, Polk State offers an affordable pathway to the aerospace industry without sacrificing the quality of career preparation. In fact, Polk State Aerospace was named as a Best Value School. He is currently enrolled in the Associate in Science in Aerospace Administration Program.

“A scholarship would help make this journey a lot easier for both me and my family who have greatly supported me throughout my time in college,” he said.

To donate to the Polk State Foundation’s Fiesta scholarship, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/pscfd and select Fiesta scholarship from the drop-down menu. To donate to the ¡Viva Polk! scholarship, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/vp-pscos.