Johnie Greenfield
selected as CCC PTK Distinguished Alumnus
Coffeyville Community College (CCC) alumnus and current
faculty member, Johnie Greenfield has been selected as the CCC
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Distinguished Alumnus.
“Here is a person who was a member of PTK when he was a
student at CCC and now he has come back (in his second teaching
career) and assisted the Chapter with his encouragement and
leadership,” said PTK Sponsor, Linda McFate.
Throughout college and his teaching career, Greenfield has
been a model of diverse interests. From his church and outside
activities to the variety of topics he has taught in the
classroom. In college the English major enrolled in every type
of class that would allow him a seat.
“I only needed a few more hours and I could teach Biology
too,” said Greenfield. “I wanted a cross-section and a good
education.”
Greenfield began his teaching career at Lenapah High School
in 1971 (now part of Oklahoma Union). He taught English and
World History, worked with the theatre students and the yearbook
class as well as student government. His insistence that
college-bound students needed a foreign language led to summer
school, additional income and the opportunity to add Spanish to
his list of classes to teach. In 1997, following his retirement
from high school teaching, he returned to the classroom to
instruct English students at CCC. When he returned to Red Raven
Country nearly 30 years since his graduation from CCC,
Greenfield wanted to be involved once again in the PTK Honor
Society.
“When I was in PTK at CCC it was basically a recognition
club, not the service organization that it is today,” said
Greenfield. “Linda McFate has done so much for the
organization. I wanted to be involved because I was an alumnus
and I enjoy helping the students get their letters and
recommendations approved for scholarships.”
“From my standpoint he does a wonderful job of critiquing
student essays that are part of scholarship applications, gives
us ideas for projects and was the first Golden Apple Award
winner for Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year,” said McFate.
During his tenure as Eta Gamma Alumni Association president,
the chapter donated to the College at $2,000 trophy case
purchased in part with funds from chapter alumni. The case
houses the chapter’s international and Kansas region awards and
other memorabilia.
When the chapter selected him as the president of the alumni
association, Greenfield wanted to bring recognition to the
organization. The group had told him about their work with the
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and invited him to
visit their tent at the Coffeyville event two years ago. They
had raised $500 that year.
“It wasn’t very impressive,” said Greenfield (a cancer
survivor himself). “I wanted to do something with the Relay
through the PTK organization.”
He immediately began to inspire members to raise $3,000 for
the 2007 Relay. Fundraising plans centered around monthly
chicken and noodle dinners. Greenfield donated many of the
supplies, spent approximately 60 hours making over 70 gallons of
homemade chicken and noodles and coordinated the serving of each
dish. He encouraged team members to sell over 200 luminaries
and to gain recognition at the event itself. The efforts
results in a top divisional fundraising team (Silver award),
best theme, best decorated camp site, best tailgate party and
the second most spirited team. Greenfield continues to lead the
College team to its new goal of $5,000 for the 2008 Relay.
I don’t know how many pounds of chicken and noodles that man
has made for the Relay for Life dinners but it has to be tons,”
said McFate.
More than raising $5,000, the CCC PTK Chapter itself is at a
pinnacle – last year they finished third in the nation.
“I look for them to be right up there again,” said
Greenfield. “They have done some awesome things this year. I
don’t know where it can go from here. We’ve had members become
doctors, apply to law school, become teachers, one that hopes to
work for NASA and one the aspires to become an international aid
worker.”
Greenfield will be right there with them and McFate. It is
this desire to see the PTK students and Chapter succeed and his
unselfish devotion to the college and his community that has led
PTK to proudly nominate Greenfield for the Kansas Region
Outstanding PTK Alumnus. |
