Eric Mueller, a sophomore at Coffeyville Community College, is one of ten candidates seeking the presidency of Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society.  Eric currently serves the CCC Eta Gamma Chapter as president and recently completed a term as vice president of communication for the Kansas Region.

Eric portrays the four Hallmarks of Phi Theta Kappa through his many activities in scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship.  Eric was selected as both an international and Kansas Distinguished Member and Distinguished Officer Awardee.  Under his leadership, the Eta Gamma Officer Team was also recognized with an international award.  Eric is a member of the All Kansas Academic Team and maintains 4.0 Grade Point Average.  He is both an Ellis Foundation and CCC Presidential Scholar.

Eric participated in the Honors Case Study Challenge, was a voting delegate at the 2013 International Phi Theta Kappa Convention and was a recipient of a Kansas Alumni Book Scholarship.  An original poem was submitted in the Society’s literary competition, Note Bene.  At Field Kindley High School, Eric was a National Forensics Completer, and a four year debate and forensics national qualifier. 

Eric is a graduate of the Youth Leadership Development Program, is a 5 State Competitive Edge Member, and led his chapter to 5 Star status in the Society’s Chapter Development Program.  Eric has served the Eta Gamma Chapter as both vice president of correspondence and president.  Eric participated in the Texas Honors Institute, Phi Theta Kappa’s international academy and International Honors Institute, the Wisconsin Leadership Conference, the National Conference for Student Leaders, and is a Leadership Development Studies completer.  Eric makes monthly presentations to the CCC Board of Trustees regarding Phi Theta Kappa activities.

As a servant leader, Eric has participated in activities benefitting approximately twenty service agencies, individuals and projects.  Included are such recipients as Blankets+, African Library Project, Van Go Incorporated, Junior Advisory Council, Genesis Incorporated, American Red Cross, and Color Run and Holden’s Hope 5ks.  Additional recipients included Relay For Life, Salvation Army, Gifts for the Nations, Million Meals Kansas, Ronald McDonald House, Operation Christmas Child, Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat, Philabundance, Friends of the Brown Mansion, Downtown Coffeyville, Inc.; Coffeyville Historical Society and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Marathon Fundraiser in Memphis.

Fellowship within the Society has found Eric participating in many Eta Gamma activities as well as those with Tau Theta sister chapter, Labette and internationally.  International Convention will be held April 23-26 in Orlando, Florida.  Balloting will take place April 24-25, with the 2014-15 newly elected international officers installed Saturday evening, April 26, at the conclusion of the awards gala.  Additional presidential candidates include two from Texas, two from Florida, and one each from Missouri, Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Kentucky.  Eric would like to express his appreciation to those organizations and individuals that have assisted him with his campaign.

Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, largest honor society in higher education with 1,285 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States, plus Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, Peru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial positions.  Nearly 3 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 131,000 students inducted annually.