
UCF Success Coach Motivates Students: “If I Could Do It, You Can Too”

When students become a part of the Eagle family at Polk State College, they also have the opportunity to become Knights or Bulls in training. Through the College’s partnerships with University of Central Florida’s Transfer…

Polk State Gives Student From Puerto Rico “Fresh Start”

The story of how Jose Ferrer’s life changed starts two days before Hurricane Maria razed his hometown of Aguadilla. Three months into his first semester of college, Ferrer sat in class at the University of…

Without JD Alexander Center, These Veterans Wouldn’t Be In School

For students at the Polk State JD Alexander Center, it’s all about location. Without Polk State College’s presence in southeast Polk County, many students would not be pursuing higher education because they would not be…

Aerospace Alumnus Learned More Than Flying Planes

Aaron Poidevin remembers the first time he thought he wanted to be a pilot. He was at MacDill’s Airfest. He was 8. “I was a kid watching airplanes doing tricks in the sky – of…

Academic Advisor Gives Students Choices About Their Education

College is incredibly exciting, but can also be difficult to navigate. Polk State College’s academic advisors make huge differences in the lives of students every day, not only by ensuring that they enroll in the…

Five Questions With Music, Humanities Professor Ben Pila

Julliard-trained guitarist Ben Pila joined Polk State in 2014 as a Music instructor, but this is his first semester as a full-time professor teaching Humanities. This new responsibility isn’t slowing Pila down, though. He has…

Alumnus, Academic Advisor Gives Back To “Institution That Gave So Much To Me”

College is incredibly exciting, but can also be difficult to navigate. Polk State College’s academic advisors make huge differences in the lives of students every day, not only by ensuring that they enroll in the…

Polk State JD Alexander Center Makes Education Possible For Mom And Daughter

For students at the Polk State JD Alexander Center, location is everything. Without Polk State College’s presence in southeast Polk County, many students would not be pursuing higher education because they would not be able…

School Bus Driver Plans Move To Classroom With Bachelor’s Degree

Toni Montoya gets on her Polk County Public Schools bus at 5:45 a.m. each weekday to begin the first of three routes, but when she drops her last students off at 8:30 a.m., Stambaugh Middle…

Polk State Alumna Finds Her Purpose Helping Homeless Through The Arts

Joyce Irwin warns visitors that the paint on her hands and apron is dry, greeting them with a bear hug and excitement to show off the Repurpose Art Studio adorned with crafts of the homeless…