UNIVERSITY NEWS
Park offers graduate degrees and certificate programs Online and face-to-face
Park University meets the growing demand for career-enhancing education by offering accelerated course scheduling and the opportunity to take courses or complete your degree Online. Park's Graduate School offers a variety of Online master's degrees and certificate programs with a practical focus, high academic standards and flexible, Online course scheduling to meet the challenges faced by today’s professionals.
Graduate students enrolling at Park University can complete their degree in traditional classes, in Online classes or by combining traditional and Online classes in a manner that suits their needs and enhances their educational experiences. Regardless of your daily demands, Park's variety of classes and flexibility of schedules will meet your needs.
Park University graduates are reminded that your application fee will be waived, and active duty members of the U.S. military, dependents of active duty members and retired military members receive a 25 percent tuition discount. For more information, visit www.park.edu/grad.
Youngblood receives journalism peace award
Steve Youngblood, associate professor of communication arts, received a "Peace Award in Journalism" during the Crescent Peace Society's 12th annual Eid Celebration and Awards Dinner Oct. 12 in Overland Park, Kan. Youngblood has organized peace journalism seminars in the U.S., Azerbaijan and the Republic of Georgia, and he is a two-time J. William Fulbright Scholar -- going to Moldova in 2001 and Azerbaijan in 2007. The Crescent Peace Society is a non-profit organization that serves as a focal point of action in the Kansas City area for raising awareness of different Muslim cultures.
Copley Quad cornerstone placed during dedication ceremony
A dedication ceremony for the Copley Quad residence hall on Oct. 10 included the setting of a cornerstone that has a time capsule embedded with memorabilia, photographs and other items to be opened in 50 years -- in the year 2058. Photos from the event, including the adjacent photo of Eugene Ruiz, Board of Trustees chair, putting the finishing touches on the cornerstone as Javier Centonzio, president of the Park Student Government Association, looks on, can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/51626936@N00/sets/72157608630323545/show/. For more information on Copley Quad, the first residence hall constructed on the Parkville Campus in 40 years, housing 250 students in four-person suites, visit www.park.edu/copleyquad.
Venable enjoys opportunity to be in the "show" for a day
One of the many Park University marketing and advertising opportunities this year was through a sponsorship with the Kansas City Royals baseball team. As a thank you, the Royals invited sponsors to send a representative to its annual "Sponsor Workout Day" event at Kauffman Stadium where participants spent an afternoon in a mini fantasy camp. William Venable, assistant professor of marketing and management, was the winner of a drawing the Office of University Advancement-Communications held for Kansas City area faculty and staff. Read a firsthand account of Venable's workout day with the Royals at http://news.park.edu/pub/news_00983.shtml.
New equipment for chemistry program to provide hands-on experience
In the 1992 comedy classic My Cousin Vinny, a witness for the prosecution stated that he took samples of rubber residue and analyzed it with a "Hewlett-Packard 5710-A dual-column gas chromatograph with flame analyzation detectors." Move forward 16 years, and Park University chemistry students, including Ian Pearce, a junior majoring in chemistry, left, and Lisa Kanoy, a junior majoring in biology (in the adjacent photo) are now getting the opportunity to do similar experiments, but with much more modern equipment. Read more about the new equipment within Park's chemistry program at http://news.park.edu/pub/news_00990.shtml.
Speaker selected for 2009 Hauptmann Lecture
Pan Kim, Ph.D., professor of public administration at Yonsei University, South Korea, will deliver the 17th annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture in the spring of 2009. He will be the first international lecturer in the history of the series. According to Erik Bergrud, director of the International Center for Civic Engagement and special assistant to the president for University projects on civic engagement, Kim is an international expert and leader in the public administration discipline, and Park University is fortunate to include him in its list of distinguished lecturers. A date for the lecture will be finalized in the near future. Visit www.park.edu/grad/pankim.html to read Kim's biography.
Park University People to People chapter volunteers at Operation Iraqi Children warehouse
On Oct. 3, members of the Park University People to People International chapter and national board members Simona Cibotaru, graduate assistant, and Fabio Garcia, international programs coordinator, Office of International Student Services (far left and far right, respectively, in the adjacent photo, with PTPI's Barbara Capozzi and Robert Ragsdale III), volunteered at the Operation Iraqi Children warehouse in North Kansas City, Mo. This humanitarian activity was part of the optional activities for the People to People Americas Regional Conference. Operation Iraqi Children is a grassroots program founded in early 2004 by actor Gary Sinise and author Laura Hillenbrand. Read more at http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001013.shtml.
History students create exhibit for museum
Park University history students are putting together an exhibit that will go on display in December at a Kansas City, Mo., museum. HIU 220 (History of the American West) students, taught by Joni Reist, adjunct instructor of history, are applying critical thinking to the profession by creating an exhibit at the Harris-Kearney House. Read more about the exhibit at http://news.park.edu/pub/news_00995.shtml.
Peak co-authors musical that recently premiered
Mari J. Peak, adjunct instructor of theatre, was the co-author of the original musical Waltzing in Heaven that held its world premier in Wichita, Kan., Oct. 2-5. Peak had collaborated on the project for two years. The musical is based on the tragic plane crash of the Wichita (Kan.) State University football team in October 1970 and the poetry of Howard Johnson, whose son Ronnie was among those killed. The story also revolves around a ring that Ronnie wore that Howard hoped to retrieve to remember his son. Thirteen years after the tragedy, the ring was miraculously found and returned to Ronnie's parents.
Park partners with Kansas City Chamber for genKC event
Park University was one of 30 organizations partnering with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce for its "genKC" networking event on Oct. 2 at the Power and Light District. More than 1,500 people attended the event, making it one of the largest social networking events in the region. Park University partnered with genKC to offer information and to connect with young professionals. Shown in the adjacent photo staffing the Park University booth are (from left): Joslyn Creighton, graduate student services coordinator; Marion Wolpers, Center for Leadership program manager; Michele Woody, graduate program support coordinator; and Andrew Minor, graduate admissions counselor.
Park to pay tribute to Ed Nelson
Park University will honor and pay tribute to its first-ever head men's basketball coach, Ed Nelson, on Saturday, Nov. 15. The reception will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. in the east dome of the Breckon Sports Center, prior to and during the men's basketball game against Southern Nazarene, which tips off at 3 p.m. Nelson, who passed away on Feb. 16, coached the Park men in its first 16 seasons of existence, beginning in 1961. If you plan to attend the reception, please RSVP to the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu.
ALUMNI NEWS
Park grads present screening for award-winning documentary
Kelly, '86, and Tammy Rundle, '88, award-winning documentarians, hosted a screening of their latest production, Lost Nation: The Ioway, on Oct. 21 on the Parkville Campus. The documentary tells the story of the Ioway Tribe, which occupied northern Missouri and Iowa. For more information on the film, visit www.iowaymovie.com/film.htm.
Great Wolf Lodge weekend set for alumni, family and friends
The Office of Alumni Relations will once again host a Park University Alumni, Family and Friends Weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, Kan., Friday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009. The discounted Park alumni rate is just $149 per night, which includes a family suite with six water park passes. Call the Great Wolf Lodge at (800) 905-9653 for reservations, making sure to ask for the Park University rate. The deadline for this special rate is Jan. 5, 2009. For more information, visit www.parkalumni.org/s/126/index.aspx?sid=126&gid=1&pgid=421&cid=960&ecid=960&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=787.
Alumni Weekend '09 dates set
Save the date! Park University's Alumni Weekend '09 will be held Thursday, June 25, through Sunday, June 28, 2009, on the Parkville Campus. The event will include class reunions, golf, picnics and more, and there will be special activities for first-time visitors to the Parkville Campus. More details will follow in coming months. For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu.
Alumni Association offering 2009 Mediterranean cruise
The Park University Alumni Association is hosting a "best of the Mediterranean and Greek Isles" luxury cruise Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. For more information about this two-week voyage, which is open to Park alumni, family and friends, visit www.parkalumni.org/s/126/index.aspx?sid=126&gid=1&pgid=424&cid=963&ecid=963&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=787.
ATHLETICS
Park basketball teams begin 2008-09 seasons
The Park University men's and women's basketball teams have both opened their 2008-09 slate of games. The men's squad started the year with an exhibition victory over Livin' the Dream, but dropped its season-opener. Read more at www.parkathletics.com/news/cat_index_38.shtml. The women's team also scored an exhibition win before opening the season with a victory against McKendree. Read more at www.parkathletics.com/news/cat_index_41.shtml.
Meriweather named to Sporting News NAIA first-team
Park senior forward Jon Meriweather was selected as a first-team All-American by The Sporting News in the publication's annual college basketball preseason yearbook. Read more about Meriweather's honor at www.parkathletics.com/mbasketball/park_002042.shtml.
Soccer teams gear up for postseason action
Park's men's soccer team has moved up in the NAIA rankings to No. 11 with a record of 10-2-3 (through the end of October) after beating previous No. 3 Southern Nazarene. Read more about the Pirates at www.parkathletics.com/news/cat_index_47.shtml. The women's squad is ranked 12th in the NAIA with a record of 12-1-2 through Nov. 1. Read more at www.parkathletics.com/news/cat_index_65.shtml.
Athletic director, basketball coach honored at NBA exhibition
Claude English, director of athletics, and Joe C. Meriweather, head women's basketball coach, were honored on Oct. 11 before the tipoff of the Portland Trailblazers vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA exhibition game at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. English and Meriweather were on hand with several former NBA teammates in a special tribute to those who live in the Kansas City metro area. Read more about the event at www.parkathletics.com/news/park_001976.shtml.
IN THE NEWS
• Kathleen Vinlove, Ph.D., associate professor of economics, was featured in a story on Kansas City's WDAF-TV (FOX-4) on Sept. 30. Vinlove was interviewed about a "trickle-up" financial bailout plan that was voted down by Congress which would have provide money to struggling homeowners instead of banks. The story can be viewed at www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7549969&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1.
• In the October issue of Entrepreneur magazine, Park University's Master of Business Administration program was listed in the "Launch Pad to Success" article as one of the colleges/universities in the U.S. that has an entrepreneur program/concentration. Read the article at www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2008/october/196952.html.
• KCTV-5 (CBS affiliate in Kansas City) visited the Parkville Campus on Oct. 7 in regard to a story on how students and student loans, both current and future, are being affected in the current economy. Valerie Jones, associate director of Student Financial Services, along with students Chris Andrews, a freshman majoring in criminal justice, and Jennifer Braniff, a senior majoring in graphic design, were interviewed.
• Five members from the Park University Athletics Department took part in four episodes of the Metro Sports (a Kansas City Time Warner Cable channel) program "Braggin' Rights" the week of Oct. 6. Claude English, director of athletics; Cary Lundy, baseball head coach; Joe C. Meriweather, women's basketball head coach; Tyler Price, assistant sports information director; and Steve Wilson, sports information director, were a part of the Park team that competed against the Metro Sports Posse. "Braggin' Rights" is a sports trivia show featuring organizations in the Kansas City area attempting to correctly answer 10 head-to-head questions against members of the Metro Sports staff. The Park team did well, but couldn't manage a victory. The Pirate team tied the first night, 9-9, but lost the last three matchups, 9-8, 9-7 and 8-6.
• Kansas City Star photographer Fran Mattox visited art@park Oct. 12 and took photos for the "Community Faces" section of its web site. Visit https://communityfaces.kcstar.com/?action=viewall&id=1504&expand=0&s=1&ac=1&ct=1&pc=1&fs=1&stf=1&preview=0 to view the photos.
• Park University head women's basketball head coach Joe C. Meriweather was a guest on "The 38 Sports Spot" on KMCI-TV (Channel 38 in Kansas City) on Oct. 21. Meriweather was interviewed by host Jack Harry. The interview can be viewed at www.38thespot.com/content/thespot/default.aspx?articleID=412773.
• Peter deSilva, Park University Board of Trustees member, was highlighted in a Kansas City Star story on Oct. 22 about the United Way of Greater Kansas City's fundraising efforts. deSilva is the co-chair of this year's campaign. The story can be read at www.kansascity.com/115/story/852127.html.
• "What’s Next? Women Making a Difference in their Community," a course co-sponsored by Park University, was featured in the Platte County (Mo.) Sun Gazette on Oct. 16. Laurie DiPadova-Stocks, Ph.D., dean of the Hauptmann School for Public Affairs and professor of public administration, was interviewed for the story. The article can be read at www.kccommunitynews.com/articles/2008/10/16/sun_tribune/schools/doc48f61472536e6548198721.txt.
• Nicolas Koudou, Ph.D., professor of business administration and director of the Master of Business Administration program, was featured in the Oct. 4-5 issue of The Examiner (Independence, Mo.) newspaper in its "5 Quick Questions" section. The feature can be read at www.examiner.net/quick5/x455212870/Quick-5-questions-for-Nicolas-Koudou.
UPCOMING EVENTS
View a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics, at www.park.edu/calendar/parkville.html.
