Barnett family donates $3M for Polk State College Northeast campus

Polk State College President Angela Falconetti presents Barney Barnett with a lab coat and stethoscope as his son Wesley Barnett and daughter-in-law Ashley Bell Barnett look on during the announcement of the donation. The money from the Barnetts will help develop the Polk State Haines City-Davenport campus, which will house the college's health sciences programs.

Barney Barnett gets his heart checked by his son Wesley Barnett with the stethoscope given to him by Polk State College President Angela Falconetti.

Wesley Barnett, Barney Barnett and Ashley Bell Barnett during the donation announcement Monday. Bell Barnett previously served on the Polk State Foundation board, and currently serves on the Polk State board of trustees and the state university system's Board of Governors.

Barney Barnett and his son Wesley Barnett announce a $3 million donation to Polk State College at the Polk State Airside Center West in Lakeland on Monday.

Polk State College President Angela Falconetti and Barney Barnett look at a $3 million donation to Polk State College on Monday.

Polk State College President Angela Falconetti speaks about the gift from Barney Barnett on Monday. The Barnett name is common on the campuses of Polk County's colleges and universities, as the family has given tens of millions throughout the decades.

Barney Barnett gets a hug from Polk State College President Angela Falconetti hugs Barney Barnett as they announce a $3 million donation. Barnett, a longtime Publix executive, was married to Carol Jenkins Barnett, a daughter of Publix founder George Jenkins. Together, they had a long history of philanthropy in Polk County and beyond. Carol died in 2021.

Ashley Bell Barnett, Barney Barnett, Wesley Barnett and Polk State College President Angela Falconetti hold a $3 million donation to Polk State College on Monday.

Students and staff at The Polk State Airside Center West attend a ceremony for a $3 million donation from the Barnett family. The Airside Center houses the colleges health sciences programs. The college hopes to make health sciences a major part of the new Northeast campus in the Haines City-Davenport area.

Ashley Bell Barnett and Barney Barnett walk past Polk State students and staff for the donation ceremony Monday. The ceremony was followed by a tour of the colleges health science programs at the Airside Center. Those programs will be housed at the northeast campus when it's finished.

Wesley Barnett walks past Polk State students and staff for the donation ceremony.

Leslie McElroy, clinical coordinator of the sonography program at Polk State College gives a sonograph demonstration to Ashley Bell Barnett and Barney Barnett during a tour of the health sciences program at the Polk State Airside Center West in Lakeland.

Polk State College student Dustin Marvin demonstrates the radiography virtual reality system during a tour of health science program Monday.

Polk State College president Angela Falconetti welcomes guests and students to the ceremony at the Polk State Airside Center West.

Polk State College students work in the cardiac cath lab at the Polk State Airside Center West.

Polk State College students work in the cardiac cath lab at the Polk State Airside Center West on Monday.

Polk State College radiography student Haleigh Franza gives her remarks during a presentation at the Polk State Airside Center West in Lakeland on Monday.

Jose Martinez, a Polk State College student in cardiovascular technology, gives Barney Barnett a tour of the cardiac cath lab at the Polk State Airside Center West in Lakeland.

Kevin Ferrieo, program director for cardiovascular technology at Polk State College, gives Barney Barnett a tour of the cardiac cath lab at the Polk State Airside Center West.

Bo Boyte, vice chair of the Polk State College Foundation, welcomes guests and students to a ceremony at the Polk State Airside Center West.

Leslie McElroy, clinical coordinator of the sonography program at Polk State College, gives a sonograph demonstration to Ashley Bell Barnett and Barney Barnett.

Kevin Ferrieo, program director for cardiovascular technology at Polk State College, gives Barney Barnett a tour of the cardiac cath lab.

The health sciences program at the Polk State Airside Center West in Lakeland will be a major focus of the new Haines City-Davenport campus.

Kevin Ferrieo, program director for cardiovascular technology at Polk State College, gives Barney Barnett a heart stent during a tour of the cardiac cath lab.

Kevin Ferrieo, program director for cardiovascular technology at Polk State College, with Barney Barnett and students in the cardiac cath lab.