Polk State Metallica Scholar goes from strenuous jobs to rewarding career
From working in roofing, construction, truck driving, and warehouses, Billy McGahee has spent most of his life jumping from one physically-demanding job to another. At 36, he decided it was time for a change and…
Polk State grad says Lakeland Collegiate High School gave her tools and room to grow
For Adeika Looby, Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School benefited her in a variety of ways, from graduating high school with a college degree for free to accelerating her path to a career in criminal…
Polk State Chain of Lakes student on fast track to engineering degree thanks to opportunity to get free college in high school
Matthew Graham is a two-time International Science and Engineering Fair finalist whose future is undoubtedly bright as he plans to pursue his higher education and a career in engineering. He’s already on the fast track…
Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School provided alumnus with free college and valuable experiences
Monte’kis Jones is a young college graduate who is gainfully employed as a financial analyst, but he wasn’t always so certain of his goals and the pathway to achieving them. Through his experience as a…
Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate student: Get the best parts of high school and a college degree at COL
Jenna Webb always anticipated going to Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School as her brother and sister did, and as a lifelong accelerated learner herself, having attended Berkley Accelerated Middle School and Polk…
Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School graduate to students: Don’t think you’re not smart enough for college
Ciera Baldwin was hesitant when her mother encouraged her in middle school to one day enroll at Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School, where she could complete her high school diploma and her associate degree…
Polk State grad whose education was made possible by public transportation lands job with Citrus Connection
Chandrionna Norman is graduating with Polk State College’s fall 2020 class and, because public transportation made it possible for her to get to and from class throughout her college journey, Norman aspires to dedicate her…
Lakeland Fire Department Rescue Chief dedicated to serving community achieves third Polk State degree
Shane Reynolds, Rescue Chief for the Lakeland Fire Department, will graduate with his third Polk State College degree this week and a passion for serving the community that is stronger than ever for this dedicated…
Graduating husband and wife support each other to the finish line at Polk State
Florentina Denis and Marquis McGary have a lot of similarities. They are paraprofessionals for Polk County Public Schools, interested in health sciences, and graduating cum laude with Polk State College’s fall 2020 class. With each…
First-generation-in-college student achieves family’s dream with Polk State degree
Graduating Polk State College student Anna Martinez will finish 2020 with a newborn baby and an Associate in Science in Business Administration as the first in her family of 10 to achieve a college degree.…