Pictured are Cristin Shepard, second from left, and Meaghan Rettele, center. To Cristin's left is her mother and to Meaghan's right are her mother and father.
Phi Theta Kappa members Cristin Shepard and Meaghan Rettele represented Coffeyville Community College as members of the Kansas All-State Academic Team. The students joined 53 additional students representing 28 Kansas community colleges and extension campuses at the 22nd annual recognition luncheon and awards presentation held February 16 at the Ramada in Topeka. The event is co-sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa and the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees.
Members of the All-State Academic Team were given a tour of the capitol. Cristin Shepard was among those team members introduced on the floor of the House. Following the tour, the celebration luncheon was held in the Ramada's Regency Ballroom. The welcome was presented by Dr. Kim Krull, Butler County Community College President and introduction of distinguished guests by Linda Fund, Executive Director of the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees. The keynote address was presented by Dr. Jamie Washington, President and Founder of the Washington Consulting Group, a multicultural organization development firm out of Baltimore and President and a Founder of the Social Justice Training Institute. Introduction of the Phi Theta Kappa honorees was made by Mrs. Tammy Fuentez, Kansas/Nebraska Phi Theta Kappa Regional Coordinator. Each student was presented with a certificate, medallion, and stipend.
Kansas is one of 38 states participating in the All-State Academic Team program. The State Academic Teams were introduced in 1994 as a way to provide scholarship recognition to Phi Theta Kappa members while promoting excellence at two-year colleges. The State Academic Teams are a division of the All-USA Community College Academic Team, presented by USA TODAY and sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa and Follett Higher Education Group. The country's finest community college students competed for recognition, spots on the national team and scholarships. The Kansas All-State Academic Team is designed to provide the same kind of recognition to our state's two-year college scholars by saluting their academic achievement, leadership, and service.