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Phi Theta Kappa

The Mission
"The Purpose of Phi Theta Kappa shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa shall provide opportunity for the development of leadership nd service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence."

Chapter By-Laws Revisions
Member. In addition to meeting membership eligibility requirements as stated in Article IV and Chapter 1 of the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws,* each candidate for membership must have completed 12 hours of associate degree course work, (none of which is developmental course work) with a Grade Point Average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and adhere to the school conduct code which includes no outstanding financial obligations to the college, in addition to demonstrating recognized qualities of citizenship. Grades for courses completed at other institutions will not be considered when determining membership eligibility. A cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.35 must be maintained to remain in good standing. Failure to maintain the required cumulative Grade Point Average will result in the member being removed from good standing as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws,* Chapter 1, Section 3. Failure to meet good standing requirements as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws* will cause membership and all membership privileges to be revoked.

Fall 2008 Meeting Dates
Fall Induction - Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the Brown Center Wright Room
Ark City Campus - Galle Johnson Room 203 Mulvane Campus - Bloomenshine Room 107	2nd Tuesday's of each month at 5:00 pm 2nd Tuesday's of each month at 6:00 pm
Tuesday, September 9 Sunday, October 12 - Fall Induction Tuesday, October 14 Tuesday, November 11 Tuesday, December 9
2008-2009 Alpha Gamma Upsilon Chapter Officers
Ark City Campus Melinda Neal, GJ210 # 3 Co-Advisor Emily Crain - Chapter President Candice Bliss - Vice President of Scholarship Shayla Roebuck - Vice President of Scholarship Elizabeth Stevens - SGA Representative Blythe Colquhoun - Vice President of Leadership Tara Glaser - Recording Secretary Lauren McGuigan - Vice President of Service	Mulvane Campus Nancy Ayers, Mulv. 120 Co-Advisor Keoki Waipa - Executive Vice President Tina Wohlford - Vice President of Service Colleen Detar - Vice President of Leadership Nancy Chisom - Vice President of Scholarship Whitney Hall - Vice President of Records
Conference Dates
September 26 & 27	Leadership Conference - Hutchinson, Kansas
November 7 & 8	Honors Institute - Rock Spring Ranch, Junction City, Kansas
February 18	All Kansas Team Luncheon - Topeka, Kansas
March 6 - 8	Regional Conference - Wichita, Kansas
April 16 - 18	International Conference - Grapevine, Texas
June 2009	Relay for Life - Arkansas City, Kansas
If you have any questions and want to get more involved come by Mrs. Neal's office Galle Johnson Suite 210 # 3 at Ark City or Mrs. Ayers office #120 at the Mulvane Center.

Cowley PTK officers, advisors attend summer planning retreat

The Phi Theta Kappa Kansas Region held its annual summer planning retreat Friday and Saturday at El Dorado Lake with 12 chapters and 75 members participating.

Attending from Cowley College were four officers, Keoki Waipa, Whitney Hall, Tina Wohlford and Colleen Detar, along with their advisors, Melinda Neal and Nancy Ayers. Students spent Friday moving into their cabins and tents, boating at the lake and playing yard games. Intermittent showers dampened the plans for an outdoor movie, but campers still enjoyed hanging out together and sharing ideas for the upcoming school year.

On Saturday, the group moved indoors at Butler Community College. During the first part of the morning, students had a choice of several break-out sessions to attend. Chapters then divided into their districts and began planning the specific conference that they would be responsible for hosting in 2008-09. The conference concluded with a regional business meeting and lunch.

Letters of invitation to new members will go out in September. If you have completed 12 credit hours of non-developmental courses with a 3.5 GPA, you are eligible for membership. For more information, contact Melinda Neal at nealm@cowley.edu at the Ark City campus or Nancy Ayers at ayers@cowley.edu at the Mulvane Center.

Pictured, left to right, Melinda Neal, Keoki Waipa, Whitney Hall, and Nancy Ayers. Not pictured were Tina Wohlford and Colleen Detar.

PTK takes part in Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake

Members of Cowley College’s Phi Theta Kappa organization participated in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl for Kids on Saturday night at Northrock Lanes in Wichita. The team raised $661, which added to a grand total of over $13,000 for the evening.

Members participating were Keoki Waipa, Casey Bing, Becky Johnson (who works for Big Brothers/Big Sisters), Kimberly Rubio and family, and sponsor, Nancy Ayers.
[Press Release]

Relay for Life Phi Theta Kappa and Cowley Team Up For Relay For Life

Members of Cowley's Phi Theta Kappa Chapter contributed and helped the Cowley Relay for Life team at the American Cancer Society fundraiser held June 19th and 20th at the Agri Business Building in Arkansas City.

PTK members served free snow cones and face painting for the kids.

The Cowley team received the Gold Award for raising over $5000 to benefit the American Cancer Society.

PTK Bake Sale

Phi Theta Kappa Bake Sale

Phi Theta Kappa held a bake sale in conjunction with the North Campuses Spring Bash on Wednesday, May 7th, at the Southside Center. All proceeds from the sale went to The Phi Theta Kappa, the Relay for Life team which
is participating in the Cowley County Relay for Life in June. Luminaries were also sold to individuals to honor or memorialize loved ones who have battled cancer. The event raised $175.00 toward the team total.

Phi Theta Kappa international organization itself is the No. 1 collegiate contributor in the nation to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The goal as an Honor Society is to raise $10 million for the American Cancer Society by Phi Theta Kappa’s 100th Anniversary International Convention in 2018. Approximately 800 Phi Theta Kappa chapters across the nation have already raised more than $2.3 million.

Phi Theta Kappa members on all campuses will continue to sell luminaries and take donations until the Relay event on June 20th at the college track.

PTK Voter Registration PTK Sponsors Voter Registration

Members of Phi Theta Kappa at the North Campuses sponsored a voter registration table for four days last week at the Southside Center. Close to 100 students and staff took advantage of the service and registered to vote.
Reasons people gave for (re)registering to vote were: a change of address, a name change, turning 18 years of age before the next election and desiring to change party affiliation.
Many students commented they never realized it was such a simple process. Phi Theta Kappa would like to encourage everyone to get registered and get out and exercise their right to vote at every opportunity.

Eight members of Phi Theta Kappa from Cowley's North Campuses got together on Friday, April 18th to work on two houses being built by Habitat for Humanity in Wichita.

Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than 250,000 houses, sheltering more than 1,000,000 people in more than 3,000 communities worldwide, becoming a true world leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing.

Phi Theta Kappa members were recognized at the 2008 honors and awards banquet on Tuesday, April 15 in the Earle Wright Community Room on the Ark City campus. Members included Sasha Oliver, Jancye Sturd, Jackie Ebert, Elisha Swope Jillian Tatum, Lisa Burns, Keoki Waipa, Keisha Brooks and Tara Cunningham.

Chapter advisors, Melinda Neal and Nancy Ayers made a surprise presentation to Sheree Utash, Vice President of Academic Affairs, in the form of an honorary membership to the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Alpha Gamma Upsilon chapter at Cowley College. An honorary membership is presented to an individual who has shown consistent and outstanding support to the local chapter. The honoree also must represent the high ideals, character, intellect and personal accomplishments which are encouraged by Phi Theta Kappa. With Mrs. Utash's support, the chapter has made great strides over the past two years.

2008 International Convention
(click for Photo Gallery)

Seven Cowley college students, along with faculty advisors Melinda Neal and Nancy Ayers, recently attended the 90th annual Phi Theta Kappa International Convention held April 3-5 in Philadelphia, PA.

The group was able to enjoy the cities statues, murals, and historical sites. While, the conference consisted of many educational forums, and several general sessions with renown keynote speakers such as Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief International Correspondent, James Rubin, International News Commentator, George Will, Political columnist, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Congresswoman, and Amy Tan, Best-Selling Author.

Approximately 4,000 students and faculty advisors attended the conference. Cowley students in attendance were, Jancye Sturd, Steffanie Glover, Shayla Roebuck, Lisa Burns, Nancy Chisolm, Tina Wohlford, and Keoki Waipa.

Cowley PTK members honored at Kansas Regional Convention

Members of Cowley College’s Phi Theta Kappa organization received several awards at the PTK Kansas Regional Convention held February 29-March 2 at Johnson County Community College and the DoubleTree Hotel in Overland Park.

Cowley College’s Phi Theta Kappa organization was named the Most Improved Chapter in 2007; was recognized as a Five-Star Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa in 2007; and received the Sister Chapter Award with Butler Community College.

Nancy Ayers, Cowley College’s PTK north campus advisor, and Melinda Neal, the PTK main campus advisor, received the Horizon Award, which recognizes new advisors.

Neal also received honorable mention for the Paragon Award for new advisors. While, Jillian Tatum received an Achievement in the Arts Award for her sculpture titled “God’s Hand in Creation.”

Other Cowley PTK students at the convention were, Keoki Waipa, Nancy Chisom, Lisa Burns Cody Groves, and Elisha Swope.

The event included keynote speakers, individual break-out sessions, regional business meeting, campaigning and election of regional officers for 2008-09 and an awards banquet and dance on Saturday evening.

Representatives from several universities were available to students throughout the weekend to discuss scholarship opportunities and transfers.

Lisa Burns, Cowley’s executive vice president, ran for alumni relations officer of the Kansas Region, but was defeated by a small margin.

Pictured in still photo: L to R: Keoki Waipa, Nancy Chisom, Jillian Tatum, Nancy Ayers, Lisa Burns, Elisha Swope, Cody Groves

PTK WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

Cowley College’s Phi Theta Kappa organization welcomes 62 new members. Pictured on the left are members attending the spring induction ceremony held Sunday, February 24, 2008 at the Cowley Campus Brown Center Wright Room.

The induction speaker was Sue Saia, VP of Student Affairs. Hosting the event were Nancy Ayers and Melinda Neal, PTK Co-sponsors. Elisha Swope, Jackie Hutchinson and Courtney Crain, PTK Members presented certificates and pins.

Eligible students have until April 1 to return their application and fees to the Natural Science Office.

Four Cowley College PTK students honored at luncheon in Topeka

[Press Release]

Jackie Hutchinson and Elisha Swope from Cowley College’s Arkansas City campus and Keisha Brooks and Lisa Burns from Cowley’s Wichita campus were among the students honored in Topeka February 14th during the Thirteenth Annual Phi Theta Kappa Honors Luncheon.
Pictured left to right: Lisa Burns, Nancy Ayers - co-sponsor, Elisha Swope, Jackie Hutchinson, Melinda Neal - co-sponsor and Keisha Brooks.

Valentine Sale Fundraiser

North Campus Phi Theta Kappa members spent several days creating gift items to sell at their 2nd Annual Valentine Sale. The members manned sales tables Monday through Thursday during Valentines week at the Southside Center and at Mulvane. Sale items included everything from small stuffed animals and chocolate-filled containers to single carnations and vases of roses.

The funds go towards travel expenses for Phi Theta Kappa conferences throughout the year. The members wish to thank all the faculty, staff and students for their continued support!!

Better World Book Drive

Bookstores won't buy back your books?

We’ll take them off your hands – FREE OF CHARGE – and you’ll be helping out a great cause.

Phi Theta Kappa is collecting unwanted textbooks during book buy-back (May 14-20) and donating them to National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). NCFL works with family literacy programs across the U.S. to provide materials and literacy skills training to people most in need.

During book buy-back, just drop your unwanted textbooks (even ones from past semesters) into the marked boxes in the Cowley Bookstores in Ark City and at the Southside Center in Wichita.

Pictured: Melinda Neal, Phi Theta Kappa co-sponsor.
Thanks from PHI THETA KAPPA!!

Phi Theta Kappa thanks everyone who donated at the Southside blood drive.

Pictured on the right is Phi Theta Kappa member, Alex Wise, resting for a minute and Lucy Rader, adjunct biology instructor at Southside. Lucy is being monitored by Wendy Owings, Specialist II in Donor Services from the American Red Cross Central Plains Region Blood Services in Ponca City, OK.

This was the second American Red Cross blood drive sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa at the Southside Center held on Nov. 28th.

Phi Theta Kappa member, Ellen Herdler, was in charge of setting up the blood drive and recruiting donors. Phi Theta Kappa and the American Red Cross wish to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedule to come in and donate blood. A special thanks to adjunct instructor Pat Whitaker, who was instrumental in recruiting several of the donors from her Composition classes. Can you say "extra credit"?

KISS THE GOAT CONTEST

On November 19, Phi Theta Kappa raised $90 with a "Kiss The Goat" fundraiser. Cowley student Kim Bryant, Creative Claws President was the winner and had the privilege to Kiss Benny the goat, provided by Todd Shepherd, Social Science Instructor. The proceeds were given to the Salvation Army to buy turkeys for families during the holiday season.

PTK GOES GREEN
PTK Developed an educational program for grades 3-5 on what they could do to keep our environment green. Elisha Swope and 7 other Phi Theta Kappa members presented to small groups on Wed. Nov. 14 at IXL to a total of 120 students. Goodie Bags were given to each student with an activity book, a Cowley Pen and some Silly Putty. Thanks to admissions for the materials for the bags. This program meets our scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship hallmarks.

Regional Leadership Conference

Six members of Cowley's Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, along with their advisors, attended the Regional Leadership Conference in Parsons, KS on September 20-21.

Titled "Treasures of Leadership", the conference centered around a pirate theme. Activities included a Phi Theta Kappa trivia treasure hunt and cookout in the Parsons city park. Mock chapter exercises and breakout sessions were held on the Labette County Community College campus.

Conference attendees also enjoyed presentations from Mahmedein Mahmedein, PTK International Vice President-Division III and Mark Johnson, retired special forces Green Beret officer, author and motivational speaker. The group returned home Saturday evening with renewed enthusiasm to make Cowley's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa better and stronger than ever. Members attending were: Wendy Schmidt, Keoki Waipa, Jackie Hutchinson, Courtney Crain, Jolene Pierson, Chelsea Pappan. The faculty advisors for Cowley's Phi Theta Kappa are Melinda Neal and Nancy Ayers. Click here for photo album.