February 2, 2005

Ark City, Norwich students to represent Cowley College on PTK team

Amanda Hadicke of Arkansas City and Kassey VanGieson of Norwich will represent Cowley College on the 2005 Phi Theta Kappa All-Kansas Academic Team. The team, comprised of students from all 19 Kansas community colleges, will be honored at a noon banquet in Topeka Feb. 16.

The 10th annual luncheon will be held at the Holiday Inn West/Holidome in conjunction with the Kansas Board of Regents monthly meeting.

Hadicke, 20, is a sophomore majoring in biology. She holds a 4.0 grade-point average, is a member of PTK, the Math and Science Club and the Natural Science Advisory Committee. She is on the President’s Honor Roll and attends Cowley on a Presidential Scholarship. Outside of college, Hadicke does volunteer work at the Sedgwick County Zoo. She plans to transfer to Emporia State University.

VanGieson, 20, is a sophomore majoring in pre-veterinary medicine. She holds a 3.72 GPA and also is a member of PTK and the Math and Science Club. She is attending Cowley on an ACT Scholarship and has been listed on the President’s and Dean’s honor rolls. She is active in her church and volunteers for the Round-Up Kids program. She plans to transfer to Kansas State University.

Representing 33 communities, the state’s 19 community colleges, and a private two-year college, these scholars have been named to the 2004-05 All-Kansas Academic Team. The team is 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.

PTK 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 43 individuals are part of a statewide student body of more than 72,000 people enrolled in more than 615,000 credit hours taken annually at the 19 Kansas community colleges.

“We consider this a very worthwhile endeavor for all of the Kansas community colleges to come together and celebrate the achievements of the state’s outstanding students,” said Thomas Percy, a Hutchinson Community College history instructor who serves as Kansas Region Coordinator for the honor society. “These students are our finest, not only in the academic sphere, but also in terms of service and citizenship.”

Each scholar was selected by his or her own community college for the 10th annual statewide academic team, and each scholar also is a nominee for the 2004-05 All-USA Academic Team, sponsored by the newspaper USA Today, PTK, and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Each student will receive a proclamation issued by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, an educational scholarship of $300, and an academic medallion.

Traditionally, the Kansas Regents universities and Washburn University have provided scholarships in the amount of $1,000 for the All-Kansas Team recipients who transfer to their institutions. The students will go to the Kansas Statehouse prior to the luncheon, where they will be given a tour and meet lawmakers.