Take Stock In Children - Polk County

08/14/2026

✈️ FLYING TOWARDS SUCCESS ✈️

Last week Take Stock Polk County attended the Take Stock in Children Back to School Summit in Orlando. For three days, our team networked with fellow affiliates, attended informational workshops, mingled with Florida state colleges and universities, and earned the Gold Level Excellence Award for the 2025-2026 school year!

We are looking forward to an excellent 2026-2027 school year equipped with new knowledge and information! We are so proud to serve our amazing high school students in Polk County Public Schools!

08/10/2026

We are so proud of all Glory has accomplished in high school and wish him well during his college journey! 🎓🎒✈️

Outstanding Senior Spotlight: Glory 💙🎓

We're proud to recognize Glory from Take Stock in Children of Polk County for his ambition, servant heart, and his remarkable ability to pursue two completely different dreams at once.

A senior at Central Florida Aerospace Academy and Kathleen Senior High School, Glory has logged 628.5 community service hours while serving in JROTC Drill Team, Student Government, National Honor Society, and the Kitty Hawk Honor Society.

This fall, Glory heads to the University of Florida to study Environmental Engineering, while simultaneously pursuing his pilot certification, with a long-term goal of retiring as an airline pilot before transitioning into environmental engineering full time.

Through Take Stock in Children, Glory's mentor helped him slow down and enjoy the day to day of high school, reminding him how impactful every moment of the journey truly is.

There is no limit to what you will do next. We are cheering for you, Glory. 💙

05/28/2026

Thank you WFTV Channel 9 for highlighting our wonderful program! We are so proud to serve our high school students in Polk County!

Take Stock in Children Polk Education Foundation

Take Stock in Children Polk County celebrates a successful year with a 100% graduation rate, expanded scholarships, and strong community support.

05/28/2026

Thank you Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center for letting the Polk Education Foundation host the Coffee Hour event on Tuesday! ☕🤝 We had a wonderful time networking with everyone and spreading the word about our wonderful programs!

05/22/2026

** Take Stock Year at a Glance**

Hi-Lite Coaching Workshop 🌟

The Hi Lite Coaching Workshop was a fantastic experience for our students, giving them practical tools to navigate both school and life with confidence. They explored strategies for balancing academics with personal responsibilities, and they began building essential career readiness skills through conversations about resume writing and interview skills. It was a meaningful night of growth and empowerment. Thank you to Hi-Lite Youth Programs, Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting Founder & CEO Jessica Villegas and Coach Nancy Abramson for helping our students succeed and for our continued partnership!

05/22/2026

🌟 A Standing Ovation for Our Take Stock Mentors!🌟

As we wrap up another incredible school year, we want to celebrate the heart of our program, our mentors. Your dedication, consistency, and belief in our students have changed lives in ways that will echo far beyond the classroom. Every conversation, every check‑in, every moment you chose to show up helped a student feel seen, supported, and capable of achieving more than they imagined. You are the reason so many of our scholars are stepping into their futures with confidence and hope.

To those considering joining us next year, there has never been a better time to make an impact. One hour a month can transform a student’s path. If you’re ready to be part of something meaningful, explore what it means to become a mentor, and learn how mentoring changes lives through scholarships, mentors, and hope please reach out to Deanne Audette [email protected].

Here’s to our mentors past, present, and future. Thank you for helping us build brighter futures, one student at a time. 💚✨

05/22/2026

**Take Stock Year at a Glance**

IES Residential Tour 🛠

The IES Residential tour gave our students interested in technical and trades careers an exciting look into hands on career pathways. During the visit, they learned about training opportunities in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical, and saw firsthand how these high demand fields offer strong career stability and growth. The tour helped students understand what residential trade work looks like in real world settings and sparked meaningful conversations about apprenticeships, certifications, and future job possibilities. Thank you so much to Chris and his amazing team of instructors for making this day informative AND hands-on!

05/22/2026

**Take Stock Year at a Glance**

Take Stock 2nd Annual Career Connect

Career Connect is an event designed to help students learn about potential career paths and make connections with industry professionals. Industry experts provided a priceless opportunity for networking and collaboration for our students and their futures as they explored their options for careers once they complete their post-secondary education.
In the style of "speed dating", Industry Representatives had 4 minutes with each group of students to deliver an elevator pitch, provide insights into their careers, educational background, salary expectations, and more. Students then had additional time at the end of the event to go back and network with representatives that interested them most.
Dinner was provided by GJQ, BBQ Competition Team from George Jenkins High School-Thank you Mr. Matt Townley!
A BIG THANK YOU to our 12 Industry Representatives for volunteering their time and providing our students with such an amazing learning and networking opportunity!
Bartow Ford- Blake Goodrich
Duke Energy- Clint Atkinson, Tim Schulze
Express Pros- Jim Plyler
Polk County Sheriff’s Office- Daniela Coy
Polk State College Programs- Jamie Selph, Jennifer Dunifon, Kevin Ferrier,
Leza Breckinridge, Maria Lehoczky, Rashod Webb
PreCon Construction- David Scmitt
Southeastern University- Jenna Kerchner
Tax Collector-Clifton Garcia
Wells Fargo- Maria Karnes and Robert Acosta

05/14/2026

🧡Welcome to our New Take Stock Mentors! 🧡

We are thrilled to welcome four new mentors to the Take Stock in Children family! Please welcome Law Office of the Public Defender, Blair Allen, Polk County Supervisor of Elections Melony Bell, City of Frostproof, Florida Government Mayor Michael Hutto, and YMCA of West Central Florida CEO, T.J. Wright. Your decision to step forward and support a Take Stock student’s journey shows incredible dedication, commitment, and belief in the power of education. Thank you for choosing to make a difference, our students are stronger because of mentors like you!

If you are ready to join the Take Stock family and begin making the difference in a student's life, please contact Deanne Audette, [email protected], or complete the New Mentor Application: https://formstack.io/D7DCD

Take Stock in Children Polk Education Foundation Polk County Public Schools

05/14/2026

How wonderful it would be to see you on May 26 at 7:30 am! Come join us for a sip! ☕ Polk Education Foundation Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center

You asked for it, we answered ☕

Join us for this month’s Chamber Coffee Hour, where the conversations are easy, the connections are genuine, and you might just walk away with a new idea (or two). This month, we’re joined by the Polk Education Foundation, sharing how local businesses can play a real role in shaping the future workforce right here in our community.

Whether you’re catching up with familiar faces or meeting someone new, this is one of the easiest ways to stay connected and involved.

📅 May 26, 2026
⏰ 7:30 AM
📍 1530 Shumate Dr., Bartow

Come for the coffee, stay for the conversations.