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Pictured at the All-Illinois Academic Team banquet are Nicole Banks, PTK advisor at the Quad-Cities Campus, and Jacob Larson, Quad-Cities Campus student
Congratulations to Richard Feltner, Jacob Larson, Caitlin McClafin and Krishna Patel for being selected for the 2026 All-Illinois Academic Team!
The four were chosen in recognition of their scholarly achievements.
Criteria
Students are nominated by their colleges for the All-USA Academic Team. Black Hawk College students nominated for the All-USA Academic Team are named to the All-Illinois Academic Team presented by the Illinois Community College Board, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Nominees must demonstrate outstanding academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.
The nominees
Colleges may nominate two students per campus.
This year, Black Hawk College nominated:
- Richard Feltner of Kewanee – East Campus
- Jacob Larson of Moline – Quad-Cities Campus
- Caitlin McClafin of East Moline – Quad-Cities Campus
- Krishna Patel of Wyoming – East Campus
About the sponsors
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports more than 1,400 exceptional college students each year, with annual scholarships of $3.55 million awarded through three nationally recognized programs.
The foundation supports two-year colleges through the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Program, administered by Phi Theta Kappa. The program awards 200 stipends (up to $237,500) annually across four tiers of recipients in varying amounts.
Illinois Community College Board
The Illinois General Assembly established the Illinois Community College Board in 1965 to create a statewide system of public community colleges accessible to every resident.
Today, the Illinois Community College System is the third largest system in the nation, with 45 colleges and one multi-community college center. More than 550,000 Illinois residents enroll in credit and noncredit courses each year, with thousands more benefiting from community programs and services.
Phi Theta Kappa
Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helps them grow as scholars and leaders.
Recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as the official honor society for two-year colleges, PTK also serves as the largest honor society in higher education, with more than 4.5 million members and nearly 1,200 chapters in 11 countries, including approximately 220,000 active members in colleges today.