PARK UNIVERSITY E-NEWS
News from February 2009
UNIVERSITY NEWS
Missouri independent colleges, universities urge lawmakers to reject Access Missouri legislation changes
Representatives of the Missouri Independent Colleges and Universities Coalition, including Park University President Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., recently expressed disappointment that elected Missouri officials would embrace legislation to dismantle the highly successful Access Missouri financial aid program, thereby diminishing the ability of some of the state's neediest students to achieve dreams of a higher education. The Coalition denounced Senate Bill 390 as it would decrease the maximum award for students at four-year independent institutions (such as Park) by 38 percent (from $4,600 to $2,850), while increasing the maximum award for students at four-year public institutions by 25 percent (from $2,150 to $2,850).
Read more about the possible changes and how it could affect Park University and its students at http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001170.shtml. In addition, you can read excerpts from Byers-Pevitts' Feb. 12 testimony to the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education at http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001181.shtml. You can also help Park students retain full access to Access Missouri by joining the Keep Me in College Coalition. Let the Missouri Legislature know that you support keeping financial aid available to Missouri students attending eligible Missouri colleges and universities, including Park University, through Access Missouri. Visit www.keepmeincollege.org to sign up.
University launches new web page for military students
Already known for its successful relationship with the U.S. Military population, Park University is responding, in part, to the anticipated interest from veterans who qualify for the expanded benefits offered in the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, scheduled to take effect Aug 1.
The University has taken a proactive approach in its support of educational opportunities for veterans. The University has launched a new web page, http://military.park.edu/, to educate those in the military about their options for higher education. The web page provides information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as Park's academic programs and military-specific info on financial support, admission requirements and transferring credit.
The U.S. Department of Affairs expects more than 520,000 veterans will take advantage of those benefits. About 250,000 veterans currently attend colleges and universities on the GI Bill, according to the Department.
"Park University has been affiliated with the U.S. Military since World War II, and this web site is just another step in our ongoing effort to make higher education more accessible to the military and veterans," said Thomas W. Peterman, Ph.D., vice president for distance learning. "The new site gives them easy access to a lot of helpful information as they consider their education options."
Park nursing program adds students, partners with Kansas City hospital
Park University's Ellen Finley Earhart Nursing Program received permission to add 25 students -- now allowing for 65 students in the program -- and it signed a memorandum of understanding with Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., developing a partnership to establish a satellite campus.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001128.shtml
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| Jennifer Bone |
Goodfellow campus student selected for Air Force's Tops in Blue
Senior Airman Jennifer Bone, a junior majoring in management at Park's Goodfellow AFB Campus Center in San Angelo, Texas, was chosen as a member of Tops in Blue, an all-active duty U.S. Air Force special unit consisting of talented amateur performers selected for their entertainment abilities. Bone, a vocalist, was one of 31 airmen selected for the group during the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest. Tops in Blue will embark on a 10-month tour beginning in May that will include more than 120 shows in more than 20 countries.
Military students win NAIMES award
The National Association of Institutions for Military Education Services (NAIMES), an organization committed to promoting high quality, pedagogically-sound educational opportunities for the military community, announced that two Park University Online students were selected for a prestigious award. Petty Officer 1st Class Miguelina Dominguez, U.S. Navy, a senior majoring in social psychology, and 1st Sgt. Robert Palechek, U.S. Marines, a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership program, received NAIMES’ Student Spotlight Award.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001178.shtml
Park wins award at regional CASE conference
Park's Office of Communication earned a Silver Award at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's District VI Conference in Kansas City, Jan. 25-27. Park's award was for its "One University. Your World." radio advertisements. David Holt, director of marketing for academic programs, produced the spots in conjunction with BD&E, a strategic branding and communications company in Pittsburgh, Pa. Listen to the radio spots and view the television and print advertisements at www.park.edu/one/.
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| Kay Barnes |
Barnes receives award from Kansas City organization
Kay Barnes, founding director of Park University's Center for Leadership and former mayor of Kansas City, Mo., received the inaugural Jim Davis Award from the Downtowner's, an informal association of Kansas Citians who live, work and/or play in downtown Kansas City. The award is given to an individual who has given their talents for the development and renaissance of the downtown area.
University earns national community service recognition
The Corporation for National and Community Service honored Park University with a place on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts. The award is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001156.shtml
New video "tour" promoting Park University now available
A Park University recruitment video produced by YOUniversity TV premiered in February. The video includes highlights of not only the Parkville Campus, but the entire University, and it includes interviews with Park students, faculty and staff. View the video at www.park.edu/admissions/freshman.aspx.
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| Dr. Pan Suk Kim |
Hauptmann Lecture Series event to feature first international speaker
An international expert and leader in public administration will be the featured speaker at Park University's 17th annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series. Pan Suk Kim, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Regional Studies and Development, and professor of public administration at Yonsei University, South Korea, will speak on Thursday, March 19, starting at 7 p.m. in the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the Parkville Campus. Kim is the first international lecturer in the history of the series. The event is free and open to the public, but those attending are asked to reserve seats at www.park.edu/tickets. In addition, the lecture will be presented as a live webcast at www.park.edu/live. For more information about Kim or the lecture, visit www.park.edu/grad/lecture.aspx.
Park PTPI members volunteer for Operation Iraqi Children
On Feb. 7, 22 members of Park University's People to People International chapter volunteered at the Operation Iraqi Children warehouse in Kansas City, Mo. Park's PTPI team, led by Simona Cibotaru, graduate assistant in the Office of International Affairs and Education, and PTPI Board of Trustees member; and Amiran Gelashvili, a junior majoring in business administration/international business and Park PTPI chapter president, put together 1,368 packages, each containing school kits, during just three hours of volunteer work. The boxes were shipped to Iraq and Afghanistan to be distributed to children.
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| Fareed Zakaria |
Tickets remain for Fareed Zakaria Xerox lecture
As of March 5, only about 250 seats remained available for Park's Xerox Global Business Lecture Series event featuring CNN host and Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria. The lecture will be held on Tuesday, March 31, at Kansas City's Folly Theater, starting at 7 p.m.. For ticket purchasing information and information on Zakaria, visit http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001114.shtml.
University to pay tribute to Kansas City leaders at Founders Day event
Park University will honor three individuals who embody not only Park's mission, but are also outstanding partners in strengthening the Kansas City community and business ties that advance Park's vision of being an international leader in innovative education. During its Founders Day 2009 celebration on Monday, April 20, Park will honor Kay Barnes, former mayor of Kansas City, Mo., and founding director of the University's Center for Leadership; Peter S. Levi, president, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; and Robert J. Marcusse, president, Kansas City Area Development Council. For more information on the honorees, as well as sponsorship and ticket information, visit www.park.edu/foundersday.
ALUMNI NEWS
Office of Alumni Relations hosting Montana dinosaur dig trip
Reserve your spot for Park University's Montana Dinosaur Dig, July 7-11, 2009, in the Hell Creek Formation of eastern Montana. The dig will be led by two Park faculty members: Scott Hageman, associate professor of geology, and Brian Hoffman, Ph.D., professor of biology and mathematics. For more information on the trip, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu.
Alumni Weekend '09 dates set, activities planned
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. Details are posted at www.park.edu/alumni/awe09.asp. 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/cruise09.
Alumni encouraged to participate in Alumni Association programs
Graduates of Park University are reminded that they automatically become members of the Alumni Association. Members receive the Park University Magazine, notification of events, including the annual Alumni Weekend and Harvest Fest, invitations to regional receptions/reunions, access to the Online Alumni Directory and representation on the Alumni Council. Alumni are encouraged to participate in the many programs and committees available to Alumni Association members.
To keep your membership in the Alumni Association active, you must keep your contact information up-to-date with the Office of Alumni Relations. For more information, visit www.parkalumni.org or e-mail alumnioffice@park.edu.
ATHLETICS
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| Simon Senfuka |
Senfuka donates time, soccer clothing to Ugandan community
Park men's soccer player Simon Senfuka gave back to his home community of Kampala, Uganda, as he provided game jerseys, cleats and t-shirts for two youth teams.
www.parkathletics.com/msoccer/park_002608.shtml
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| Jason Kline |
Park basketball coach a part of Coaches vs. Cancer event
While Park University men's basketball coach Jason Kline tried to inspire his squad in a battle against Columbia (Mo.) College on Feb. 7, he also helped raise money and awareness in the nationwide fight against cancer. Kline encouraged fans in attendance to donate to Coaches vs. Cancer, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Kline helped raise $1,500 during the event and as a show of support, he wore tennis shoes and a suit during the game.
Baseball squad opens season undefeated
The Park baseball team, currently ranked No. 25 in the nation, has started the season with 12 straight victories (through March 7). The Pirates opened the season with a four-game sweep of Paul Quinn College, outscoring the Tigers 61-18.
www.parkathletics.com/news/cat_index_44.shtml
Men's volleyball squad bouncing back after rough stretch
Park's men's volleyball team, the defending NAIA national champions, after starting the season with seven straight wins, hit a road bump in early February, losing four of five matches, all to teams ranked in the top seven. However, the Pirates have bounced back, and are riding an 11-match winning streak (through March 4).
www.parkathletics.com/news/cat_index_53.shtml
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| Meghan Cummings |
Women's basketball player achieves milestones
Senior women's basketball player Meghan Cummings collected her 1,000th career point and eclipsed 700 career rebounds.
www.parkathletics.com/wbasketball/park_002545.shtml
IN THE NEWS
• Park University was the focus of a story in the Jan. 29 issue of the Platte County (Mo.) Sun Gazette that reasoned the University is an "untapped economic resource for Parkville (Mo.)," according to the city's economic development committee. The story highlighted a survey of Parkville Campus students that tried to find out why students aren't spending money in downtown Parkville and what could change their minds. The story can be read on the Sun Gazette's web site.
• Kay Boehr, assistant professor of interior design, was featured in a "Q&A" article in the "FYI/Living" section of The Kansas City Star on Feb. 8.
• Dorla Watkins, vice president for finance and administration, was profiled in the "'C' Who Gets It" section of the February issue of KC Small Business. The article also highlighted Park University's community involvement, outreach efforts and partnerships. The article can be read at www.kcsmallbiz.com/february-2009/cwhogetsit-dorla-watkins.html.
• Javier Centonzio, a senior majoring in political science and president of the Park Student Government Association, was pictured in a Veteran's Day story in a recent issue of KC-AUSA News, a newsletter of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army. Centonzio spearheaded the organization of the Memorial Stone Project at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Mo.
• Park University's Fort Bliss Campus Center, El Paso, Texas, was featured in the Feb. 19 issue of the base newspaper, The Monitor. The article included comments from Scott Graves, campus center executive director. Read the story on page 18 at www.fbmonitor.com/2009/02february/021909/pdf/021909part2.pdf.
• Pam Berneking, a member of Park University's Board of Trustees and the central region president of M&I Bank, was highlighted in Kansas City Business Journal article on area banks continuing to lend money despite increasing scrutiny and a troubled economy. The article appeared in the Feb. 13 edition.
• Brian Renshaw, Park University men's and women's cross country and track and field head coach, was featured in the Feb. 20 issue of the Kansas City Business Journal. The article was a part of a section on the economics of the Kansas City area heart care industry. Renshaw had a defibrillator surgically implanted in his chest five years ago to counter an electrical problem in his heart. Read more at http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/02/23/focus1.html.
• Mary Jean Eisenhower, president and CEO of People to People International and granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who delivered the keynote address and was bestowed with an honorary degree in humane letters from Park University at the December 2008 Commencement, was the featured cover story in The Kansas City Star's "Star Magazine" section on Feb. 22. The article mentioned the honorary degree she received from Park and included a photo of Eisenhower (with Park President Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., Thimios Zaharopoulos, Ph.D., dean of Park's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Laurie DiPadova-Stocks, Ph.D., dean of the Hauptmann School for Public Affairs and professor of public administration, in the background) snapped by the University's communication coordinator, Brad Biles. See the story and photo at www.kansascity.com/starmagazine/story/1037536.html.
UPCOMING EVENTS
View a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics, at www.park.edu/calendar/parkville.html.
