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When baby Liam entered the world at 11:44 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, weighing 7 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 20 inches, he became the first baby born at Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital on its opening day.<\/p>\n
Before leaving the hospital, Liam received something few newborns ever do: a pathway to a college education.<\/p>\n
Thanks to a partnership between Orlando Health and the Polk State College Foundation, the family\u2019s first child has been awarded the Born to Soar Scholarship, which will provide full tuition, fees and required books at Polk State College when the time comes to pursue higher education.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an honor and a joy to provide this gift of a Polk State College education. From day one,\u00a0Liam\u00a0has a clear path to college and life-transforming opportunity, and the family can rest assured that our Foundation will provide financial support to ensure success,\u201d Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas said. \u201cCongratulations to them and thank you to Orlando Health for its continued partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n
For mom Ana\u00efs and dad Yassir, the day was already one they will never forget.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are honored to welcome our first child on your very first day,\u201d Yassir said. \u201cThank you to the incredible team for making such a special moment unforgettable. We\u2019ll always share this unique connection.\u201d<\/p>\n
While no one can know what the future holds for Liam, one thing is certain: before taking a first step, attending a first day of school or choosing a career path, a community has already invested in the child\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe created the Born to Soar Scholarship because every child deserves the opportunity to pursue a future defined by possibility, not financial barriers,\u201d said Steve Warner, Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the Polk State College Foundation.<\/p>\n
Born to Soar is funded entirely through the generosity of Foundation donors. The scholarship was announced as part of the opening of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, the first hospital to open in Lakeland in more than a century and a major investment in the health and future of Polk County.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most joyful moments at a hospital is a baby making its entrance into the world,\u201d said Carlos Carrasco, President of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.\u00a0 \u201cWe are happy for Liam and his parents and we know this birth will be the first of many newborns taking their first breath at Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
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