Inspired by insights gained at the 2025 Talent Strong Florida Summit, Polk Vision successfully brought a high-impact college essay writing workshop to Polk County, forming a growing partnership with Southeastern University (SEU) and expanding student-focused resources across the region.
Bringing Inspiration Home
The initiative was sparked when Amy Nickerson, Director at Polk Vision, attended a breakout session on how to support students in writing impactful college application essays. It made a lasting impression.
“It happened at the Summit – I was sitting in the essay-writing session, and I immediately thought, we can and should do this in Polk,” said Nickerson. “This is something we can replicate locally and tailor for our students.”
Shortly after the Summit, Polk Vision partnered with Amanda Forrester and Dr. Annette Graves, creative writing professors at SEU, to design and lead a two-part workshop series on college application essay writing. The workshops were delivered to students at Mulberry High School and Fort Meade Middle Senior High School, receiving highly positive feedback.
Post-workshop survey results showed that “the majority felt the workshop was clear, helpful, and boosted their confidence. The color activity was the most frequently cited helpful element, often connected to self-expression and idea development.”
“By equipping students with tools to tell their stories and plan for the future, we’re supporting their path to higher education, economic mobility, and ultimately, prosperous and rewarding careers” said Braulio Colón, executive director of Florida College Access Network. “College readiness workshops play a critical role in this journey, helping students open doors to higher education – an essential step toward long-term success, increased earning potential, and greater life opportunities.”
Local Professors Lead Student-Centered Workshops
The collaboration hasn’t stopped at workshops.
Professor Forrester is now engaging her college students in the initiative through a new writing assignment where each student will create short essays offering advice to middle and high school students navigating the transition from secondary to post-secondary education.
The essays will be published on the student resource site BeTheFutureBeU.com, creating a peer-to-peer resource hub for all students.
Expanding Opportunities: Volunteer and Literacy Initiatives
Polk Vision’s Quality of Life team recently partnered with the Polk County Volunteer Office and its community Volunteer Managers group to enhance youth access to service opportunities. These community opportunities provide students with additional soft skills needed when they enter the workforce. For now, their involvement connects middle and high school students to real-world experiences that strengthen college applications and community ties.
Polk Vision continues to translate statewide insights into local impact, with students at the center of every initiative.