President Atewologun wins prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award;
Suzette Overby and Heidi Schara win International advisor awards

It was a big weekend for Riverland Community College at Phi Theta Kappa’s 100^th Anniversary International Convention held in Kanas City, Missouri recently.

Riverland President Adenuga Atewologun was awarded the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, one of Phi Theta Kappa’s most prestigious award for college presidents.

College presidents and campus CEOs are selected for this award based on outstanding efforts given toward promoting the goals of Phi Theta Kappa. The award is named for the late Dr. Shirley B. Gordon, Phi Theta Kappa’s longest serving Board of Directors Chair and President Emeritus of Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington. Dr. Gordon was named Phi Theta Kappa’s Most Distinguished College President in 1984.

Advisors are recognized with Paragon Awards for significant contributions to the growth of individual members, service as the chapter’s advocate on campus, and encouraging the chapter to be involved on the local, regional and/or international level of the organization. Riverland advisors, Suzette Overby and Heidi Schara won this International award for their work with Zeta Eta, Riverland Community College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Notably, Overby was also recognized with the Minn-Kota Region Paragon award earlier this spring.

To be eligible for Phi Theta Kappa membership, a first-semester freshman must be a full-time student and have earned a 3.25 or higher grade point average. Sophomores

must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. To remain in good standing, students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Riverland’s chapter was also recognized as most distinguished chapter, 2015-16 recipient of most distinguished college project, Honors in Action project and theme awards.

Phi Theta Kappa, the International honorary scholastic society for two-year colleges, was founded in 1918 and is recognized by the American Association of Junior College in 1929. It is the respected fraternity demanding scholarship, service and leadership. Today, Phi Theta Kappa has more than 800 chapters throughout the United States. The Riverland Community College Chapter, Zeta Eta, was founded in 1947.

Six students also joined Atewologun, Overby and Schara at the convention in Kansas City. Although they didn't garner student awards while there, they did well at the Minn-Kota Regional Convention, where they won the Regional Officer Team award for their efforts in reaching out to the community and the region and to their growth as leaders. The officers include Tobi Onireti, Nicole Van Hooser, Charles Miller, Keiry Villalta and Josue Cruz-Reyes.