CCC Students Caitlin Hollinger and LaToya Johnson to be Honored in Topeka

Two students from Coffeyville Community College will be honored at a noon business luncheon in Topeka on Thursday, February 16th, as members of the All-Kansas Academic Team, part of the All-USA Academic Team Program. Representing CCC are Catilin Hollinger, daughter of Arthur and Judy Hollinger of Wichita and LaToya Johnson, daughter of Brishawn Johnson and the late Floyd Johnson of Coffeyville.

The event will be held in the Regency Ballroom of the downtown Ramada Inn with Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer as keynote speaker.  Earlier in the day, team members from the Kansas community colleges will have the opportunity to tour the Capitol, meet with legislators and be introduced in the House chamber.  Following the luncheon at the Ramada Inn, Kansas Region Phi Theta Kappa Coordinator Tammy Fuentez will be in charge of the presentation of the Kansas Phi Theta Kappa all state awards.

Caitlin Hollinger serves as President of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at CCC.  She has been named the organization's Outstanding Member of the Month as well as the chapter’s nominee for Outstanding Chapter Officer in hallmark competition.  Hollinger represented the chapter at the Honors in Action field trip to Montezuma, N.M., American Cancer Society Advocacy Day at the state capitol and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Marathon in Memphis, Tenn.  Hollinger presents the Phi Theta Kappa report at each CCC Board of Trustees meeting and has participated in more than 20 chapter fundraisers to help send members to the international convention.  

Hollinger was selected to be the team captain of the CCC women’s soccer team.  She is a member of the President's Honor Roll and was nominated for Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges and Vocational Technical Schools. She has participated in radio and television programs to promote Phi Theta Kappa and is an active supporter of the CCC Relay for Life Team.  In the community, Hollinger coached soccer for youth in the under-12 age group, assisted with Operation Christmas Child and Friends of the Brown Mansion projects.  She is employed by Four County Mental Health, Quest Foundations, as a psycho-social aide.

LaToya Johnson serves as the Vice President of Fellowship for the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at CCC.  She has been named the organization's Outstanding Member of the Month.  She represented the chapter at the Honors in Action field trip to Montezuma, N.M., the Kansas Region Convention in Manhattan, Kan., and the International Processing Center for Operation Christmas Child in Denver, Colo.  Johnson has been actively engaged in more than 20 chapter fundraisers.  

Johnson is also a member of the CCC track and field team.  She throws the weight, hammer and shot put.  She was a member of the President's Honor Roll for two semesters and the Dean's Honor Roll for one semester. She was nominated for Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges and Vocational Technical Schools.  She is an active supporter of the CCC Relay for Life Team, assisted with Operation Christmas Child and Friends of the Brown Mansion projects.  She is employed by the Coffeyville Recreation Commission as a referee and scorekeeper.  She is an active member of the St. John's Church of Faith and assists with youth programs there and is on the praise interpretation team.

The All-USA Community College Academic Team is a partnership with the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa, and the Coca-Cola Foundation. The program honors nearly 400 students as representatives of all outstanding community college students around the world.

Nearly $500,000 in stipends were provided to students in 2011.  The All-USA Academic Team program names 20 students as Gold Scholars and each receive a $2,500 stipend, medallion, and are featured in USA Today.  Twenty students are named Silver Scholars and each receive a $1,500 stipend, medallion and are also listed in USA Today. Finally, twenty students are named Bronze Scholars and each receive a $1,000 stipend, medallion and are listed in USA Today.  The New Century Scholars Program presents a $2,000 stipend to the top scoring All-USA Academic Team nominee in each of the 50 states in the U.S. while the Coca-Cola Scholars Program awards a $1,000 stipend and certificate to the 300 students named finalists in the All-USA Academic Team program.  New Century Scholars receive recognition and stipends at the American Association of Community Colleges Convention in April.