CCC scholars honored in Topeka

Kansas will salute 46 community college scholars for their academic accomplishments Feb. 14 in Topeka during the Thirteenth Annual Phi Theta Kappa Honors Luncheon. The luncheon will be held at the Ramada Inn Hotel in Topeka in conjunction with the February Kansas Board of Regents meeting. Those in attendance will hear from Mark Parkinson, Lt. Governor for the state of Kansas.

Representing 38 towns and cities, the state's 19 community colleges, and a private two-year college, these scholars have been named to the 2007-08 All-Kansas Academic Team, sponsored by the international headquarters of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees, and the Kansas Council of Community College Presidents.

Phi Theta Kappa is the honor society for students attending community and two-year colleges. Membership is based on high grade point averages and other criteria, with members focusing on scholastic achievement and service to community and campus. The 46 individuals are part of a statewide student body of more than 91,000 people enrolled in more than 692,000 credit hours taken annually at the 19 Kansas community colleges.

"We consider this a very worthwhile endeavor for all of the Kansas community colleges to come together and celebrate the achievements of the state's outstanding students," said Ruth Randall, a Johnson County Community College associate professor/honors program facilitator who serves as Kansas Region Coordinator for the Honor Society. "These students are our finest not only in the academic sphere, but also in terms of service and citizenship."

Each scholar was selected by his or her own community college for the annual statewide academic team, and each scholar also is a nominee for the 2006-07 All-USA Academic Team, sponsored by the newspaper USA Today, Phi Theta Kappa, and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Colby Community College students selected for the 2007-08 All-Kansas Academic Team are Rachel LeFlore (Cheyenne Wells, Colo.) and Betty Rotich (Nairobi, Kenya). LeFlore is a sophomore majoring in English. She plans to transfer to Emporia State University where she will major in English and art education. Rotich graduated from CCC in December 2007 with an associate of arts degree and an associate of science degree. She is currently attending the University of Alabama.

Each student will receive a proclamation issued by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, an educational scholarship of $300, and an academic medallion. The Kansas Board of Regents universities and Washburn University have provided scholarships in the amount of $1,000 for the All-Kansas Team recipients who transfer to their institutions.

The students will go to the Kansas Statehouse prior to the luncheon, where they will be given a tour and meet lawmakers. The honored students are bringing parents, spouses, children, grandchildren, or grandparents to watch as they receive recognition.

Since 1991, Phi Theta Kappa, USA Today, and the American Association of Community Colleges have sponsored the national All-USA Academic Team Program. The Kansas program is an affiliate, and the Kansas students are all nominees for the national honor.

This year, more than 1,600 students nationwide will compete for places on the first, second and third All-USA teams. First team members each receive a $2,500 stipend, and will be featured along with second and third team members in USA Today. Team members are also presented with medallions. Names of the students will be placed on the society's Web site, www.ptk.org.