The Crow’s Nest — September 18, 2019
Homecoming and Family Weekend Set for Sept. 19-21
海角乱伦社区 alumni, family and friends from across the country will converge on the University鈥檚 Parkville Campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend 2019. Events begin on Thursday, Sept. 19 (which is also International Talk Like a Pirate Day), and continue through Saturday, Sept. 21. While a number of activities during the weekend are reserved for Park alumni and their families, many events are open to students, faculty, staff and the general public. These include (events with ticketed admission are noted):
Thursday, Sept. 19
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� 海角乱伦社区 Alumni Association Awards Program, 6 p.m., The Park Place, Parkville, Mo. Tickets are $10 per person. Five Park alumni will be honored:
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Robert, 鈥�04, and Brenda Dandridge, 鈥�07, Torchlighter Award, given to honor individuals who have made significant longstanding contributions and commitment to 海角乱伦社区, whether alumni, faculty or friend.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Carolyn McHenry Elwess, 鈥�71, Distinguished Alumna Award, which recognizes Park alumni who have distinguished themselves through career service or community achievements. Elwess currently serves as the University鈥檚 archivist.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Marcus Gladdis, MBA 鈥�11, MHA 鈥�18, Park Promising Young Professional Award, which recognizes a Park alumnus/alumna who shows exceptional promise of leadership and contribution to their profession and/or community.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Lillian Madeje, 鈥�10, Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award, which recognizes Park alumni for volunteer services to community and civic organizations.
Friday, Sept. 20
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� 海角乱伦社区 Emeriti/Retired Faculty and Friends Tea, Park Distance Learning Center Conference Center, 10:30 a.m.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Concert: Stanislav and Friends: An Intimate Evening, 6:30 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City, Mo. Tickets are $75 (plus applicable fees) and can be purchased at tickets.kauffmancenter.org/stanislav.
Saturday, Sept. 21
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Wall of Honor Induction Breakfast, 9 a.m., Park Distance Learning Conference Center. Tickets are $20 per person. Those being honored:
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Pat Fayard, current assistant to the athletic director, for meritorious service.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Jon Meriweather, 鈥�11, MBA 鈥�14, player.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Ben Popoola, head coach from 1983-95, head coach from 1988-95 and director of athletics from 1984-96.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Wendy Romero, 鈥�17 and currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree in public accounting, player. Family Fun Day Event, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 6th Street entrance
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Park House Celebration, 1:30 p.m., McCoy Meetin鈥� House
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� and matches vs. Freed-Hardeman University, Julian Field. Free admission.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Women鈥檚 match, noon; Presentation of Athletics Wall of Honor Class of 2019 at halftime
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽o聽 Men鈥檚 match, 2:15 p.m.; Crowning of Homecoming Royalty at halftime
Throughout the weekend, food and toiletries for 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Pirate Pantry, which was established last year to help alleviate food insecurity among the University鈥檚 students, will be accepted. For more information about the public events, visit park.edu/news/homecoming-weekend-2019. To purchase tickets for the Alumni Association Alumni Awards program or Wall of Honor breakfast, visit park.edu/homecoming or contact the University鈥檚 Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu / (816) 584-6209.
Park Campuses Hold Commencement Ceremonies
海角乱伦社区 campuses across the country are holding commencement ceremonies for 2019 graduates. As these ceremonies continue through the year, we鈥檒l include the link to the news releases announcing the list of graduates at each campus.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Camp Pendleton (Calif.) Campus
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Ariz.) Campus
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Fort Irwin (Calif.) Campus
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Minot (N.D.) Air Force Base Campus
Park Athletics Receives Honors from NAIA
海角乱伦社区鈥檚 was recently recognized as a Champions of Character Five-Star NAIA institution at the gold level for the fourth time in the past five years. The NAIA鈥檚 Champions of Character program represents five core character values 鈥� respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship. Institutions earn points based on character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion, as well as exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and minimal to no ejections during competition through the course of the academic year.
Park鈥檚 athletics programs participated in various community service projects including projects with Harvesters, KC Pet Project, Northland Christmas Store, Platte Senior Citizens Clean-up Days in the spring and fall. Student-athletes totaled 2,426 community service hours in the 2018-19 school year, and held three food drives, collecting 2,314 pounds of food. Read more about the honor at .
In addition, Park鈥檚 team has been recognized with the inaugural NAIA Conference Commissioners Association Champions of Character Team Award. This award honors one men鈥檚 team and one women鈥檚 team from across the country for exemplary character on the field, on campus and in the community. During the 2018-19 academic year, the softball program completed 278 hours of community service in the Kansas City area and displayed the NAIA鈥檚 core values through its various activities. In addition, the squad excelled in the classroom with a 3.39 cumulative grade point average. Read more at .
Park Website Honored with Design Award
海角乱伦社区鈥檚 redesigned website has been recognized with a 2019 Award of Excellence in the website 鈥� entire site category by the University and College Designers Association. , the University鈥檚 partner on the website redesign.
海角乱伦社区 Historical Memorabilia Featured in Exhibit
Rarely seen items from 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Frances Fishburn Archives and Special Collections, featuring a variety of memorabilia and photographs representing key elements from the University鈥檚 144-year history, are currently on display in the Fishburn Archives exhibit space on the Parkville Campus. Carolyn Elwess, university archivist, and Ashlyn Weber, senior public history major and Fishburn Archives intern, arranged the 鈥淧ark Through the Years鈥� exhibit which showcases aspects of the University that have been important to generations of Park alumni, faculty, staff and the Parkville community. Objects on display include items related to athletics, music, religion, literature/publications, science, clubs and buildings, and, as a bow to the University鈥檚 humble beginnings, seldom-seen photos and documents representing the labor that not only built the school, but also kept everyone fed.
In addition, memorabilia of special interest and meaning to Park鈥檚 Class of 1969, many of whom will return for their 50th reunion as part of the University鈥檚 Homecoming and Family Weekend, Sept. 19-21, will be on display. Some of these items are on loan from Jay Flaherty, 鈥�71, Kansas City, Mo. The exhibit is on display in the Fishburn Archives exhibit space through Saturday, Nov. 30. The Fishburn Archives space is located in the University鈥檚 Academic Underground near the 6th Street entrance (adjacent to Breckon Sports Center). The space is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Read more about park.edu/news/park-history-exhibit.
鈥淧ark Stories鈥� Initiative Showcases Park Family
The heart and soul of 海角乱伦社区 lies within the spirit of the people who represent the institution in the classroom and community. The Office of University Engagement鈥檚 new initiative showcases fun and inspiring features highlighting 海角乱伦社区 students, faculty, staff and alumni. These stories will be shared periodically in The Crow鈥檚 Nest. This edition鈥檚 installment highlights Wakisha Briggs, director of continuing education.
Faculty, Staff, Student News
An article authored by Jolene Lampton, Ph.D., associate professor of management/accounting, was published Sept. 1 on the Strategic Finance magazine (publication for the Institute of Management Accountants) website. The title of the
Dong Hwa (Donna) Choi, Ph.D., professor of education, authored a for the book, Discovering New Educational Trends (V3). The chapter discusses cases of state legislation, curriculum and implications in digital citizenship education.
Brad Biles, director of communications and public relations, was a panelist on 鈥淭ransitioning from a Journalist to Public Relations鈥� at the Public Relations Society of America鈥檚 Midwest District Conference on Sept. 13 in Columbia, Mo.
Park in the News
Nicolas Koudou, Ph.D., professor of business administration, appeared on to discuss the American University of Cote d鈥橧voire that he founded (interview segment begins at about 58:00 mark).
海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus, which welcomed its first group of full-time students at the start of the fall semester, was . The article included comments from Jeff Ehrlich, Ed.D., Gilbert Campus executive director. In addition, a story about the program also .
海角乱伦社区鈥檚 program was The story was related to how esports injuries are becoming more common. Ashley Jones, head coach, and Caleb Kramer, student-athlete, were interviewed for the story.
Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who spoke at 海角乱伦社区 on Aug. 26, as part of his visit to the area.
Nicholas Miceli, Ph.D., associate professor of human resources management and healthcare management, provided comments for a related to workers at the General Motor鈥檚 Kansas City Assembly plant voting to strike if a new deal isn鈥檛 reached. On Sept. 15, when the United Auto Workers announced they would go on strike.
Two members of 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Civic Advisory Council were honored by the Kansas City Business Journal in the publication鈥檚 Aug. 23 edition. Co-Chair , president of LaserCycle Inc., and , founder and chief executive officer of Fenaroli and Associates, were recognized as part of the 鈥淲omen Who Mean Business鈥� class of 2019.
海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus was featured in the Gilbert Community Impact newspaper on Aug. 29. The story was related to how athletics has driven enrollment at the campus. Jeff Ehrlich, Ed.D., Gilbert Campus executive director, and Steve Wilson, Gilbert Campus director of athletics, provided comments for the article, as did student-athletes Layni Rodriguez and Bree-Lynn Taylor, both freshmen on the squad.
海角乱伦社区鈥檚 program was again related to how esports has gain in popularity at colleges and universities across the country. Ashley Jones, head coach, and Nicholas Gresham, a senior student-athlete, were interviewed for the story.
ECCO Select, led by Jeanette Prenger, 鈥�09, founder and chief executive officer, and chair of 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Board of Trustees, was ranked No. 14 on the Kansas City Business Journal鈥檚 list of 鈥淭op Area Women-Owned Businesses鈥� based on 2018 revenue. In addition, ECCO Select was ranked No. 7 in the Kansas City Business Journal鈥檚 list of 鈥淭op Area Minority-Owned Businesses,鈥� based on 2018 revenue. ECCO Select is an information technology services, solutions and staffing firm based in Kansas City, Mo.
An being conducted by 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 . Tim Westcott, Ph.D., director of the and associate professor of history, was interviewed for story that focused on research related to Lt. Robert Campbell. , focusing on the , a look at the university and the previous media coverage the valor medals review research has garnered.
James Isom, a member of 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Civic Advisory Council, was Isom is a commercial construction group manager at Burns & McDonnell in Kansas City, Mo.
A . Salem, who had served as editor and president of Universal Press Syndicate (now Andrews McMeel Universal) in Kansas City, Mo., edited and developed some of the best comic strips in American history, such as 鈥淒oonesbury,鈥� 鈥淐alvin and Hobbes,鈥� 鈥淐athy,鈥� 鈥淭he Far Side,鈥� 鈥淔or Better or For Worse鈥� and 鈥淔oxTrot.鈥� Salem was a recipient of 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2008 and he was among those listed in the book, 120 Outstanding Alumni of Park College, published in 1996 (and compiled and edited by Carolyn Elwess, university archivist).
海角乱伦社区鈥檚 Night at the Helm event, held June 12 at the National World War One Museum and Memorial, was , with a series of photographs from the event.
Siabhan May-Washington, M.E. 鈥�06, Ed.D., who began her duties as president of St. Teresa鈥檚 Academy in Kansas City, Mo., in July, was . STA is a Catholic, college preparatory high school for young women.
A . The mother of Keisha Clay, MPA 鈥�12, is opening Keisha鈥檚 Closet, a boutique to help low-income clients build a business wardrobe when going on job interviews.
海角乱伦社区 was recognized by U.S. News and World Report on Sept. 9 as having one of the most ethnic diverse colleges/universities in the Midwest. Park is ranked No. 8 in the 鈥�2020 USN&WR Campus Ethnic Diversity / Regional Universities 鈥� Midwest鈥� list.
海角乱伦社区鈥檚 online Master of Arts degree in national security studies was ranked No. 22 by SecurityDegreeHub.com on its 鈥淭op 25 Online Security Master鈥檚 Degree Programs for 2020鈥� list.
Upcoming Events
(All events are Central time)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Through September 27 鈥� Laurel DeFreece Mixed Media Art Exhibit, Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Through November 30 鈥斅�Park Through the Years Exhibit, Fishburn Archives Exhibit Space
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� September 18 鈥� Concert: ICM Orchestra Mini Concert, 4 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� September 19 鈥� International Talk Like a Pirate Day
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� September 19-21 鈥� Homecoming and Family Weekend, Parkville Campus
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� September 20 鈥� International Center for Music Concert: Stanislav and Friends: An Intimate Evening, 6:30 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City, Mo.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� September 21 鈥� Park House Celebration, 1:30 p.m., Park House
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� September 27 鈥� Concert: ICM Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 4 鈥� Fort Leonard Wood (Mo.) Campus Commencement, 10 a.m., Nutter Field House
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 7-November 22 鈥� Student Military Art Exhibit 鈥� 鈥淒arkest Hour,鈥� Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 13 鈥� Fall I Term Ends
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 14 鈥� 海角乱伦社区 Golf Scramble, 10 a.m., The National Golf Club of Kansas City
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 14-20 鈥� Fall Recess
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 15 鈥� River Read Children鈥檚 Literature Festival, Parkville Campus
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 21 鈥� Fall II Term Begins
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 23 鈥� 鈥淏anishing Bullying Behavior: A Call to Action from Early Childhood Through Senior Adulthood鈥� presentation by Blanche Sosland, 3 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 23 鈥� Orchestra Mini Concert, 4 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 25 鈥� Board of Trustees Meeting, Parkville Campus
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 30 鈥� 鈥淰ery Secret, Very Cool, but Not Aliens: The U-2, the A-12 and Area 51鈥� presentation by Dr. Brent Geary, 1:30 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� October 30 鈥� Concert: Pianist Behzod Abduraimov, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� November 1 鈥� Greater Kansas City Peacebuilding Conference (Day 2), 1-4 p.m., Park Distance Learning Conference Center
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� November 2 鈥� Defense Supply Center Columbus (Ohio) Campus Commencement, 9 a.m., Ohio History Connection
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� November 3 鈥� Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio) Campus Commencement, 2 p.m., Hope Hotel and Richard C. Holbrooke Conference Center
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� November 8 鈥� Concert: ICM Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
Note: To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics and student life, visit park.edu/calendars/park-events-calendar.