Coffeyville Community College sophomore Eric Mueller and December 2013 graduate Karen Stoehr will be among fifty Kansas community college students honored as members of the 2014 All-Kansas Academic Team.  Members of the team represent approximately twenty Kansas Community Colleges and were selected in judging based upon academic achievement, campus and community involvement and an essay they submitted.

Eric Mueller is a political science major from Coffeyville.  He is a 4.0 student and plans to transfer to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, after receiving his Associate of Arts degree.  His many accomplishments at Coffeyville Community College include:  Phi Theta Kappa President and Vice President of Correspondence for the Kansas Region, Junior Advisory Council, Youth Philanthropy, Soundsations Show Choir, Presidential Scholars and Ellis Foundation Scholar.  Eric’s work experience includes Strimple Signs and Tavern on the Plaza.  Eric will be a candidate for the international presidency of Phi Theta Kappa during the Society’s international convention April 20-26 in Orlando, Florida.  Eric is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Danny Christmore of Coffeyville and Mrs. And Mrs. Paul Mueller of Ft. Atkinson, Wisc.

Karen Stoehr is an environmental science major and graduated from CCC in December with an Associate of Science degree.  At CCC, she served the Eta Gamma Chapter as secretary.  Karen attends CCC on the Katherine Smith Memorial Scholarship and achieved a 3.96 G.P.A.  She participates in the Digital Communications Department.  Karen has been active in the Coffeyville community assisting the Relay For Life Committee, Red Cross Blood Mobile, and the Osage Springs Vineyard which she helped to plant.  Karen will transfer to Pittsburg State University where she will receive the Academic Achievement Award Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship, and has qualified for the All-Kansas Academic Team $1,000 Scholarship.  Karen is the daughter of Mr. Harry Apley of Coffeyville and the late Rose Apley.

The Coffeyville students will be honored in Topeka February 13, where team members will have the opportunity to tour the capitol, have appointments to visit their legislators, and to be introduced on the floor of the House Chamber.  Following the Capitol visit, the Academic Team Scholars will be honored at a Phi Theta Kappa Luncheon in the Regency Ballroom of the downtown Ramada Inn.  The keynote speaker for the luncheon is Dr. Rod Risley from Jackson, Mississippi, and Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society’s Executive Director.

The presentation of Phi Theta Kappa All-Kansas Academic Team awards will be conducted by Kansas Region Coordinator Tammy Fuentez.  Each community college honoree will receive a medallion, certificate, and monetary recognition.  The event sponsor is the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees.  The All-Kansas Academic Team members are eligible to participate in the All-USA Academic Team Competition which is sponsored by Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation in partnership with USA Today, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, and the American Association of Community Colleges.

The top scoring student in each state is named a New Century Scholar, and receives a $2,000 award.  The next fifty highest scoring students are named Gold Scholars and receive $1,500, while the following fifty are Silver Scholars and receive $1,250.  The final fifty students are Bronze Scholars and receive $1,000.  The common scholarship used for the competition allowed students to compete for additional scholarships such as Phi Theta Kappa’s Guistwhite Scholarship, named in honor of Dr. Jack Guistwhite and his wife, Margaret Guistwhite developed the first transfer scholarship designated exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members.