Polk Vision Launches a College Enrollment Workshop Series for High School Students

Polk Vision is pleased to announce that the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) has awarded a two-year grant to the Local College Access Network (LCAN) for Polk County, facilitated by Polk Vision, to “launch and scale collaborative programs designed to lower systemic barriers to college enrollment post-high school graduation for under-represented student populations.”

What does this mean for the Classes of 2025 and 2026? It means Polk Vision is offering a College Enrollment Workshop Series led by community partners, focusing on the following topics:

• Financial Literacy and General Budgeting (January 2025)
• Financial Aid and Scholarship Portfolios (February 2025)
• Navigating the College Application Process (March 2025)
• Understanding Financial Aid Packages, College Costs and Budgeting Limited Resources (April 2025)

Additionally, participating parents and students are invited to attend college campus tours curated especially for them. Activities will always be supported by bilingual translators and college-enrolled peer mentors. Each year, participating students who enroll in and attend post-secondary classes the semester following high school graduation will participate in summer bridge activities and receive a small College Spending Account.

The January Project launch was a huge success, reaching 25 students at 3 high schools. Ms. Sara Beth Wyatt of the LiFT Institute at Southeastern University presented a Budgeting 101 lesson for parents and students. The Lift Institute offers a free, online class to learn more about the basics of financial management.

The February workshop series will address Basics of Financial Aid, Completing the FAFSA Form, and Navigating Scholarship Applications. If you are interested in mentoring high school seniors through the college enrollment process, please reach out to Polk Vision’s Education Coordinator, Amy Nickerson, at amy@polkvision.com to find out how you can help.