The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Eight Iowa Lakes Community College students have achieved All-Iowa Academic Team status for the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement, intellectual rigor, leadership and civic growth. Iowa Lakes hosted the 2021 All-Iowa Academic Team celebration at the Janice K. Lund Performing Arts Center on March 8.

Brea Bendlin, an Associate in Arts and Biology Transfer Major from Royal, was one of the honorees. She plans to transfer to Buena Vista University to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in biomedical sciences before enrolling in a physician assistant program. Bendlin's honors and awards include Presidential Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa member, President's Honor List, and All-Iowa Academic Team. She is a 2019 graduate of Clay Central/Everly High School.

The keynote speaker at the event was Stacey Benson, an assistant professor in agriculture technology at Iowa Lakes. Benson knows Iowa Lakes as a student, advisor and instructor. During her time as a student at Iowa Lakes, she was a Presidential Scholar, a Phi Theta Kappa member and an All-Iowa Academic Team recipient.