Park University held its annual Honors Convocation on April 23 in the Breckon Sports Center on the Parkville Campus, recognizing the outstanding scholastic efforts of students and faculty during the 2007-08 year. In addition to departmental honors, Park presented its Presidential Awards, Distinguished Faculty awards and the Outstanding Parkite awards.
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| Meg Waters, left, with Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., Park University president. |
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| Emilio Servigon, left, with Dr. Byers-Pevitts. |
The Outstanding Parkite Award is given to one senior female and one senior male student who best exemplify the ideals of the University in their character, conduct, scholarship and student activity participation. This year's Outstanding Parkite Award went to Meg Waters and Emilio Servigon.
Waters, a senior interior design major from Ruston, La., has been actively involved at Park, ranging from being a member of the softball team to assisting the Parkville (Mo.) Downtown Association with planning and implementing citywide events. She also became engaged in student government, serving terms vice president and president of the Park Student Government Association. In addition, she used her skills in her chosen field, working with other students to help redesign the first floor of Thompson Commons. Waters will graduate in May magna cum laude.
Servigon, from Guayaquil, Ecuador, graduated in December 2007 magna cum laude with a degree in graphic design. He served as the director of the Campus Activities Board his junior year and served on the PSGA throughout his career at Park, quickly earning a reputation as a mediator with wisdom and "common sense." Fellow classmates recognized his talents and chose him as the Outstanding Class Member three times, and he represented Park as Harvest Fest royalty and served as an orientation leader for the Good Squad. He also worked in the Pirate Grounds coffee shop, using his skills to make significant contributions to that enterprise. In addition, Servigon has received departmental honors, and his work has appeared on the cover of the Park student handbook.
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| Dr. Dennis Okerstrom, right, with Dr. Byers-Pevitts. |
Dennis Okerstrom, Ph.D., associate professor of English, was honored with the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award. Okerstrom is a published fiction and non-fiction author, and with a great interest in World War II, he took students to Croatia last year to investigate and report on the shooting down of a United States plane during the War. His latest adventure is planned for this June as he will head to Morocco as part of a team of academics involved in a Fulbright scholars program. Manuchair Ebadi, '60, Ph.D., established this award in honor of Delta W. Gier, Ph.D., former chair of the Department of Chemistry who served Park from 1948 to 1990. The award pays tribute to a faculty member who shows evidence of commitment to high standards of excellence in the area of scholarship: teaching, discovery, integration and/or service. The recipient also shows effective and innovative connections between teaching and research, especially by undergraduate student involvement and participation.
Donna Bachmann, professor of art and director of the Campanella Gallery, was honored with the newly-established Distinguished Humanities Faculty Award. Pieces of Bachmann's art have been exhibited around the Kansas City area and beyond, and some of her pieces are on permanent
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| Donna Bachmann, left, with Dr. Byers-Pevitts. |
display at the Downtown Kansas City Campus Center. Ebadi also established this award, in August 2007, to celebrate the work, life and thoughts of Woodbridge O. Johnson, Ph.D., professor emeritus and chair of religion and Biblical literature at Park from 1946 to 1966. The award is presented to a University faculty member who exhibits extraordinary accomplishments in research or creative scholarship through teaching, discovery, scholarly or creative work, and service.
Four additional Presidential Awards were also presented. They are:
- Student Ana Mutu received the Lora Margaret and Thomas Amherst Perry Endowed Scholarship, which goes to a full-time student who has demonstrated self-reliance, self-discipline and good work habits, and is at least partially self-supporting.
- Students Simona Cibotaru and Cheryl Toby received the Louisa Davidson Hinde/Carolyn Hinde Zarkaryan Memorial Award. This award is given to the individuals who best represent the spirit of Park University by promoting in others that quality of excellence that has always been associated with a Park University education.
- Carol Getty, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice, received the Excellence In Academic Advising Award. This award is given to recognize faculty who have achieved excellence in
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| Dr. Timothy Westcott, left, with Dr. Byers-Pevitts. |
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| Dr. Carol Getty, left, with Dr. Byers-Pevitts. |
providing Park University students academic advising and mentoring. The award is intended to recognize outstanding contributions in helping students define and achieve their academic goals.
- Timothy Westcott, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, received the J.L.Zwingle Award. The students of Park University are proud to pay tribute to an outstanding faculty member as voted by the student body.
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A listing of all awards presented during the Honors Convocation follow:
2007-2008 OUTSTANDING STUDENTS
Dean's Honors
Cumulative GPA of 3.6 or above, degree seeking, full-time with sophomore status or above:
Nicole Ainsworth, Lori Ambrose, Denise Anderson, Vlatko Andonovski, Trevor Arnold, Katherine Arnone, Ashleigh Atchison, Camille Aton, Nargiz Bagirova, Loretta Baker, Jennifer Baldin, Athena Bandy, Adrienne Barr, Gary Batliner, Nicole Betz, Tiffany Bird, Quinn Bixler, Monica Blain, Alfred Bognar, Aaron Boorem, Milena Borojevic, Stefanie Bourne, Christopher Bowles, Joshua Branscum, Amanda Brimer, Vladan Bundalo, Abigail Callan, Paul Caruso, Javier Centonzio, Tsz-Chung Cheng, Deron Cherry, Olisa Cifligu, Georgianna Clayton, Sadie Clement, Sarah Cochran, Sarah Cochran, Laura Cornett, Laura Crawford, Kristi Dalberg, Andrew DeGhelder, Tifni DeGuire, Michelle DeLaCruz, Julie DeMore, Kelly Dennis, Andria Detel, Douglas DeWald, Justin Dirck, Laura Dorsey, Darina Durlova, Dennis Eddy, Courtney Edwards, Kerry Ehrhardt, Danielle Fackrell, Mark Fairhurst, Rachel Fessenden, Mahsa Fields, Cheryl Fousek, Meghan Frick, Gregory Frost, Amy Fulgium, Kristen Fursa, Melissa Gardner, Andoni Garrote, Jennifer Geeo, Amiran Gelashvili, Janice Gerke, Rachel Gordy, Christie Gray, Kerry Green, Lauren Greer, Crystal Guthrie, Bethany Guy, Devin Haddix, Aziz Hakimov, Jillian Harper, Elvin Hatamzade, Heather Hawkins, Renee Heagy, Brooke Henderson, Shaylee Henning, Stacye Hillman, Hilary Holden, Elashun Hollowell, Hanni Honey Htun, Austin Honeycutt-Otte, Yang Hua, Felicia Hughes, Joshua Hurlbert, Rebecca Irwin, Melinda Jansen, Tamera Jenkins, Jacy Jensen, Roxanne Jensen, Anna Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Ryan Johnston, Travis Kegley, Dustin Kerns, Briah Ketchum, Mark Kever, Barbara Kidd, Sean Kosednar, Wei-Ling Lai, Joshua Lane, Loren Laughlin, Thang Manh Le, Ljupka Lefkova, Gelin Liao, Megan Rae Lewis, Sarah L. Long, Kok-Fang Loo, Kristen Looloian, Sean Loughran, Sara Lovelace, Jacob Lundy, Lillian Madeje, Sheila Madonia, Vusal Mammadov, Anna Marie Mandina, Kirsten Mann, Darrin Manna, Emily Lauren Martin, Hannah Matlock, Tracey Mauna, Caleb May, April McArthur, Christina McBroom, Elizabeth McCawley, Laura McCreery, Sarah McLaughlin, Nickole Mitchell, Bryan Meehan, Teri Middlebrooks, Ramey Modica, Jessica Moody, Pamela Moreno, Natasha Morris, Laban Muchiri, Tewfit Mulatu, Ana Mutu, Rodrigo Neri, John Nickell, Saad Nsimbe, Andria Nutsch, Oluwanifemi Olomiye, Ashley O'Reilly, Johnna O'Shields, Robert Odera, Jessica Pallette, Heather Pate, Elizabeth Perry, Janney Peterson, Jennifer Peterson, Amy Pierce, Dena Pires, Larry Prather, Anxhelina Prenika, Maria Protodyakonova, Ganna Puzankova, Crispin Rea Jr., Sydney Rennack, Miranda Ridenour, Jaimie Robeson, Jennifer Rogers, Madison Rommel, Tami Russo, Sandra Saft, Andrea Sampson, Sabra Sandy, Kayla Sayler, Eric Scanlan, Andrea Scherer, Jessica Schneider, Maxwell Schuman, Bob Sears, Holly Shelton, Benjamin Shinyambala, Mary Siedlik, Jennifer Simpson, Jeanne Skinner-Thebo, Jacklyn Sloderbeck, Amy Smith, Kati Smith, Meagan Smith, Tara Smith, Vusala Snyder, Jessica Stanley, Andrea Stauch, Susan Stechmann, Alexandra Steele, Elitsa Stefanova, Ashley Stephenson, Shawna Sullivan, Rohan Suppal, Matthew Suppenbach, Michael Sweetwood, James Terrell, Rachel Tharp, Sunny Thomas, Brittany Thornburg, Cheryl Toby, Sinclaire Toman, Angelica Tovar, Lisa Tran, Kristyne Trotter, Ryan Upton, Lavinia Vaitai, Amanda Valazquez, Vanessa Valverde, Christine Vannoy, Bavitha Vinod, Cynthia Vreeland, Stephen Waldon, Jacklyn Walker, Cayla Waller, Benjamin Wallis, Charles Ward, Margaret Waters, Brittanie Watkins, Nichole Wessel, Michael Westblade, Nicole Wiehe, Tina Windsor, Luke Wolkers, Jennifer Wymore, Aigline Yoke-Moungui, and Michael Zimmerman.
Alpha Chi Membership
Park University's Missouri Theta chapter of Alpha Chi, a national college honor society. is to promote academic excellence and exemplary character. The society's name refers to truth and character. The following are nominated for induction this year:
Adrienne Barr, Stefanie Bourne, Javier Centonzio, Laure Christensen, Amy Crumbliss, Tifni DeGuire, Cheryl Fousek, Kristen Fursa, Heather Hawkins, Tamera Jenkins, Loren Laughlin, Christina McBroom, Jessica Moody, Amy Pierce, Andrea Sampson, Patrick Scanlan, Mary Siedlik, Jacklyn Sloderbeck, Amanda Strobbe, Shawna Sullivan, James Terrell and Lisa Tran
Who's Who Among Students
The following representatives of Park University were selected for publication in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges:
Marissa Arevalo-D'Amico, Ashleigh Atchison, Adrienne Barr, Carrie Hallensleben, Melissa Gardner, Jacy Jensen, Hannah Matlock, Rodrigo Neri, Kristen Palmer, Dena Pires, Anxhelina Prenika, Amin Salman and Patrick Scanlan
Student Employee of the Year Award
The recipient of this special award for an outstanding work study student has been chosen on the basis of his/her reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and the uniqueness of contributions.
Jenene Kolensie
C.W. Bailey Award
This award is given in memory of C.W. Bailey, grandfather of John Shelton, a Park 1976 graduate of the military degree program, to students for the purpose of facilitating their education to the end that they may make a contribution to society in the tradition of Bailey. It is presented to two freshmen students who have distinguished themselves and exhibited the spirit of Park University.
Charif Hamidi and Patrizia Pfefferdorn
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
A $5,000 scholarship awarded by Zonta International, a global organization of nearly 33,000 executives and professionals from 67 countries in 1,200 Zonta Clubs, who work together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.
Jenene Kolensie
STUDENT SENATE AWARDS
Dusing-Proudfoot Award
The Dusing-Proudfoot Award is given to honor an outstanding contribution by a faculty or staff member of Park University. It is named in honor of two previous Park University professors, Al Dusing and Merrill Proudfoot. These outstanding faculty members worked at Park University for more than 20 years and are respected for their academic and teaching betterment of students.
Karie Schaefer
Toni Griggs Award
The Toni Griggs Award is given to honor a student who has made an outstanding contribution to Park University through leadership, service or work performance. This award is named in honor of a staff person who was an integral part of the workings of Park University for decades. Griggs was a dear friend throughout the years to many Park students, faculty and staff.
Rebekah Rose
Tipton Award
The Tipton Award is given to honor an outstanding service contribution to Park University by a Park alumnus. It is named to honor Bill and Mary Lou Tipton, both 1928 graduates of Park University. Throughout their lives, the Tipton's served Park University through the Alumni Association, Friends of the Park University Library and the Park University Board of Trustees.
Allyson Pasbach
Outstanding Class Members
This award honors one male and one female of each Parkville Campus class (freshman, sophomore, junior and non-graduating senior) who best represent their class in service and participation at Park University.
Freshmen: Samantha Gross and Lyman Rickman
Sophomores: Lillian Madeje and Richard Ashley
Juniors: Amy Crumbliss and Elvin Hatamzade
Non-Graduating Seniors: Olisa Cifligu and Rodrigo Neri
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES AWARDS
School for Arts and Humanities
Art Achievement Awards in Fine Art
Heather Cook, Ivy Chapin, Aaron Ennis, Anna Mandina and April McArthur
Art Achievement Awards in Graphic Design
Joshua Lane, Andrea Lewark, Pamela Moreno and Cynthia Vreeland
Art Achievement Awards in Interior Design
Erin Cobb, Andrea Lewark, Amy Pierce, Sunny Thomas and Meg Waters
IIDA Scholarship Recipient (International Interior Design Association)
Natalie Bedford and Sunny Thomas
Annual Kansas City Artists Coalition Undergraduate Juried Art Competition
John Sutton
Communication Arts
Northland News MVP
Given annually to the most valuable staff member at the "Northland News."
Sean Kosednar
KGSP Excellence Award
Given annually to the most valuable KGSP staff members.
Jeff Hall and Jake Waldon
Communication Arts Oratorical Award
Laura Cornett and Mark Fairhurst
English
Mary Barlow Writing Award for Outstanding Student Writing
Janice Gerke and Jacklyn Sloderbeck
Nicholas Manchion Endowed English Scholarship Award
Sheila Madonia
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta is the National Honor Society in English studies. Its purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. The Park University chapter is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The following students have achieved the requirements for membership and are invited into the company of those dedicated to promoting interest in literature and the English language:
Erin Davis, Janice Gerke, Lora Hawkins, Sheila Madonia, Missi Rasmussen, Tami Russo, Jacklyn Sloderbeck, Jennifer Thompson and Wei-Ling (Linda) Lai
Theatre
Newcomer of the Year
Lora Hawkins
Scholarship Awards
Andrew Cudzilo, Andria Enns, Susan Hartington, Kinsey Parker, Jennifer Peterson and Jessica Thomas
Department Honors
Communication Arts
Sean Kosednar (Junior) and Aiglene Yoke (Senior)
English
Juniors: Adenike Orekoya, Tami Russo and Sabra Sandy
Seniors: Loretta Baker, Janice Gerke and Jackie Sloderbeck
Fine Art
Joshua Edwards (Junior) and Carolyn Morris (Senior)
Graphic Design
Andrew Perdue (Junior) and Jennifer Rogers (Senior)
Interior Design
Nicole Colao (Junior) and Andrea Lewark (Senior)
Modern Language
Patricia Wright (Junior)
Theatre
Rene Solomon (Senior) and Jason Bauer (Senior)
School for Natural and Applied Sciences
Burton W. Scheib Pre-Medical Prize
This award is given to a student majoring in science (preferably pre-med) for excellent work in this field.
Milena Borojevic and Greg Frost
The CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award
This award is presented in recognition of outstanding scholastic achievement in chemistry during the freshman year at Park.
Gaelle Ngone Ndoundou Dieng
The Dr. William C. Pivonka Award
Inaugurated by the class of 1988 to be given annually in recognition of the dedication that Dr. William C. Pivonka has shown in teaching at Park University. It is given to upper division students who best represent the ideals of the chemistry major at Park University.
Milena Borojevic
The American Institute of Chemists
Honors the outstanding senior in the field of chemistry.
Eli Rauer
The Harold G. McDaniel Award
In memory of Harold G. McDaniel, Park alumnus and professor of mathematics, 1954-78, this award is given to honor outstanding students majoring in mathematics or natural science.
Dennis Eddy and Allison Vaughn
The J. Malcolm Good Award
For the best papers in mathematics.
Jennifer Wymore (Sophomore) -- "Pierre Fermat: A Mathematical Wonder" and Rachel Stevens (Junior) -- "Galileo Galilei"
Professor L.A. Robbins Memorial Award
This award is given to a student who has distinguished himself/herself in the natural science division and in athletics.
Dena Pires
Outstanding ACM Service Award
Bavitha Vinod
Outstanding Graduating Senior in Geography Award
Tifni DeGuire
Outstanding Geography Major Award
Dawn Larson
Excellence in Geography Award
Joshua Martin
John R. Sanders Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is in memory of Dr. John Sanders, former dean of undergraduate studies and associate professor of chemistry at Park University, known as a dedicated scholar and friend to students.
Andrea Sampson
Department Honors
Athletic Training
Mahsa Hylton (Senior)
Biology
Milena Borojevic (Senior) and Greg Frost (Senior)
Chemistry
Milena Borojevic (Senior), Jennifer Geeo (Senior) and Aaron Boorem (Junior)
Computer Science
Juniors: Austin Honeycutt-Otte and Bavitha Vinod
Seniors: Rodrigo Neri, John Nickell and Mike Sweetwood
Mathematics
Hanni Honey Htun (Senior)
School for Social Sciences
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is the national honor society in psychology. The purpose is to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in the scholarship of its member in all fields, particularly in psychology and to advance the science of psychology. The Park University Psi Chi Chapter was chartered on December 6, 1996. The following are welcomed to Psi Chi's fellowship of common interest, mutual assistance and high endeavor:
Marissa Arevalo-D'Amico, Adrienne Barr, Paul Caruso, Danny Cunningham, Heather Hawkins, Johnna O'Shields, Rebekah Rose, Sonya Shifflett, Mary Chrissie Siedlik and Ryan Upton.
Department Honors
Criminal Justice
Tamera Jenkins (Junior), Ashleigh Atchinson (Senior) and Larry Prather (Senior)
History
Andrew DeGhelder (Junior) and Brett Ferguson (Senior)
Legal Studies
Elvin Hatamzade (Junior) and Zachary James (Senior)
Philosophy
Elvin Hatamzade (Junior)
Political Science
Javier Centonzio (Junior) and Billy Williams (Senior)
Psychology
Johnna O'Shields (Junior) and Thang Manh Le (Senior)
Religion
Laura Cornett (Junior)
Social Work
Tracey Mauna (Senior) and Jessica Pallette (Senior)
Sociology
Florenda Jarrard (Senior) and Andoni Garrote (Junior)
SCHOOL FOR EDUCATION
The Dorothy Watson Literacy Awards
These awards are presented in the name of Dr. Dorothy Watson to undergraduate students showing exceptional promise in the field of literacy education.
Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Difficulties
Cheryl Toby
Literacy for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers
Jessica Moody
Literacy for Middle School Teachers
Jay Terrell
Literacy for Secondary Teachers
Amanda Strobbe
Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood
Amy Fulguim
Outstanding Student Teacher Awards
These awards are given to students whose performance as a student teacher during the 2007-2008 academic year has been outstanding.
Early Childhood Level
Kellie North
Elementary Level
Amanda Brimer
Middle School Level
Hayley Howard
Secondary Level
Victoria Roberts
Department Honors
Jillian Harper (Junior) and Kristen Looloian (Senior)
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Park University Business Faculty Award
This award is given to the student who demonstrated exceptional leadership in the classroom and exceptional potential in the field of business.
Patrick Scanlan
Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award
The Educational Service Bureau of Dow Jones & Company, Inc., one of the pioneers of The Newspaper in the Classroom Program, created this award to honor a student who shows exceptional scholarship in the classroom.
Eric Scanlan
Financial Executives Institute Awards
This award is given to an outstanding graduate of Park University in the field of finance for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Jacob Moore
Department Honors
Accounting
Ryan Johnston (Senior)
Economics
David Thubuku (Senior)
Finance
Christina McBroom (Junior) and Susan Stechmann (Senior)
Human Resources Management
Lisa Rohan (Senior)
International Business
Amin Salman (Senior) and Brittany Williams (Senior)
Management
Jacob P. Moore (Senior)
Marketing
Abigail Callan (Junior) and Emily Farley (Senior)
PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS
Lora Margaret And Thomas Amherst Perry Endowed Scholarship
The student who receives this scholarship award is a full-time student and has demonstrated self-reliance, self-discipline and good work habits, and is at least partially self-supporting.
Ana Mutu
Louisa Davidson Hinde/Carolyn Hinde Zarkaryan Memorial Award
The recipients of this award will be to persons who best represent the spirit of Park University. Two students or either an alumni, faculty or staff member are selected annually. They best promote in others that quality of excellence that has always been associated with a Park University education. The awards are presented in memory of Louisa Davidson Hinde and Carolyn (Paddy) Hinde Zarkaryan, '56.
Simona Cibotaru and Cheryl Toby
Excellence In Academic Advising Award
This award is given to recognize faculty who have achieved excellence in providing Park University students academic advising and mentoring. The award is intended to recognize outstanding contributions in helping students define and achieve their academic goals.
Carol Getty, Ph.D.
J.L.Zwingle Award
This award is given to an outstanding faculty member. The students of Park University are proud to pay tribute to an outstanding faculty member as voted by the student body.
Timothy Westcott, Ph.D.
Distinguished Humanities Faculty Award
The Distinguished Humanities Faculty Award, established in August 2007, by Dr. Manuchair Ebadi, '60, celebrates the work, life and thoughts of Dr. Woodbridge O. Johnson, professor and chair of religion and Biblical literature (1946-1966). Upon his retirement from Park, the Board of Trustees, upon recommendation of his colleagues, conferred upon Johnson the title of "professor Emeritus," one of academia's highest compliments. The award is presented to a Park University faculty member who exhibits extraordinary accomplishments in research or creative scholarship through teaching, discovery, scholarly or creative work and service.
Donna Bachmann
Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award
This award was also established by Dr. Ebadi, in 1998, to honor Dr. Delta W. Gier. Gier served Park University in the natural science division from 1948 until his retirement as program administrator of the pre-professional health science program in 1990. Thanks to Dr. Ebadi's continued generosity, we pay tribute to a full-time faculty member who shows evidence of commitment to high standards of excellence in the area of scholarship: the scholarship of teaching, of discovery, of integration or of service. The recipient shows effective and innovative connections between teaching and research, especially by undergraduate student involvement and participation.
Dennis Okerstrom, Ph.D.
The Outstanding Parkite Award
The Outstanding Parkite Award, previously known as the Parker Memorial Fund Award, is given to the Parkville Campus senior man and senior woman who most worthily exemplify the ideals of Park University in their character, conduct, scholarship and student activity participation. These awards are endowed by Dr. Elliot F. Parker in memory of his parents Albert George and Jessie Bewley Parker. This is the most prestigious honor bestowed on any student at Park University.
Meg Waters and Emilio Servigon
