Darci Hutchinson
When Darci Hutchinson gets involved in something, she gives it her very best. The Arkansas City native and Cowley County Community College sophomore is a serious student. She holds a 4.0 grade-point average while majoring in accounting. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, is a Student Ambassador, is a member of Mu Alpha Theta (math and science club), and holds an off-campus job at Dillon's in Arkansas City. And her major activity is softball, where she is a returning starter in left field after earning first-team All-Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division and first-team All-Region VI as a freshman. She hit .344 with 29 runs scored and 24 runs batted in. Defensively, she nearly was flawless, posting a .973 fielding average with just one error. These are just a few reasons why Hutchinson recently was named January Student of the Month at Cowley.

"I am very honored," said Hutchinson, the daughter of Lonnie Hutchinson and the late Ruth Ann Hutchinson. "There are so many students here on campus. To be picked like that, I am really happy."

Not only is Hutchinson involved at Cowley, she's also popular. Last fall, she was a finalist for Queen Alalah. And last spring as a freshman, she was a candidate for homecoming queen. But Hutchinson's nature isn't to seek attention. Just the opposite, really.

"I think a Student of the Month is someone who works very hard at everything they do," she said. "Someone who never gives up on things. Someone who's always there to help if anybody needs it. They're there to lend a hand, to be kind and friendly toward others."

Hutchinson also was named Ambassador of the Month for December. For most of her life, Hutchinson has seemed mature for her age. Although she said she hasn't changed much in her nearly two years at Cowley, there are a few differences from when she graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1999.

"I've grown up a lot," she said. "I'm more responsible."

Hutchinson, her older sister Jill and older brother Darren all had to become more responsible when their mother died in 1995. Darci was in the eighth grade. Responsibility will take on a new meaning this fall when Hutchinson transfers to Oklahoma State University.

"It will be the first time I'll be living on my own," she said. "I'll see what it's like. I've always lived at home or here at Cowley. I'll be with two roommates from Ark City that I've known since I was little, so that will help. It will be another good education, just like here at Cowley."

Hutchinson plans to pursue a master's degree in a business field once she completed her bachelor's degree. She also said it was likely she would take the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant.

"I feel prepared for OSU," she said. "I've taken all the requirements that I need to take that will transfer. I took some hard classes that will help me prepare for OSU. And my advisor, Bev Grunder, has helped me out a lot to get prepared."

Hutchinson doesn't plan to pursue softball at OSU, just concentrate on her studies.