LLCC student Julia Kienzler of Williamsville has been named a 2021 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. She was recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, held virtually April 8-10.

“This is a very prestigious award, and Julia was selected for her academic achievements, leadership and engagement in college and community service,” said Dr. Claire Gordon, LLCC professor of communication and Phi Theta Kappa coordinator. “Phi Theta Kappa recognizes and encourages students’ academic achievement and leadership skill development.”

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for deserving students to achieve their educational goals.”

At the PTK Catalyst convention, Kienzler was also one of 10 students to receive the Distinguished Regional Officer Award. She serves as Illinois region central vice president of Phi Theta Kappa. There are approximately 140 regional officers who serve in Phi Theta Kappa’s 29 regions, which span the United States and 11 other countries.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations, with approximately 240,000 active members at colleges across the U.S. Learn more at ptk.org.

LLCC’s achieved REACH Rewards for having a membership acceptance rate of more than 22% for 2020. The chapter’s acceptance rate is much higher than the international average of 15% and the Illinois regional average of 16%.

As a result, the chapter will receive seven free PTK graduation stoles in recognition of this accomplishment. These stoles will be given to the current officer team.

LLCC’s Alpha Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society has achieved Five Star Chapter Status for the eighth consecutive year. The LLCC chapter has maintained high levels of activity and member engagement despite the challenges present by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chapter’s Honors in Action service project was a virtual Zoom event to raise awareness of issues faced by LGBTQ youth and solicit donations for the Phoenix Center in Springfield. The College Service Project involved planting over 340 daylilies in the flower beds surrounding the Helen S. Hamilton Outdoor Learning area.

LLCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently began a service project for the college. They worked with the LLCC Grounds Crew, planting 42 daylilies that PTK had purchased in the beds surrounding the Helen S. Hamilton Student Learning Area. Volunteer helpers included Dr. Claire Gordon, advisor; Don Ecklund, advisor; Julia Kienzler, PTK chapter president and Illinois regional vice president; and Megan Jamison, PTK chapter secretary.

LLCC students Nicole Erwin-Gaynor of Taylorville, Jennifer Haggerty of Chandlerville and Isis Thompson of Springfield are among 207 Phi Theta Kappa members nationwide to be named 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars and will each receive $1,000 scholarships.

“We are proud to have three recipients of this prestigious award in one year,” said Dr. Claire Gordon, LLCC professor of communication and Phi Theta Kappa coordinator. “Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society that not only recognizes, but also encourages top academic achievement as well as development of leadership skills.”

The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. This year’s recipients were selected by a panel of independent judges from nearly 700 applicants. Scholars were chosen based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential. Read more.

Nicole Erwin-Gaynor

Jennifer Haggerty

Isis Thompson

The Alpha Epsilon Kappa chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society will hold its Fall Induction Ceremony today, Nov. 12, 5-6 p.m. in the Trutter Center. This is a great event where new members are formally recognized in a ceremony conducted in part by the student leaders of our chapter:

• Meredith Niermann, president
• Hyler Pence, vice president of scholarship
• Hannah Roberts, vice president of service
• Maria Moore, secretary
• Evan Yates, treasurer
• Cheyenne Kesselring, public relations officer

In the past, due to limited seating availability in the Robert H. Stephens Room, we have restricted the audience to just students’ families. Recently we realized that the ceremony has outgrown that space, so we changed locations and now have plenty of seating for LLCC employees to join us as well. Come and see our students receive well-deserved recognition! The brief ceremony is followed by a reception with refreshments. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to claire.gordon@llcc.edu.

The Alpha Epsilon Kappa chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society invites interested LLCC employees to attend our Fall Induction Ceremony On Tuesday, Nov. 12, 5-6 p.m. in the Trutter Center. This is a great event where new members are formally recognized in a ceremony conducted in part by the student leaders of our chapter:

• Meredith Niermann, president
• Hyler Pence, vice president of scholarship
• Hannah Roberts, vice president of service
• Maria Moore, secretary
• Evan Yates, treasurer
• Cheyenne Kesselring, public relations officer

In the past, due to limited seating availability in the Robert H. Stephens Room, we have restricted the audience to just students’ families. Recently we realized that the ceremony has outgrown that space, so we changed locations and now have plenty of seating for LLCC employees to join us as well. Come and see our students receive well-deserved recognition! The brief ceremony is followed by a reception with refreshments. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to claire.gordon@llcc.edu.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is sponsoring a C4 “Community College Completion Corps” event this week. The final day for this event is today, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This initiative encourages students to sign a pledge card indicating their commitment to completing their degree or certificate.

But this event is not just for students!  There are also pledge cards and a separate banner for LLCC employees who would like to be “Completion Champions” by indicating their support for students working towards completion of a degree or certificate. Please stop by and sign either the “Completion Champions” pledge card or banner … or both!

You may have seen the table with the large banners as you walked in A. Lincoln Commons main entrance; that’s where students sign their pledge cards and/or a large C4 banner. This table is staffed by Phi Theta Kappa student volunteers.

The Alpha Epsilon Kappa chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society invites interested LLCC employees to attend our Fall Induction Ceremony On Tuesday, Nov. 12, 5-6 p.m. in the Trutter Center. This is a great event where new members are formally recognized in a ceremony conducted in part by the student leaders of our chapter:

• Meredith Niermann, president
• Hyler Pence, vice president of scholarship
• Hannah Roberts, vice president of service
• Maria Moore, secretary
• Evan Yates, treasurer
• Cheyenne Kesselring, public relations officer

In the past, due to limited seating availability in the Robert H. Stephens Room, we have restricted the audience to just students’ families. Recently we realized that the ceremony has outgrown that space, so we changed locations and now have plenty of seating for LLCC employees to join us as well. Come and see our students receive well-deserved recognition! The brief ceremony is followed by a reception with refreshments. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to claire.gordon@llcc.edu.