The Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College was named 6th runner-up for the international Most Distinguished Chapter of the year recognition.  This honor placed the local chapter seventh of the 1,300 chapters internationally.  The 2015 Most Distinguished Chapter was Alpha Rho Mu Chapter of Lone Star College-Tomball, Tomball, Texas.  The Most Distinguished Chapter scores highest overall in combined Honors in Action Project and College Project Award rankings.

The local chapter was also recognized with an additional four awards at the honor Society’s international convention in San Antonio, Texas, April 14-18.  The Eta Gamma Chapter was one of two chapters to receive the Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award.  If a chapter is named a Distinguished Chapter three years consecutively, the chapter will be presented the Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award.  Eta Gamma was also recognized with a Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award which recognizes the top chapters whose Honors in Action entries demonstrated excellence in academic research into the Honors Study Topic, leadership roles and leadership development activities, service learning, and collaboration.  The CCC chapter had researched “How Do Service and Therapy Dogs Enhance the Quality of Human Health?”  For the action or service component of the study, the chapter had presented the children of Tulsa’s Little Light House with a service dog to assist the children with mobility issues.  The chapter was one of 25 to receive the Distinguished College Project Award.  The purpose of the College Project is to establish a supportive relationship between the chapter and the college administration.  The chapter is to work with the college president to determine the College Project, which can be anything that supports the college’s mission.  Both the Eta Gamma Chapter and Tau Theta Chapter from Labette Community College were named to the top 100 chapters list.

On April 15, the CCC Students toured the Spanish Missions of Old San Antonio.  First on the itinerary was the Alamo, the first and today the most widely known of these missions.  It was established in 1718 as a way station between missions already existing in East Texas and other base missions in Mexico.  Students also toured the 1720 San Jose Mission which was a model among the Texas missions.  San Jose gained a reputation as a major social and cultural center.  Among the San Antonio missions, it provided the strongest garrison against raids from Indians.  The last mission toured by the group was Concepcion, one of the most attractive of the San Antonio Missions.  It looks essentially the same today as it did over 200 years ago when it stood at the center of local religious activity.

A special feature of the Nerd Nation Convention was the Phi Theta Kappa Academy attended by Chapter members Colter Comstock and Athena Phifer and advisor Linda McFate.  The 2015 Academy focused on creativity, its connection to the 2014/2015 Honors Study Topic, Frontiers and the Spirit of Exploration, and the importance of creativity to leadership in areas like innovation, problem-solving and change initiatives.  The morning session included a keynote address by Dr. David Burkus, founder and host of the podcast LDRLB and author of “The Myths of Creativity:  The Truth about How Innovative Companies Generate Great Ideas.”  Cellist Stephanie Winters shared her Listen Differently method as a way to stimulate effectiveness.  In addition, Phi Theta Kappa experts led groups in role-based breakout sessions featuring interactive learning activities.  The sessions allowed attendees to share ideas and make valuable connections with leaders of other chapters and/or regions serving in similar roles.

Keynote speakers for the convention featured John Legend, Oscar and Grammy – winning musician of the critically acclaimed album Love in the Future; Ebonee Carpenter, Phi Theta Kappa International President who addressed “Staging for Excellence:  Pushing on Toward Greatness; Dr. Michio Kaku, internationally recognized theoretical physicist, co-founder of string field theory and author of Physics of the Impossible and The Future of the Mind; and Malcom Gladwell, award-winning journalist and author.  Eric Mueller, Eta Gamma Alumnus, addressed the 2015 officer candidates and also presented a mini session on running for international office.  The Eta Gamma members traveled to convention with members from Butler, Neosho County, and Labette Community Colleges.  Students representing Coffeyville Community College were:  Tania Akakadio, Colter Comstock, Jesus Medina, Erasmo Tejeda, Ryan Childress, Eric Mueller, Dezirae Hamrick, Allyson Walker, Linelle Wilson, Trinnie Bush, Danika Burton, Reina Garcia, Dominique Liddell, Athena Phifer, Rayanndra Garoutte, Sara Lumm, Morgan Ash and Cheyanne Bridgewater.

The next international Society event is the 48th annual Honors Institute June 15-20 at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.