Kids at College
Polk State held Kids at College in June and July on the Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses. Children ages 5-14 chose from a variety of classes in topics such as Rocketry, Art, Robotics, CSI, History, Science,…
Exude Confidence, Competence: Associate Vice President Naomi Boyer Shares Tips for Dressing Professionally at Work
As Polk State’s associate vice president for strategic initiatives and chief information officer, Naomi Boyer oversees a range of programs, from international study to information technology — and she manages to do it all in…
Five Questions with Cate Igo: Why the First Year Seminar is Required and How It Will Prime New Students for Success
Registration is underway for the fall semester at Polk State College, and as new students are selecting their classes, many of them are learning about a new graduation requirement: the First Year Seminar. What is…
Two Years in a Row: Polk State Alumnus Named Manatee County EMS Rookie of the Year
For the second consecutive year, a Polk State alumnus has been named Manatee County Emergency Medical Services’ Rookie of the Year. Earl Kulpa completed his paramedic certification at Polk State in 2014. In May,…
The Man Outside the Cath Lab: Six things You Didn’t Know about Cardiovascular Program Director Kevin Ferrier
As director of Polk State’s Cardiovascular Technology (CVT) program, which prepares students to assist physicians in such highly complicated procedures as catheterizations and stenting, Kevin Ferrier is used to sharing his academic and professional credentials.…
Polk State and Partners Win Federal Grant to Train Inmates for Manufacturing Jobs
Polk State College has been selected to receive federal grant dollars to train inmates for high-skill, high-wage, high-demand jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that the Polk Partnership for Industrial Employment, led by…
Dreams Realized and Memories Made: Polk State Students Study Abroad in Ireland
In June, a group of Polk State students visited Ireland to study English and photography. The group sent this dispatch describing their adventures in Dublin, Sligo, Ballyshannon, Derry, and Bundoran. “I fell in love with…
Polk’s Top Grads: Gateway Salutatorian Found Academic Footing and “Gained Confidence”
In two years’ time, Claudia Oppelt went from struggling student to salutatorian of Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High School. Oppelt, a resident of Lakeland, graduated June 6 as the second-highest student in…
Special Education Expert Richard Lavoie Motivates Teachers to Motivate Students
More than 500 teachers will head into the school year with newfound strategies — and renewed energy — for motivating their students after attending a Polk State-sponsored workshop featuring special education expert Richard Lavoie…
TALON Students Learn Sky, Literally, Is the Limit for Their Engineering, Programming Skills
Eight days into their TALON experience, middle school students from across Polk County have built, programmed and refined their own machines using LEGO Robotics kits. On Friday, during a drone presentation, they learned that…
