The MCC Student Leadership award is given to students for outstanding leadership with involvement in school and academics. Students are usually nominated by instructors, counselors, and other staff. When all the students who have been nominated a single student is chosen. This student receives the award, a medal, and gets to be with representatives of the school, and other benefits.

This year's winner of the MCC Student Leadership award is Elvis Butler. Butler was nominated by Counselor Gwen Pate.

Elvis Butler

About receiving the award, Butler said, "I actually felt very privileged. I never really tried to go for any awards while I was in school but it made me feel honored that I was being watched and that basically being a good student was something that wasn't unrewarded."

About MCC - PV, Butler said, "From Penn Valley I learned how to be involved" and that "I didn't know the importance of actually being involved. Being involved is the drive behind you that helps you to do better in school." Butler has been involved with Student Activities, is the Vice President of Fellowship for the Penn Valley chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and is involved in Student Ambassadors.

"I am actually a lot more determined since I've been at Penn Valley," Butler said.

At Penn Valley, Butler utilizes the Student Activities and the Student Ambassadors organizations saying, "more so than any other resources just being involved because basically being involved with students gives you a community of other people that also want to succeed in school and it keeps you focused."

Elvis Butler has been going to Penn Valley Community College since the fall of 2004. With a grade point average of 3.6 and still rising, Butler is thinking of transferring to the University of Missouri-Kansas City or the University of Missouri-Rolla to majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Butler chose to go to Penn Valley because he knew he wanted to go to college and since he finished up his term for the Marine Corps right before a semester started he walked into the college, and went through the enrollment process. Butler grew up in the inner city of Kansas City. Butler's mother raised him and three younger brothers in Kansas City; Butler went to both Paseo and North East high school graduating from North East with a grade point average of 3.2. After high school Butler went on to the Marine Corps for four years to do computer programming to receive the Montgomery G.I. bill to help pay for school.

Butler said "My family has been an inspiration for me," speaking in particular of his mother's years in college after her children were raised and how she is graduating this December. Butler also says, "I have a younger brother who went to K.U. (Kansas University) and he is graduating next year." Butler said, "Seeing people around me and my family going to school and actually completing, inspires me to know that I am fully capable of doing the same thing."

Butler's suggestion for students is "stay focused on classes and getting finished" and "keep the end in sight."

Copyright 2006 Metropolitan Community College