Luke Gerst awarded top Phi Theta Kappa scholarship, aims for aviation career
Thirty Phi Theta Kappa members from 21 states have been named recipients of the 2009 Phi Theta Kappa Leaders of Promise Scholarships. All scholars receive scholarships of $1,000 to further their associate degree studies. One of the distinguished recipients is Luke Gerst, a second-year honor student at Kirkwood Community College.
Gerst is one of Kirkwood’s younger full-time students, schooled at his home in Walford by parents Joe and Connie Gerst. His first college studies were “dual credit” courses at the age of 16. A year later, he is on track to complete two Kirkwood degrees before he turns 20.
“I had the opportunity to take dual-credit classes and complete my last year of high school and first year of college at the same time,” he said. “It was a good set-up. Kirkwood is so convenient to my home. Plus, my dad was a Kirkwood student about 30 years ago, so we were very familiar with the school.”
Gerst also credits his involvement in Phi Theta Kappa as helping him “find a niche, a good place” in his Kirkwood experience. He is a chapter public relations officer for the upcoming academic year.
“I have really enjoyed doing projects for PTK, doing worthwhile things on campus. It’s a great organization that more Kirkwood students should get involved in,” he added.
Gerst is entering his second year of computer science studies at Kirkwood and also plans to earn a degree in management before pursuing a career in aviation. He already has a basic private pilot’s license, earned with flying lessons at Greencastle Aero Club in rural Johnson County.
“I plan to find a good career in flying, but I know in talking with other pilots that it’s always a good idea to have alternate career skills, just in case,” Gerst said.
Kirkwood Arts & Humanities Professor Rich Underwood is an advisor to the Cedar Rapids PTK chapter. He calls Gerst “an example of what an honor student is all about.
“Luke is one of the hardest working members of Alpha Eta Rho that we’ve seen in several years. I feel that is education to date is an inspiration to other members.”
Underwood added that Gerst is the third Leaders of Promise scholarship recipient from the Kirkwood-Cedar Rapids campus.
The Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program provides new Phi Theta Kappa members with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while enrolled at a two-year college. The program also provides opportunities and encourages students to assume leadership roles by participating in Society programs.
# # #
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,250 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. More than two million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 100,000 students inducted annually.