(Front l-r) Rebecca George of Denison, Kan.; Amelia Firns-Hubert of Lawrence, Kan.; Rainey Hall of Caney, Kan.; Cailtlin Hollinger of Wichita, Kan.; and CCC PTK Alumni, Danny Funk of Coffeyville, Kan. (middle l-r) Cecilia Kamau of Zambia; and Jacob Asbridge of Andover, Kan. (back l-r) PTK Advisor, Linda McFate; Tristan Zavala of Elk City, Kan.; Mary Calhoun of Coffeyville, Kan.; Kristi Pirsley; Lauren Cox of Coffeyville, Kan.; Jakey Dobbs of Afton, Kan. and Michael Frazier of Coffeyville, Kan.
Members of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College participated in their Society’s Kansas Region Convention held March 4-6 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Washburn University, Topeka. Theme for the convention was The Magic of Phi Theta Kappa. During the awards banquet on Saturday night, the chapter received the Continued Excellence Award and was named Most Outstanding Kansas Region Chapter. The chapter also received the Honors in Action plaque for their comprehensive and integrated Comparative Study of Childhood and Adult Cancer. Eta Gamma’s Haunted Tours of the Brown Mansion won the College Project category for the chapter. Last October, the chapter sponsored three nights of mansion “haunted” tours to fundraise for the Save America’s Treasures Matching Grant for Mansion restoration. The chapter also received The Great Idea Award for its Raven For a Cure Project to fundraise for the college’s Relay For Life Team. Concluding the chapter recognition was a Five Star Chapter Development certificate for over-all chapter programming and an Honorable Mention certificate in the Kansas Region Service Award Category. Several Eta Gamma members received individual recognition. Rainey Hall, CCC art student, received an Achievement in Art Distinguished Recognition for her pen drawing and mixed media entry portraying the International Honors Study Topic, The Democratization of Information: Power, Peril, and Promise. The art piece featured a semi human, semi robot with emphasis upon the power and peril of technology. The art piece also featured a ring of promise uniting the theme. CCC student Mary Calhoun received an Achievement in Literature Award Honorable Mention. Chapter president Jacob Asbridge was honored for his many contributions to his chapter and the Kansas Region by receiving the region’s Outstanding Officer Award. Jacob was also elected the Vice President of Alumni Relations which will allow him to continue his Phi Theta Kappa involvement after graduating from Coffeyville Community College. Deanna Montgomery, a student at Coffeyville’s Columbus Technical Campus was a candidate for the vice president of the southern district. Danny Funk, Eta Gamma Chapter Alumnus, received the region’s Honorable Mention Distinguished Alumnus Award. After graduating from Coffeyville Community College, Danny received bachelor and master degrees from Pittsburg State University and now serves as Director of the CCC Student Success Center. Eta Gamma member and Kansas Region President Jeremy Willard presided over the first general session which included a welcome by the Kansas Region Officer Team, roll call of chapters and parade of banners, a welcome by Washburn University and a keynote address by Chris Engle, former Northern District Vice President 2004-2005. Following dinner at the Washburn Union, keynote speaker, Devin Henderson, entertained the attendees with his magic and words of motivation. Devin is a multi-award-winning magician and nationally recognized speaker who travels the country with his unique bag of tricks and positive messages. His audience-interactive presentation was filled with magic and fun. Concluding Friday evening’s agenda was a regional officer political rally and fellowship activities. Saturday’s convention activities included an International Headquarters update from David Seale, Division 1 International Officer, State of the Region Report by Regional Coordinator Tammy Fuentez, a Kansas Region Business Meeting, and Regional Officer Candidate Speeches. The breakout sessions featured the topics of College Completion, St. Jude Service Project, Text Alert: What’s Happening to Communication, and Take Me Out to the Relay presented by Eta Gamma Officers Jakey Dobbs and Jacob Asbridge. Following lunch, the convention schedule included Regional Officer Elections, a final report on the Kansas Region Honors in Action Project, and an International Officer Candidate Presentation. The Conventions awards banquet was sponsored by the Kansas Independent College Association in the Capitol Plaza Hotel Shawnee Ballroom. Representing the Eta Gamma Chapter at the Kansas Region Convention were Jakey Dobbs, Lauren Cox, Cecilia Kamau, Moa Yang, Rebecca George, Jessica Pirkey, Kristi Pursley, Deanna Montgomery, Amelia Firns-Hubert, Caitlin Hollinger, Alexandria Black, Jacob Asbridge, Tristan Zavala, Michael Frazier, Jeremy Willard, and advisor Linda McFate. The chapter’s next event will be international convention April 5-10, in Seattle, Washington, where the chapter will present their Honors in Action Project.