Regina Suszko of Springfield and Catherine Wittler of Williamsville were selected as LLCC’s representatives for the 2017 Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team. Community colleges in Illinois select two students yearly for the prestigious honor. Honorees were recognized at the 19th annual Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team awards banquet sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board in Springfield on April 4.

Suszko is vice president of the PTK Illinois Region Central District, public relations officer of LLCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, captain of LLCC’s Quiz Bowl team, treasurer of LLCC’s Honors Program Student Organization and ranks 12th in the nation as a quiz bowl player. Suszko has a 4.0 GPA and is graduating in May with an Associate in Arts degree in philosophy. After graduation, she plans to take a gap year before pursuing a degree in sign language interpretation for the deaf.

Wittler serves as president of LLCC’s Honors Program Student Organization, vice president of scholarship of LLCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter and vice president of LLCC’s Student Government Association. In addition, she works as a student recruiter at LLCC and participated in a biological field studies research trip to Belize in January 2017. Wittler maintains a 4.0 GPA and is graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in business administration. Following graduation, she plans to transfer to University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign to major in marketing and environmental sustainability.

Nominees must be a member of Phi Theta Kappa, have a minimum GPA of 3.5, be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours and be actively engaged in school and the community. In addition, they must submit a short essay explaining why they chose to start their higher education at a community college and describe their most significant academic endeavors in college.

Phi Theta Kappa is the leading international academic honor society for students at two-year colleges.