From agriculture to aviation, Polk County has played a major role in the center of one of the biggest states in the country. Now, as Polk celebrates its 161st birthday on February 8, we can take a look back to examine its growth and economic diversification over the years. Governor Madison Starke Perry created Polk […]
Working toward growth, Webber International University will embark on several construction projects this year. “We built a Learning Commons last year, which houses computer labs, tutoring offices, library, writing lab and the students’ favorite — a Starbucks. Moving the library let us repurpose that space for occupational therapy assisting, nursing and sports performance and fitness […]
Building on ideas from other cities, adding housing and jobs, and revitalizing downtown all lead to one thing: Lakeland is starting to see its true potential, City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said. “When we look at areas like Chattanooga, Tennessee, or Greenville, South Carolina, and everybody likes what those communities have developed into, I think some […]
Melody Rider, president of Keiser University’s Lakeland campus, said she’s very excited about 2022 after the Year of Pivot (2020) and the Year of Transition (2021). The Year of Pivot saw faculty and staff working from home, students learning remotely and many safety challenges on campus – all adding a lot of stress, she said. […]
Coming off a year of fundraising, Warner University President David Hoag is preparing for a year of planning in 2022, charting a path for the next five to 10 years at the southeast Polk County university in Lake Wales. “We just went through a capital campaign and raised over $25 million,” said Hoag, who has […]
The outlook for Florida Southern College (FSC) for 2022 is optimistic as the Lakeland school continues to tackle construction, add programs and engage students, said President Anne Kerr. “Our trajectory continues with robust enrollment of truly outstanding students, many of whom have world-class talent,” said Kerr, FSC’s president of 15 years. “Our professors are as […]
With 3,000 new homes anticipated to be built within the next three to five years, Dundee is experiencing the growth that’s enveloping the eastern side of Polk County firsthand. And that’s fine with Dundee Town Manager Tandra Davis, who said it’s the best thing happening in the small town. The population there has grown from […]
Developing new partnerships and continuing to spread the word on why education is important are two of Southeastern University’s priorities in the new year. “In 2022 we will renew our focus on collaborative access to education,” said SEU President Kent Ingle. “We recognize that the future of higher education relies on making education contextual through […]
As Polk County’s leaders prepare to head to Tallahassee for Polk County Day, they are clear about the message they want to send and the priorities they are seeking help with from Florida’s legislators. Polk County Day will be held in the state Capitol at 400 S. Monroe St. in Tallahassee on Jan. 26. The […]
Completing one building, watching construction start on another, welcoming more and more students to campus – those are just some of the many positive and exciting things to look forward to at Florida Polytechnic University in 2022. “The coming year is going to be a great one for Florida Poly, with lots of strategic growth […]