Colby Community College Students Named to All-Kansas Phi Theta Kappa Academic Team

Kansas will salute 46 community college scholars for their academic accomplishments Feb. 17 in Topeka during the Sixteenth Annual Phi Theta Kappa Honors Luncheon. The luncheon will be held at the Ramada Inn Hotel in Topeka in conjunction with the February Kansas Board of Regents meeting.

Colby Community College students selected for the 2010-2011 All-Kansas Academic Team are Garrett Zweygardt (Colby) and Garrett Jones (Lecompton).

Representing 38 towns and cities, the state’s 19 community colleges, and a private two-year college, these scholars have been named to the 2010-2011 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.

Each scholar was selected by his or her own community college for the annual statewide academic team, and each scholar also is a nominee for the 2010-2011 All-USA Academic Team, sponsored by the newspaper USA Today, Phi Theta Kappa, and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Zweygardt serves as a Colby Community College Ambassador and is captain of the college Quiz Bowl Team. He is president of the Colby chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, was selected to “Who’s Who Among Junior Colleges,” and has been named to the President’s Honor Roll every semester.

Zweygardt, who will graduate from CCC in May 2011, plans to earn a degree in pharmacy.

Jones, who is majoring in architectural engineering, is a CCC Student Ambassador and was selected as a Presidential Scholar. He is Historian for the Colby Phi Theta Kappa chapter. The Lecompton native is a member of the Trojan cross country and track teams, plays in the Concert, Pep and Jazz Bands and was a member of Sunflower Singers and Concert Choir last year. He has been named to the President’s Honor Roll every semester and was selected to “Who’s Who Among Community College Students.”

In selecting nominees, presidents are asked to consider outstanding academic rigor and grade point averages; participation in honors programs; awards, honors, and recognition for academic achievement, and service to the college and community.

In addition, applicants are required to write an essay that focuses around one endeavor undertaken by the student that utilizes his or her community college education to improve the community or school.

Each student will receive a proclamation issued by Gov. Sam Brownback, an educational scholarship of $300, and an academic medallion. The Kansas Board of 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. The honored students are bringing parents, spouses, children, grandchildren, or grandparents to watch as they receive recognition.

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.

This year, more than 1,600 students nationwide will compete for places on the first, second and third All-USA teams. First team members each receive a $2,500 stipend, and will be featured along with second and third team members in USA Today. Team members are also presented with medallions. Names of the students will be placed on the society’s Web site, www.ptk.org.