In an evening more than four decades in the making, the Polk State College Foundation brought together generations of its Distinguished Alumni for the first time at a special dinner held inside Winter Haven Fine Arts (WFA). 

The event, hosted by the Foundation and the Alumni Association, marked a historic moment for Polk State College by honoring the leaders, innovators and changemakers whose careers have shaped Polk County and beyond.

Chris Nelson, Alumni Association President and 2015 Distinguished Alumnus, said he was excited to finally reconvene the now 85 Polk State graduates who have been given this award over the past 40 years.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was created to honor alumni of Polk State College who have contributed greatly to the school and the community. Each semester, the Polk State Alumni Association names one outstanding alum as its Distinguished Alumni, chosen not for a single achievement, but for a lifetime of excellence, leadership and impact.

“This room is filled with the very best of what Polk State has to offer,” Nelson said.

Among them were Jerry Hill, the College’s first Distinguished Alumnus in 1983. Hill served at State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit for 32 years before his retirement in 2017. Larry Williams, the most recent honoree, was also in attendance. Celebrated for his decades of service in law enforcement, Williams is now the President and CEO of Peace River Center. 

“Although both of these men were recognized 40 years apart, and like the other 83 in between them, they both exemplify the high standards and ideals of Polk State College Distinguished Alumni,” Nelson said.

Following dinner, Foundation Board Chair and 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Bo Boyte delivered an update on the Foundation’s strategic initiatives. He highlighted the Board’s work with consultants at CARTER to shape a new three‑year plan focused on expanding philanthropy and strengthening student success.

A major emphasis for the Foundation is the ongoing capital campaign supporting the College’s future Haines City–Davenport Campus, a project that will expand access for thousands of students in Northeast Polk County. 

“It is times like these we need our Distinguished alumni to think back on the positive impact this college has had on us and help support these future plans to give our students the best opportunity to succeed,” Boyte said.

Criminal Justice student ShiAnn Griffin shared with guests what her experience at Polk State has been like as a current student. Following her remarks, Steve Warner, Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the Foundation, took the stage to award her with the Polk State College Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship.

Polk State President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti spoke to the significance of the Distinguished Alumni network, calling the group some of the strongest leaders in Polk County and beyond.

She emphasized that alumni achievements not only elevate the College’s visibility but also reinforce its vital role in the region’s workforce and economic development. With the College preparing to expand to a seventh campus, Falconetti said that alumni engagement has never been more important.

As the evening closed, guests lingered, reconnected, traded stories and reflected on careers that began on Polk State campuses decades ago.

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