Lt. Gov. Simon to address community college student honors banquet

Honorees include 2 Lincoln College students

[April 18, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will deliver the keynote address at the 14th annual Phi Theta Kappa Banquet today (Wednesday) at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield. Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for students attending two-year colleges.

The 81 students being honored at the banquet comprise this year's Illinois All-Academic Team and represent 42 Illinois community colleges. Illinois community college presidents nominate students to be honored at the annual banquet, based on outstanding academic achievement, campus leadership and responsible community involvement.

Two students from Lincoln College are included in this year's group: Iesha West and Rachel England. 

"The Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team is one way we can honor the outstanding academic achievements made by our community college students, and recognize the positive contributions community colleges and their students make to our Illinois communities," said Geoff Obrzut, president and CEO of the Illinois Community College Board.

Phi Theta Kappa operates on four hallmarks: leadership, scholarship, fellowship and service. Student members of Phi Theta Kappa are encouraged to excel not only in the classroom, but to create opportunities to put these hallmarks into action. Membership in Phi Theta Kappa allows students to develop leadership skills, build networks and serve their communities through a variety of activities.

Illinois community colleges offer the opportunity for students to participate in Phi Theta Kappa through involvement in local chapters of the International Phi Theta Kappa on many campuses throughout the state. Phi Theta Kappa has been the official honor society for two-year colleges since 1929, as recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges.

The Illinois Community College Board, the state coordinating board for the community colleges, will celebrate the successes of the 2012 Illinois All-Academic Team at the banquet, along with many college presidents and members of the state Legislature.

[Text from Illinois Community College Board file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]