POLKcast

POLKcast, Polk State College’s official podcast, returns for its third season featuring distinguished alumni and standout athletes. Guests come from diverse walks of life and a variety of career fields, but they all have a commonality: they have built on the strong foundation they gained at Polk State. In this episode, Greta Cecchetti shares about her softball career across the globe after retirin...

POLKcast, Polk State College’s official podcast, returns for its third season featuring distinguished alumni and standout athletes. Guests come from diverse walks of life and a variety of career fields, but they all have a commonality: they have built on the strong foundation of knowledge they gained at Polk State College. In this episode, Christine Samuel, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for...

POLKcast, Polk State College’s official podcast, returns for its third season featuring distinguished alumni and standout athletes. The alumni featured this season come from diverse walks of life, have established successful careers in a variety of fields, and all have a commonality: they have built on the strong foundation of knowledge they gained at Polk State College to make differences i...

In the last episode of POLKcast season 2, Winter Haven Library and Teaching Learning Computing Center Director Chris Fullerton and Librarian Jarrod Jones share one of the newest resources available to students — the Student Learning Innovation Centers (SLICs) . The SLICs provide the technology, software, and assistance for students to create multimedia projects that will wow their peers and profes...

In this episode of POLKcast, Professor Rebecka Ramos entertains some grammar jokes and shares about Polk State College’s The Writing Studio — a valuable tutoring resource for students to receive assistance from the College’s dedicated English faculty both online and in person. The Writing Studio sessions are open to all students, who are advised to bring their writing assignments and q...

Tracy Porter is Executive Director of the Polk State College Foundation , which awards approximately $1.5 million in scholarships to Polk State students each year. In this episode of POLKcast, Porter shares the support that is available through the Foundation and how students can apply for scholarships . She thanks the Foundation’s generous donors and illustrates how their support is transfo...

In this episode of POLKcast, Polk State JD Alexander Center Director Andy Oguntola shares the critical importance of the Lake Wales Campus, which serves approximately 1,100 students each year — many who would not be able to access higher education outside of southeast Polk County. In 2018-2019, the Lake Wales Campus served a student population that was 53 percent ethnic minority , 66 percent...

Coordinator of Veterans Services Byron Loyd joins POLKcast for an episode in honor of those who have served in the military. Loyd shares the support available to veterans who are students at Polk State College and encourages students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to the College’s upcoming Veterans Day events: Polk State Veterans Day Event – Lakeland Campus Tuesday, Nov....

In this episode of POLKcast, Teaching Learning Computing Center (TLCC) Manager Kim DeRonda shares resources that are available at Polk State College to help students in need of food, hygiene products, information on social services, an environment accepting of those in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) community, and more. DeRonda, who serves as advisor of the Free To Be Me cl...

For Disability Awareness Month, Director of Disability and Counseling Services Kim Pearsall joins POLKcast to share the resources available to students at Polk State College to overcome barriers and eliminate boundaries along their college journeys. The Office of Disability Services provides access to college classes, programs, and activities for individuals with disabilities, and partners with th...

College can be difficult and finding a career after graduation can seem overwhelming, but Polk State’s Career Development Services gives students the guidance and skills they need to network with peers and employers, write resumes and interview, and be successful in the job hunt. In this episode of POLKcast, Jeannette Grullon, Coordinator of Polk State’s Career Development Services on...

Polk State’s First Year Experience (FYE) Program helps students transition to college and figure out what they are called to do academically and professionally. In this episode of POLKcast, Director of Academic Success Initiatives Cate Igo who leads FYE shares the resources available to students through the program. Also, listen for POLKcast’s first-ever giveaway!   Read the trans...

Season 2 of POLKcast aims to highlight the different services and resources available to students at Polk State College, from scholarships and career services to campus food pantries and disability services. In this “presidential” episode of POLKcast, Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti shares the full scope of services available at the College and why it’s important for stud...

When Dean of Student Services Larry Pakowski isn’t assisting students with navigating their college journeys, he’s helping others determine their “true colors” through the personality-identification system used by educational institutions, businesses, and government organizations as a conflict management tool. Learn more about True Colors and take the test at truecolorsintl...

Director of Purchasing Mark Lillquist joins POLKcast to talk about Star Wars and how he uses his interest in the epic space opera media franchise for good. As part of Star Wars costuming group 501st Legion , Lillquist participates in collective costume events, organized volunteer efforts, and charity work that brings people together through Star Wars fandom.     The post POLKcast: Mark L...

Dr. Annette Hutcherson, Director of Polk State’s Nursing Program, takes listeners on a world tour in this episode of POLKcast. While many know Dr. Hutcherson for her expertise in Nursing education, some may not be aware that Dr. Hutcherson has traveled to almost every state and will soon be able to say she has traveled to every continent, checking Africa off her list when she visits Egypt. &...

At Polk State, John Fynn is known for his passion for mentoring and motivating students, but many may not know that outside of the College he is popular for his hat- and fascinator-making skills. Inspired by the British fashion statement, Fynn joins POLKcast with his models Shakisha, Karen, Dot, and Stacey to give listeners an inside look into the art of millinery.   Read the transcript &nbsp...

A man of many hobbies, Polk State Biology Professor Joey Maier joins POLKcast to talk about shark tagging and how students can get their feet wet in Guadeloupe this spring break on a study abroad trip focused on environmental and ocean sciences.   Read the transcript   For more on the Guadeloupe study abroad opportunity, visit Polk State’s Institute for Global Initiatives and Open...

The work of Polk State Professor of Art Holly Scoggins is described as a Southern Gothic memoir that leaves viewers with something “beautifully haunted.” In this Halloween-inspired episode, POLKcast delves into the creepy, thought-provoking experiences that have inspired her artwork.   Read the transcript   Check out Scoggins’ work at  hollyscogginsart.com . The followi...

Melvin Thompson may be the POLKcast guest that students know best. Thompson serves as the Director of the Student Activities and Leadership Office (SALO),  but some may not know that he is an avid 80s toy collector. In this episode, POLKcast explores Thompson’s collection of childhood toys he just can’t let go of. Read the transcript    The post POLKcast: Melvin Thompson’s t...

Dive into POLKcast with Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School Guidance Counselor Peter Preston, lead singer of rock band Zen Fuse Box, credited with POLKcast’s catchy theme music. Read the transcript       The post POLKcast: Peter Preston & Zen Fuse Box appeared first on Polk State College .