Three Community Colleges of Spokane students are among 63 community and technical college students to be honored Phi Theta Kappa’s 2017 All-Washington Academic Team. They will be honored by higher education leaders, state legislators and others at a special ceremony at noon Thursday, March 23, at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the national honor society for community and technical colleges. The program has become the showcase for Washington's 34 community and technical colleges because it honors the academic high achievers, who have demonstrated a commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities in which they live. There are more than 381,000 community and technical college students throughout the state.
CCS team members include:
Spokane Community College
Steve O’Meara
GPA: 3.86
Major: Architectural Technology
Steve O’Meara is re-training for his third career. He served in the United States Army and later became a carpenter. He spent 30 years in that industry until an injury ended his career. He is now in the architectural technology program at SCC with plans to work for a manufacturing or construction company. He is vice president of the associated student government and president of SCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, among other clubs and activities on campus.
Spokane Falls Community College
April Marquis
GPA: 3.56
Major: Business, management, marketing, administration and related support services
April Marquis calls herself a natural problem solver. That’s why she’s studying management at SFCC with plans to get her bachelor’s in management information systems. She wants to help business find a balance between the needs of employees and their employer. The mother of four is also active in clubs on campus and serves as the club representative for the associated student government. She also volunteers with HRC Ministries and the Union Gospel Mission.
Cristianna Cummings
GPA: 3.78
Major: AA Transfer
Cristianna Cummings is a dual enrollment student who will be finishing her associate’s degree at SFCC at the same time as her high school diploma. Her goal is to earn her bachelor’s degree in French and English by the time she is 19. She would love to travel and teach English or French to non-native speakers. She is active in the SFCC French Club and tutors first-year French students.
In addition to a receiving an All-Washington medallion, team members also are eligible for a variety of scholarships from the state’s public and private four-year colleges.
The All-Washington Academic Team program is sponsored by the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges, Washington State Association of College Trustees, the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges and PTK. Scholarship sponsors include KeyBank of Washington, Washington State Employees Credit Union and Washington State Association of College Trustees.