Houk, Arnold Represent Cowley on PTK Team

Megan Houk and Joel Arnold, Cowley students of the month last fall, represented the college on Feb. 13 during the seventh annual Phi Theta Kappa honors luncheon in Topeka. Houk and Arnold were among 40 community college scholars from Kansas honored for their academic accomplishments. The luncheon was held at the Holiday Inn West/Holidome in conjunction with February’s Kansas Board of Regents meeting.

Houk, the daughter of Cindi Houk and Loren Houk, was named October 2001 Student of the Month at Cowley. She played for the Lady Tiger volleyball team two years, served as president of the Student Government Association during the fall 2001 semester, and was a member of PTK. She served Cowley as a Student Ambassador, and she was a finalist for the title of Queen Alalah last fall. She is a graduate of Valley Center High School. This semester, Houk is enrolled at Washburn University. She majored in psychology at Cowley.

Arnold, a sophomore elementary education major, graduated in December 2001. He was September 2001 Student of the Month. He was a member of PTK, Act One drama club, and Campus Christian Fellowship. He is the son of Therese and Stephan Arnold. He has had parts in Cowley musicals, and last spring was first runner-up in the annual Mr. Cinderfella Pageant. Besides his involvement on campus, Arnold also tutored for the special education classroom at Jefferson Elementary School in Arkansas City, and tutored grades 1-3 at Sacred Heart Catholic School, also in Arkansas City. He has served as assistant director for his church’s high school youth group in Kingman, and has taught Sunday school to fifth- and sixth-graders. He also dedicated time to visit residents of Medicalodge East in Arkansas City, and Park West Senior Plaza in Wichita. He graduated from Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita. This semester, Arnold was scheduled to go to New Mexico to conduct missionary work on an Indian reservation. This fall, he plans to enroll at Emporia State University to continue work toward a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

This year’s 40 students represent 36 communities. The scholars have been named to the 2002 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 40 individuals are part of a statewide student body of nearly 124,000 people enrolled in credit courses at the 19 Kansas community colleges.

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. About 500 U.S. community college students will compete for places on the first, second and third national teams. First-team members each receive a $2,500 stipend, and will be featured along with second- and third-team members in the April 22 edition of USA Today. Team members also are presented with medallions. Names of the students will be placed on the society’s Web site, www.ptk.org.

Spring 2002