Three Barton Community College students will join other Kansas community college scholars on Feb. 17 in Topeka to be honored for their scholastic achievement.

Barton sophomores Matthew Koch, Great Bend; Morgan Cooper, Wichita; and Angela Johnson, Junction City, are among 49 community college students named to the 2011 All-Kansas Academic Team, sponsored by the international headquarters of Phi Theta Kappa international honor society, the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees and the Kansas Council of Community College Presidents.

Each scholar was selected by his or her own community college for the statewide academic team, and each also is a nominee for the 2011 All-USA Academic Team, sponsored by USA Today, Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Cooper, originally from Rossville but now hailing from Wichita, is a pre-medicine major at Barton with a 4.0 grade point average. She serves as president of Barton’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter. She also is a two-year representative for Student Senate and was team captain for Barton’s regional championship volleyball team last fall.

At Barton, Cooper also participates in Community Student Organization and works 20 hours a week on campus. Outside of Barton, she volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and with America’s Promise.

Koch is a business finance major at Barton who earned an Automotive Technology degree from the college last year. He has a grade point average of 3.68 and plans to complete a bachelor’s degree at Fort Hays State University. He is an active member of Barton’s chapter of PTK, participating in community service projects.

He also is active in Barton’s music activities, performing as a percussionist with Concert, Jazz and Pep bands, as well as Orchestra and Barton’s vocal group Hilltop Singers. He was named to "Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges."

A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Johnson is a current resident of Junction City, moving to the area 1 ½ years ago when her husband, John, transferred to Fort Riley Post with the U.S. Army. She currently maintains a 3.5 grade point average and plans to enter nursing school following completion of an associate of science degree from Barton in May. A mother of three elementary-school-age children, Johnson serves as a Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Finance Committee member, a Family Readiness Group leader, reading support volunteer, a Cub Scout Pack leader, and Mime Team Director at Light House Church of God.

Planned to coincide with February’s Kansas Board of Regents meeting, the luncheon honoring these scholars will take place at the Ramada Inn Hotel in Topeka.

The application process for the All-Kansas Academic Team is a tedious one involving several pages of questions and essays, said Stephannie Goerl, Barton’s PTK adviser. Only two students from each campus location can be selected.

Based in Mississippi, Phi Theta Kappa has become the largest and the most prestigious honor society serving two-year colleges around the world. Membership is based on a grade point average of 3.5 or better.