Members and alumni members of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College met February 17-18 for their winter retreat and planning session. The event was held at the Pat and Willard Walker Alumni Center. Facilitator for the week-end event was Melinda Allen, applied linguist with the Cobb County School District in Georgia.  Ms. Allen holds a B.A. degree from Boston College and a M.ED from Grand Canyon University.

After introductions, members began work on their 2012-13 Honors in Action Project which is “Making the Grade:  Competition and Education.”  The new biennial honors study topic is the Culture of Competition.  The local chapter selected competition in education for an in-depth study during the spring and fall 2012 semesters.

Chapter Advisor Linda McFate led the group through a PowerPoint presentation on the Honors in Action project objective from Headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi. The chapter used the Honors Program Guide and Planning Model to develop the chapter’s own project.  Included in the planning were the selection and development of research questions, sources of academic research such as books, films, guest speakers, action or service projects closely linked to the research topic, leadership development and leadership rolls, and collaboration with other groups and organizations. On Saturday, the group continued their retreat to design a questionnaire research tool and to consider in-depth appropriate resources and advocacy roles.  The chapter will participate in the Kansas Region Convention in Wichita, March 9-11, and the International Convention April 10-15, at Nashville.

Participating in the Phi Theta Kappa retreat were: Caitlin Hollinger, Hannah Potter, Mercedes Price, Bryn Reid, Cecilia Kamau, Caitlin Shepherd, Kacie Serrault, Aaron Neely, Bryant Traxson, Yuta Araki, Phil Hagebusch, Kyle Darnell, LaToya Johnson, Alexandria Black, Linda McFate, and Melinda Allen.