Phi Theta Kappa

The Mission
"The Purpose of Phi Theta Kappa shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa shall provide opportunity for the development of leadership nd service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence."

Chapter By-Laws Revisions
Member. In addition to meeting membership eligibility requirements as stated in Article IV and Chapter 1 of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws,* each candidate for membership must have completed 12 hours of associate degree course work, (none of which is developmental course work) with a Grade Point Average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and adhere to the school conduct code which includes no outstanding financial obligations to the college, in addition to demonstrating recognized qualities of citizenship.  Grades for courses completed at other institutions will not be considered when determining membership eligibility. A cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.35 must be maintained to remain in good standing. Failure to maintain the required cumulative Grade Point Average will result in the member being removed from good standing as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws,* Chapter 1, Section 3. Failure to meet good standing requirements as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws* will cause membership and all membership privileges to be revoked.

PTK played a big part in the college's participation in Relay for Life

The Alpha Gamma Upsilon chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Cowley College participated in the Cowley County Relay for Life on Friday, June 18 in Ark City.

The team, Promoters of Truth and Knowledge, organized and was in charge of children's activities which took place in the recreation building. Games, which followed the birthday theme of the relay, included ring toss, face painting, bowling, basketball, jewelry making, coloring, cupcake decorating and breaking open a pinata full of candy. Kids and family members also enjoyed free popcorn and sno-cones.

The team raised over $1500 for the American Cancer Society.

PTK members and guests pictured in no particular order include: Claudia Sotelo, Ali Nittler, Jordan Williams, Erin Griffiths, Heather Neloms, Kathy Bradshaw, Kiel Pratt, Irona Cliver, Tina Wohlford, Kylee Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Melinda Neal and Nancy Ayers.

PTK raises money to help with Relay for Life

The Relay for Life Team: Phi Theta Kappa raised a total of $762.21 during their recent bake sale and raffle drawing. Phi Theta Kappa members at Mulvane either donated or secured all of the raffle prizes. The baked goods and raffle prizes were displayed on tables in the lobby of the Mulvane Center. Members manned the tables for 10 days as students, faculty and staff purchased goodies and chances to win 16 different donated prizes. Prizes included a New Orleans Saints "Reggie Bush" Super Bowl jersey, an Ed Hardy gift pack, tickets to Midwest Rockfest and the Moscow ballet Coppelia, gift certificates to Spangles, an Italian restaurant, a pet resort, a flower shop, a concierge service and many more.

Students and staff gathered in the lobby to witness the drawings. Sighs and cheers rang out as the winners were announced. Phi Theta Kappa wishes to thank all who supported their efforts. They will continue to sell luminarias for $10 until the Cowley County Relay for Life event takes place on June 18.

PTK Receives Awards at International Convention

Six chapter members and two advisors from Cowley’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter joined over 3600 other Phi Theta Kappans who attended the 2010 Phi Theta Kappa International Convention at the Swan and Dolphin Hotel and Resort.  Those attending from Cowley were students, Phuong Huynh, Sarah Montgomery and Danielle Napier and advisor Melinda Neal from the Ark City campus; students James Walling, Irona Cliver and Justin Balmer and advisor Nancy Ayers from the Mulvane campus.  Over the course of the three day convention, students attended several forums where they were given insights into the new Honor’s Study Topic, “The Democratization of Information: Power, Peril and Promise”, and the new format for the 2011 Hallmark Award entries. Featured general session speakers were Dr. Rachel Maddow, nightly news talk show host on MSNBC and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, medical correspondent for CNN. During free time, the attendees networked with other members from around the world and took in the Disney experience. This included an evening at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and shopping at The Boardwalk and Downtown Disney.

The activities culminated in a banquet and awards gala on Saturday evening, where Alpha Gamma Upsilon and the Kansas Region were very well represented. The Kansas Region received a Distinguished Region Hallmark Award, one of only three in the nation.  Distinguished Region Awards are presented on the basis of achievement in many areas of programming, organizational structure and chapter participation. Irona Cliver, V. P. of Leadership for the Cowley chapter and V. P. of Alumni Relations for the Kansas Region, was awarded a Distinguished Regional Officer Award, one of only ten in the nation. The Distinguished Regional Officer Awards are presented for distinguished service, based on nominations submitted by Regional Coordinators. The Alpha Gamma Upsilon chapter was also named in The Top 100 Chapters, competing with over 1200 chapters internationally. Next year’s convention will be held in Seattle, WA.

Bowl For Kids Sake

Members of Phi Theta Kappa at Mulvane enjoyed pizza, pop and prizes as they participated in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl For Kids' Sake.

The event took place at Thunderbird Bowl in Wichita on Sunday afternoon, March 28th. The Alpha Gamma Upsilon team raised over $1000.

As with many other charitable organizations, Big Brothers/Big Sisters is experiencing great financial challenges and any and all donations are greatly appreciated. If you would like to learn more about this organization or donate some time to a young girl or boy, please contact your local Big Brothers/Big Sisters office through www.kansasbigs.org .

Cowley’s PTK named Most Improved Chapter in the Kansas Region

Twelve members of the Alpha Gamma Upsilon chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and their faculty advisors attended the Kansas Regional Convention March 5-7 at the Marriott Hotel in Salina, KS.

The keynote speaker was Steve Thompson, BSNT, CSCI Program Director at Garden City Community College. He gave a presentation introducing the new honors study topic for Phi Theta Kappa for the next two years -- "The Democratization of Information: Power, Peril and Promise".

Students also participated in two service projects. "Pennies for Peace" were collected for the American Red Cross to help with the relief efforts in Haiti.

A select group of conference attendees traveled across town to the National Guard Armory and provided lunch for 53 guardsmen.

A Kansas Region business meeting was held and new regional officers were elected and inducted.

Students were able to choose from several interesting and relevant break-out sessions and representatives from several area universities were available to meet with students concerning scholarships and degree programs at their respective colleges.

At the awards banquet on Saturday evening, the Alpha Gamma Upsilon chapter at Cowley was presented with many honorable mentions, distinguished recognitions and distinguished hallmark awards, including Most Improved Chapter in the Kansas Region. (See list below).

As is tradition, the conference concluded with a dance following the awards banquet.

Several members and the advisors are planning to attend the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Orlando, FL April 8-11.

It is not too late to accept the invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa this semester. See Melinda Neal in Ark City or Nancy Ayers at the Mulvane Center for more information.

Honorable Mentions:
Sister Chapter Award (with Butler College) Yearbook Award – Irona Cliver
Distinguished Chapter President Award – Phuong Huynh
Paragon Award for Advisors – Nancy Ayers
Paragon Award for Advisors – Melinda Neal
Outstanding Chapter Award

Distinguished Recognitions:
Achievement in Art Award – Saundra Highsmith
Achievement in Literature Award – Irona Cliver
Chapter Communication Award – Whitney Hall
Distinguished Chapter Officer Award – Rebecca Johnson
Distinguished Member Award – Robin Ray

Distinguished Hallmark Awards:
Scholarship Hallmark
Service Hallmark
Most Improved Chapter
Five Star Chapter

PTK Spring Induction 2010

Approximately, eighty guests gathered in the Wright Room of the Brown Center on Sunday afternoon, March 28th to witness the induction of twenty-seven new members into the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at Cowley College.

 Attendees consisted of family and friends of the inductees, as well as some faculty and administrators. Nancy Ayers, Phi Theta Kappa faculty advisor at the Mulvane Campus, welcomed the inductees and guests.

Slade Griffiths, V. P. of Academic Affairs at Cowley was the keynote speaker. He spoke about the different “keys of life” and encouraged students to hold on to these keys and use them throughout their academic career and beyond.

Melinda Neal, faculty advisor at the Ark City campus, along with current Phi Theta Kappa officers conducted the induction ceremony and the new members were sworn in.

“It was wonderful to see so many family and friends at the ceremony, sharing this great honor with the students,” Ayers commented. "Melinda and I are hoping that many of these new members will decide to get involved in our chapter activities and reap the full benefits of membership in this honor society." All totaled, sixty-one students have joined the honor society so far this semester.  And it's not too late to accept the invitation to join this semester.

Applications and fees will be accepted until April 1st. If you have questions, contact Nancy Ayers in Mulvane or Melinda Neal in Ark City.

PTK students represent Cowley at honors luncheon

Recognized for being named to the Kansas All-State Academic Team, four Cowley College students were honored at a luncheon held at the Ramada Inn in Topeka. The State Academic Teams were introduced in 1994 as a way to provide scholastic recognition to Phi Theta Kappa members, while promoting excellence at two-year colleges.  The State Academic Teams are a division of the Academic All-American Team for Community, Technical and Junior College Students, an international program sponsored annually be Phi Theta Kappa, USA TODAY and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Representing Cowley College were Phuong Huynh and Aubrey Lyman from the Arkansas City campus, and Gregory Anderson and Rebecca Johnson from the Mulvane center.

Last year, more than 800 of the country’s finest community college students competed for recognition, spots on the national team and cash stipends.  The Kansas All-State Academic Team is designed to provide the same kind of recognition to the state’s two-year college scholars by saluting their academic achievement, leadership and service.

Each honoree was introduced and the president of the college awarded them an honorary medallion, certificate and a stipend to be used at the institution of his/her choice. Jill Docking, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, gave the keynote address.

Attending the luncheon from Cowley College were president Dr. Patrick J.  McAtee, vice president of academic affairs Slade Griffiths, vice president of student affairs Sue Saia, as well as Board of Trustees members Mark Patton  and Ron Godsey.  Phi Theta Kappa sponsors Melinda Neal and Nancy Ayers also attended the event.

Honorees and sponsors were given the opportunity to visit and tour the capital before the recognition luncheon.   One honoree from each of the colleges was recognized on the house floor on Thursday morning.  Phuong  Huynh, the college’s November Student of the Month, represented Cowley. 

PTK Adopts a Garden

Phi Theta Kappa is partnering with Keep America Beautiful for their international service project. 

Keep America Beautiful challenges Phi Theta Kappa chapters to look closely at the needs of their community, to engage faculty members and fellow students in meaningful action, to broadcast successes, to educate, and, above all, to take personal responsibility for the world around them.

Cowley PTK students chose to help with the garden area between Kerr and Galle Johnson. Their tasks range from planting new plants, pulling weeds, scrubbing rocks, watering, removing dying annuals, and planting spring bulbs.

PTK members pictured include, Sarah Montgomery, Taylor Oliver, Phuong Huynh, Judy Marks, Janessa Gould and co-advisor Melinda Neal.