Officers of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society met February 10-11 for their spring semester officer retreat held at the Woodward Max in a historic Topeka neighborhood.  After repeating the Phi Theta Kappa Mission, the Coffeyville Community College students spotlighted the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program through information provided by the Washington Post.  Two chapter officers, Lisha Lamb and Courtney Crane, are semi-finalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.

During the chapter business portion of the retreat, officers discussed the March Kansas/Nebraska Region Convention, implementation of WATCHD.O.G.S., Tot Olympics on April 20, Cupcakes for a Cure on February 25, Give A Heart Valentines Project, and the Kansas/Nebraska Region Hallmark Awards Program.  The officers had dinner at the Cafe Holliday followed by a discussion of the component parts of the Honors in Action Project including selection and research of the topic, benefits provided by completing an Honors In Action Project, objectives and the service or action component.  Members also discussed the Honors in Action Project Award questions and rubrics.  

Friday evening's session focused upon the eight themes in the Honors Program Guide.  The group narrowed the project selection process to Theme 1, Myths and Reality and Theme 6, Natural and Engineered.  At 9:00 p.m., the students were guests of Elizabeth Taylor, Innkeeper, for dessert at the Woodward House, original home of Chester Woodward.  Ms. Taylor shared the early history of the Woodward Mansion with the students and her role in its restoration.  Following breakfast at the Woodward, the students participated in Honors in Action bingo and selected Theme 1, Myth and Reality as the chapter's research focus.  The research question constructed by the chapter officers was "How Did Myths Affect the Culture of Selected Native American Groups."