UNIVERSITY NEWS
University recognizes students, faculty at 2008 Honors Convocation
Park University held its annual Honors Convocation on April 23, recognizing the outstanding scholastic efforts of students and faculty during the 2007-08 year. Read about the award winners, as well as view a list of all of the awards and honors presented at news.park.edu/pub/news_00833.shtml.
Student wins second major piano competition of the year
Park University music student Behzod Abduraimov brought home first place in the piano division of the Corpus Christi (Texas) International Competition for Piano and Strings in February. Read about his victory in Corpus Christi at news.park.edu/pub/news_00760.shtml.
Pirate Club Chair Gives $100,000 to Women's Golf Program
Park University received a $100,000 gift to support its women's golf program from Virginia "Jinny" B. McCoy, chair of the Pirate Club and an honorary member and former chair of the Park University Board of Trustees. More...
Copley Quad project on time and on budget
In just over three months, the first phase of the Copley Quad student housing project will be complete. And while rainy and windy weather in April and cold and snow in late February kept some construction crews away, the project continues to be on time and under its projected budget. Photographs of the construction progress, which are updated regularly, can be viewed at www.park.edu/copleyquad.
Trustee appointed United Way co-chair
Park University Board of Trustee member Peter deSilva has been selected as a co-chair for the United Way of Greater Kansas City's 2008 fundraising campaign. deSilva, president and chief operating officer for UMB Financial Corp., a multi-bank holding company, and chairman of UMB Fund Services, has been a part of the United Way's Campaign Cabinet the past four years.
Park graduate featured at Park's Women's History Month celebration
Park University graduate Doris A. Howell, '44, M.D., an internationally recognized expert in pediatrics and hospice care, presented a lecture on "What is Leadership?" as part of Park's Women's History Month Celebration Lecture Series on March 31 on the Parkville Campus. In addition, Howell was honored by the University and the Presidential Leadership Program for Women Faculty as a "distinguished alumna" for inspiring women to define and pursue leadership excellence. Her lecture can be heard via an audio podcast at www.park.edu/podcast.
University hosts Rosabeth Moss kanter in Xerox Global Lecture Series
Park University and the Xerox Global Lecture Series presented Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ph.D., on March 18 on the Parkville Campus. Kanter, a best-selling author and international business consultant, as well as one of the "50 most influential business thinkers in the world and one of the "50 most powerful women in the world," opened her visit with the presentation, "Delivering Confidence: The Work of Leaders." An audio podcast of the presentation is available at www.park.edu/podcast.
Winners announced for Park McAfee Scholarship
Park University's Office of Admissions announced the winners of the 2008-09 Park McAfee Scholarship. The scholarship, for incoming freshmen, covers tuition, room and board, renewable for four years, provided the student maintains a 3.75 grade point average. It also includes a one-time stipend to study abroad after their sophomore year. The scholarship is valued at between $55,000 and $60,000.
This year's winners are: Katy Black, Gallatin (Mo.) R-V High School; Julie Dolezilek and Elizabeth Jarski, Holton (Kan.) High School; Caleb Roye, Blue Springs (Mo.) High School; and Carolyn Tragasz, Owensville (Mo) High School.
Memorial service, reception, lecture honored Hauptmann
In conjunction with the 16th annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture on April 9, Park University celebrated and honored the life and legacy of the man for whom the lecture is named. Hauptmann, professor emeritus of political science and public administration, passed away on Jan. 29. More...
The lecture featured Lawrence J. Korb, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a senior advisor to the Center for Defense Information. His lecture, "National Security in an Age of Terrorists, Tyrants and Weapons of Mass Destruction, can be heard via an audio podcast at www.park.edu/podcast.
Park's Phi Alpha Theta history honor society chapter honored
While hosting the Phi Alpha Theta Midwest Regional Conference in March, Park University's Zeta Omicron chapter of the national history honor was presented with a replica of the chapter's original charter, which was awarded in May 1958, in celebration of it's 50th anniversary. In addition, Zeta Omicron President Brett Ferguson, senior, was presented with a 50th Anniversary Award, and President-Elect Ryan Wagner, junior, was given a copy of Zeta Omicron's original application. Timothy Westcott, Ph.D., Department of Social Sciences chair and associate professor of history, is Zeta Omicron's advisor.
Longevity Awards celebrate 2007 service anniversaries
Park University honored staff and faculty who reached milestone service anniversaries in 2007 during the Longevity Awards celebration on April 2. Seventy-three Park University staff and faculty nationwide who celebrated a 5-year anniversary were recognized. These individuals represent a combined 705 years of service to Park. For a complete list of those honored, go to news.park.edu/pub/news_00804.shtml.
Student Government Association announces 2008-09 officers, senators
The Park University Student Government Association recently held elections for officers and senators. Javier Centonzio, a junior from Puerto Rico majoring in political science, was elected president. A complete listing of the 2008-09 officers and senators can be found at news.park.edu/pub/news_00818.shtml.
University has hand in getting Parkville railroad museum established
On April 29, a railroad museum in the Parkville, Mo., train depot across the street from the Parkville Campus held its grand opening -- with the help of the University's archives. Fourteen photos were provided by Park University's Fishburn Archives, led by Carolyn Elwess, archivist, and Donna Bachmann, professor of art and director of the Campanella Gallery, was instrumental in getting the photos arranged at the museum.
Park University faculty recognized at luncheon
In its effort to recognize and reward faculty contributions to the scholarship of teaching and learning, Park University's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning hosted its third annual Faculty Recognition Luncheon on April 16. The luncheon highlighted the accomplishments and milestones of outstanding full-time and part-time faculty at Park. A complete list of award winners from the event can be found at news.park.edu/pub/news_00830.shtml.
Park University leadership awards presented at banquet
The Park University Office of Student Life hosted the annual Dr. Doris Howell Leadership Awards Banquet on April 16. Kay Barnes, Park distinguished professor for public leadership was the keynote speaker, and Kathy Dodd, a member of Park's Board of Trustees, served as the event's emcee. A complete list of award winners from the event can be found at news.park.edu/pub/news_00830.shtml.
Theatre professor awarded Kennedy Center grant
Jon Young, assistant professor of theatre at Park University, was awarded a 2007 National Teaching Artist grant from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Young will spend two weeks in July at the Kennedy Center in a master class with renowned scenic designer Ming Cho Lee. More...
Trustee receives proclamation from Kansas City, Mo.
In a special presentation at a gathering of the Sister City Association of Kansas City, Mo., Bill Skaggs, Kansas City mayor pro-tem, presented a city proclamation to Benny Lee, Park University Board of Trustees member, and his wife, Edith, as "Benny and Edith Lee Night," citing their "many contributions and selfless promotion of Kansas City to the world." The proclamation was attested by Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser, City Manager Wayne Cauthen and the members of the Kansas City City Council.
Music Student Selected For National Symphony Orchestra Fellowship
Jonathan Dawson, a freshman at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Kan., and a Youth Conservatory for Music student at Park University, has been selected for a fellowship at the 2008 John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts/National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) National Trustees' Summer Music Institute. More...
University hires new public safety director
Park University tabbed Todd Pembleton as its new director of public safety. Pembleton began working on the Parkville Campus on Monday, April 28. Pembleton previously worked as the chief of security for a large corporation in Kansas City, Kan, as well as an on-call investigator. He has also been a senior investigative and security consultant, police officer, detective and deputy sheriff in the Kansas City area.
Park hosting residential academic camps for high school students
Park University is again hosting its Pirate Academic Camps this summer, June 8-13, on the Parkville Campus. These week-long residential camps are open to students who will be entering their freshman, sophomore, junior or senior year of high school in the fall of 2008. More information...
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Weekend set for June 19-22
Plans for Park University's Alumni Weekend 2008, scheduled for June 19-22, are set, and all Park University alumni are invited to attend. For complete information, including a schedule of events, visit http://www.parkalumni.org/s/126/index.aspx?sid=126&gid=1&pgid=396&cid=913&ecid=913&crid=0&calpgid=1&calcid=787.
Alumni trip to Austria and Switzerland scheduled
The Park University Alumni Association has scheduled a trip to Austria and Switzerland, Sept. 26 through Oct. 4. For more information, visit www.gonext.com/park/swissalpsf08.html. To request a trip brochure, send an e-mail to alumnioffice@park.edu.
ATHLETICS
Men's volleyball team wins national championship
The top-ranked Park University men's volleyball team captured the 2008 NAIA National Invitational Tournament on April 19 at the Breckon Sports Center on the Parkville Campus, giving the University its second national men's volleyball title.
Park Head Coach Cory Frederick was named the NAIA Coach of the Year after the victory, Pirates J.P. da Silva, senior, and Henry Uribe, junior, were named to the All-Tournament Team, with da Silva being selected tournament MVP, and Ryan Stafford, senior, was named the "tournament sportsman." More...
Meriweather earns national men's basketball honors
Jon Meriweather, Park University junior forward, was selected to a trio of national men's basketball honors, highlighted by him being named to the NAIA All-American second team by the national headquarters. In addition, Meriweather was selected a third team NAIA All-American by the Basketball Times and the Victory Sports Network. Meriweather led Park with 20.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, totals that were nationally ninth and fifth, respectively, in NAIA Division I. More...
Three Pirates earn academic all-America honors
Three Park University men's basketball players, Deron Cherry II, Ben Wallis and Michael Zimmerman were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes. Wallis earned the honor for the second straight year. More...
IN THE NEWS
Park president featured in Kansas City Business Journal
Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., Park University president, was featured in a column by Michael Braude in the Kansas City Business Journal in March. Brande, who has a strong interest in higher education, said that he has a "profound respect" for Byers-Pevitts, adding that she is "dynamic and personable." According to Brande, when Byers-Pevitts told him "We (Park) prepare students for a global society," he realized that she is a "special educator."
Ioudenitch highlighted in New York Times article
Stanislav Ioudenitch, artistic director of the International Center for Music at Park and the 2001 Van Cliburn gold medalist, was mentioned in a March 9 article in The New York Times. The article was a feature on Cliburn commemorating his victory in the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow 50 years ago. The article can be viewed at www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/arts/music/09tomm.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=stanislav+ioudenitch&st=nyt&oref=slogin.
Park featured as "Earth friendly leader" in Kansas City Star article
Park University was singled out as a leader among Kansas City-area colleges and universities in its quest to become carbon neutral in a Kansas City Star article on Feb. 18. The article can be read at www.kansascity.com/news/local/v-print/story/495343.html.
