Criminal Justice student ShiAnn Griffin stood before a crowd of alumni at the 91重口鈥檚 inaugural Distinguished Alumni Dinner on Thursday evening to share her story, defined by resilience, rediscovery and a growing commitment to serving her community.

Griffin, a mother of two, began her time at Polk State pursuing an Associate in Science in Digital Media Technology with a specialization in Graphic Design. It was a dream of hers since high school. But, as she recalled with a smile, 鈥済raphics from 10 years ago are not what they are today.鈥� Realizing the field had changed, she shifted her focus and successfully completed her Associate of Arts (AA) degree in May 2025.

It was during her AA coursework that Griffin found unexpected direction. Her favorite professor, Carol Martinson, introduced her to community-based learning, a class project that soon became a passion. Through volunteering with organizations like No Limits and spending time with elderly residents at Lakeland Presbyterian Apartments, Griffin discovered the impact of compassion, consistency and community support. 

鈥淚t also showed me how easily some individuals can be overlooked when those systems fail,鈥� she said. 鈥淪eeing those gaps up close made me someone who wants to be part of a solution.鈥�

That desire to help others resurfaced last summer when Griffin found an old high school portfolio containing a newsletter she had once designed announcing her dream major: Criminal Justice. She enrolled in Introduction to Criminology to 鈥渏ust to try it out.鈥�  She now says that decision changed everything. 

鈥淚 was hooked,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淭he same desire to serve and protect that guided my community work was the same thing drawing me toward Criminal Justice.鈥�

Griffin is on track to complete her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in May 2027 and aspires to join the Polk County Sheriff鈥檚 Office as a deputy before pursuing detective work in Special Victims Unit investigations. Long鈥憈erm, she hopes to serve as a private investigator for the United States Selective Service. 

鈥淪ometimes life leads you toward places you can be unsure of,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut listen to yourself, follow your heart and you will end up right where you are supposed to be.鈥�

Following her remarks, Steve Warner, Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the 91重口, took the stage to make a surprise announcement.

鈥淭hank you for sharing your story tonight,鈥� Warner told Griffin, noting the room was filled with alumni who have dedicated themselves to serving their community. 鈥淲e want to show our appreciation for a future alumna who has already chosen community service. It is my honor to present you with the Polk State College Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship to cover all your courses and books this semester.鈥�

鈥淚 am completely blown away and grateful beyond words for this scholarship,鈥� Griffin said.

Scholarships like the Polk State College Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship are possible thanks to donor support. Visit foundation.polk.edu/donate to increase access to quality higher education for students like Griffin.

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Scarbor has a clarity forged by experience and a vow she refuses to abandon. 

鈥淚 am a 55鈥憏ear鈥憃ld student on a transformative journey to fulfill my lifelong ambition and a dying promise to my late mother,鈥� Scarbor said. 

The promise to become the first in her family to earn a degree in the healthcare industry has become the compass for every lecture, lab and clinical shift. 

鈥淭he world of medicine has always fascinated me鈥� My passion for continuous learning in the medical field has been an enduring force in my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his drive has led me to pursue a career in radiography, where I can contribute to patient well鈥慴eing through cutting鈥慹dge imaging technology and precise diagnostics.鈥� 

Just as important, she centers care on empathy. Scarbor said compassion is at the heart of patient care and strives to make every individual feel valued and understood.

Like many adult learners, Scarbor is candid about the practical pressures that can shadow progress. She is currently unemployed while enrolled full鈥憈ime. Transportation is a constant variable in a schedule that spans the classroom and clinic. 

鈥淩eceiving this financial aid makes a world of difference by easing my burden and allowing me to focus on my education without constant anxiety over how I will reach my clinical sites,鈥� she said.

But Scarbor鈥檚 story also reaches beyond her own milestones. She ties her education to broader work in access and equity, seeing the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in the evolving landscape of healthcare and the responsibilities that come with it. 

鈥淭he Civil Rights Movement played a pivotal role in reshaping U.S. healthcare, particularly in enhancing patient care for marginalized populations, including access to radiographic services,鈥� she said.

Looking ahead, she plans to lend her voice and skills where they can make a measurable difference, intending to one day become a member of the American College of Radiology (ACR) so she can advocate for those less fortunate.

Scarbor frames her progress not as a solitary success but, as a signal to others who are weighing the cost, the time and the risk of trying. 

鈥淢y story is one of resilience and hope,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope it inspires others to pursue their aspirations fearlessly.鈥�

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