CCC Eta Gamma Chapter places 3rd internationally

The Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College was named Second Runner-Up to Most Distinguished Chapter at the 89th International Convention of the Honor Society held April 12-14 at the Gaylord Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The local chapter placed third internationally behind Most Distinguished Chapter Trident Community College of Charleston, S.C. and First Runner-Up Cy-Fair Community College of Cypress, Texas. In addition, Eta Gamma Chapter also received the Scholarship, Leadership and Service Hallmark Awards and the Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award for placing in the top 25 chapters for the last three years. The chapter was designated a Top 100 Chapter in the Honor Roll of Chapters. Individual awards included the Distinguished Chapter Advisor Award, Linda McFate and Distinguished Member Award, Wendie Clubine. CCC Vice President for Learning Marlon Thornburg was in the first group of community college administrators not including college presidents or campus CEOs to receive the Administrators Award of Distinction. Thornburg was recognized internationally for his continued support of Phi Theta Kappa, its initiatives, and the local Eta Gamma Chapter.

Eta Gamma President Ashley Golden was recognized in the Fourth General Session as one of twenty 2007 Guistwhite Scholars. She will receive a $5,000 scholarship to pursue baccalaureate studies. Guistwhite Scholarships are named for Dr. Jack Guistwhite, who developed the first designated transfer scholarship for Phi Theta Kappa members, and his wife, Margaret Guistwhite. The Guistwhites are long time friends of Phi Theta Kappa and were honored during the 2007 Convention on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Guistwhite Scholar Program. Ashley presented the Guistwhites with cards and letters from CCC’s three previous Guistwhite Scholars, Maria Burris Olds, Jessica Ostmeyer, and Jacqueline Moseley.

The convention general sessions featured six outstanding speakers: Al Gore, Dr. Jehan Sadat, Kevin Sharp, Sue Smith, Rod Risley, and Tycia Foster. Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States, has become recognized around the world as an environmental crusader who has focused worldwide attention on global warming. Through his book, An Inconvenient Truth, and the Oscar-winning documentary of the same name, Gore has transformed global warming from a political concept into a moral issue. Eta Gamma members participated in a special screening of An Inconvenient Truth and a discussion moderated by Phi Theta Kappa’s Director of Leadership Development Programs Monika Byrd.

Dr. Jehan Sadat is an internationally known activist who has promoted women’s rights and peaceful solutions to conflict for more than 30 years. As First Lady of Egypt, she worked with her late husband Anwar Sadat to bring improved health care, education and job opportunities to the people of their emerging nation. Dr. Sadat was one of the first Arab women to play a visible and very public role as a social activist. As First Lady she created social programs to educate women, to aid and rehabilitate war veterans and other disabled persons, to provide homes for orphans and to promote women’s involvement in economic and political arenas.

Kevin Sharp was diagnosed with cancer when he was only 18. Now a successful country music singer, Sharp has also made the fight against cancer his life’s mission. His determination and courage inspired audiences to overcome challenges in their own lives. Sharp performed during his remarks and afterward signed copies of his autobiography, Tragedy’s Gift. Sharp is a national spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and has been honored by the Gilda Radner Foundation for his role in inspiring and educating others.
Sue Smith is the National Director of Education for Keep America Beautiful, Inc., Phi Theta Kappa’s International Service Program Partner. Smith has directed numerous initiatives, to assist communities to protect and improve their environments. She has led programs to train educators in environmental responsibility. Smith is a Congressional appointee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Environmental Education. She participated in the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro; and conducted a United Nations Global Forum for students, held at the White House.

Rod Risley became Phi That Kappa’s second Executive Director in 1985. Risley has led efforts to improve benefits for members and faculty advisors. Among the programs he has established are the Leadership Development Studies Program, Guistwhite Scholarships, Leaders of Promise Scholarships, Mosal Awards, All-USA Academic Team and All State Teams. He works closely with USA Today, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to promote community college programs and improve educational opportunities for community college students. Risley is a former National President of Phi Theta Kappa and has received an Outstanding Alumni Award from the American Association of Community Colleges.

Tycia Foster addressed the Convention’s Opening Ceremonies. A Phi Theta Kappa member at Tallahassee Community College in Florida, Foster plans a career as an educator. Since being elected the Society’s first African American woman International President, Foster has traveled thousands of miles, representing the Society at regional meetings and educational and service conferences. Foster served as president of her chapter and as a Florida Regional Officer.

While attending convention, local chapter members also had the opportunity to participate in several educational tours including Belle Meade Plantation, The Hermitage, Belmont Mansion, and The Parthenon. Belle Meade, known as the “Queen of Tennessee Plantations,” was begun in 1807 and eventually prospered to 5,400 acres and was world renowned as a thoroughbred horse farm. Eta Gamma members visited the home where the bloodlines of Seabiscuit, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones, and Barbarro began. The tour included the 1853 Greek Revival Mansion and several historic out buildings.

Completed in 1853 by Adelicia Acklen, Belmont Mansion was recognized as one of the most elaborate and unusual homes in the South. Adelicia conspired with both the Confederate and union forces to emerge from the Civil War with her fortune intact. The Grand Salon with its staircase is considered the most elaborate domestic room built in Antebellum Tennessee.

At the Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, Eta Gamma experienced an American adventure at the home of the nation’s 7th President. Guides in period costume welcomed the CCC students to the grand 1837 mansion. The farm includes 1,120 acres and includes other historic structures, an heirloom garden and the tomb where the President and his wife are buried.

The final tour took students to The Parthenon, the world’s only full-scale reproduction of the Greek temple. Nashville’s Parthenon stands in Centennial Park and features both the city’s art museum and Athena Parthenos. At almost 42 feet in height, Athena Parthenos is the tallest sculpture in the Western World.

En route to Nashville, the students stopped at Fort Defiance near Cairo, Illinois, for a picnic at the confluence of the rivers. While in Paducah, Kentucky, members toured the National Quilt Museum, Art District, flood murals and the River Heritage Museum where a local professor lectured on the social and economic impact of the river. Members of the Coffeyville, Iola, Chanute, and Independence Phi Theta Kappa Chapters enjoyed a dinner at Paducah’s Whaler’s Catch. Paducah arrangements were made by Fowler Black of the Paducah Tourism Department. Additional convention activities consisted of assisting Chevis Rebstock, Butler County Community College, with his bid for the International Presidency, Chapter Advisor Linda McFate participated in a special focus group for advisors, and the Eta Gamma Chapter presented an educational forum on Chapter Fundraising.

Representing Eta Gamma Chapter were: Ashley Golden, Tori Loomis, Janice Lair, Stacy Polkinghorne, Autumn Golden, Phillip Hagebusch, Wislly Desir, David Marten, Matthew Hickman-Baker, Shehan Fernando, Rebecca Muller, Brook Bradbury, Alexandra Alcox, Israel Bisoni, Michael Steen, Alexander West, and Brad Wuggazer. Others attending were Judi O’Grady, Jan Winston, Melinda Allen, Richard Allen, Karl Wittenburg, Linda McFate, Charles McFate, Rachael Cronkhite, Ted Robson, John Greenfield, Gail Greenfield, and Scott Kirkissner.