MAGAZINE Winter 2015
Vol. 7, No. 1
Perspectives on Pride "I am proud because I wake up every morning and take the next step in designing my future at Park University." — Kevin Briody
Contents
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10 Features 4
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1 2 4 8 10 14 16 20 25 26
Letter from Park's president Pride in perspective We are the champions Mastering pride Full-court pride Legacy of pride Designs on pride University news Leading the way In academia
28 30 31 32 36 41 42 45
Alumniad Letter from the Alumni Association president Alumni benefits Pride around the glorbe Pride of achievement 2015 Harvest Fest details Class notes Park mourns
Cover illustration designed by Kevin Briody, Park University junior business administration/marketing major. Park University Magazine is published for Park alumni and friends by the Office of External Relations & Marketing Communications. Send address corrections to the Office of External Relations & Marketing Communications, Park University, 8700 NW River Park Drive, Box 65, Parkville, MO 64152, call (816) 584-6200 or e-mail advancement@park.edu. Visit www.park.edu for more information. Go green with Park Park University Magazine is available online. To opt out of receiving a printed version of the magazine, please e-mail the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu. If you receive more than one copy in the mail, please let us know. Thank you for supporting Park’s efforts to be more eco-friendly. Park University Magazine is created by: Kathy Winklhofer, Wink Creative Communications, winkcreative@mac.com Vanessa Bonavia, V Communications, vmbonavia@gmail.com
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Park Ranked Among Top Private Colleges For Return On Investment For Students As Park University Magazine went to press, Park was recognized in The Wall Street Journal’s March 2 issue as the No. 5 private college in the country for return on investment for students. Park’s annual ROI percentage of 8.3 percent, based on the 2014 PayScale College ROI Report, ranked ahead of schools such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Princeton University and Harvard University. Read the Kansas City Business Journal’s article on Park’s ranking at http://bit.ly/1ENOwo8.
Park University Magazine
Dear Friends,
Winter 2015 Vol. 7 No. 1
Park pride is contagious. When I arrived at Park University last summer, I felt its power immediately — and continue to experience a deep and growing pride in Park every day as I meet with staff, students, faculty, alumni and friends of the University across the nation.
David Fowler President (816) 584-6202 president@park.edu Laurie McCormack Vice President of External Relations and Marketing Communications (816) 584-6210 laurie.mccormack@park.edu
I certainly felt its undeniable presence among the cheering crowd when Park's undefeated women's volleyball team put the University on the national stage as 2014 NAIA national champions. I was fortunate to witness firsthand the bonding of these student athletes from around the world as they meshed into an unstoppable force.
Rita Weighill, ‘90 Executive Director of Student Marketing (816) 584-6212 rita.weighill@park.edu
Yet this championship-sized pride isn't limited to the volleyball court. Park pride is pervasive in classrooms at Park's 42 campus centers around the country and online globally. Since 1875, Park has been guided by a great pride in providing access to a quality liberal arts education, and now also, graduate school offerings. We have been unwavering in serving students’ educational goals for generations past and future. Park continues its tradition and focus on “providing education without boundaries” by: • Adding value in a multitude of ways. • A delivery model that is both accessible and flexible. • A supportive community culture that serves a diverse, underrepresented student population. • A diverse campus culture that prepares students for real-world engagement and leadership in a global economy. Pride is a fitting theme for this issue of Park University Magazine as we begin commemorating Park's 140th anniversary. In the months ahead, Park will celebrate its long-term success with events and opportunities to honor our past, and anticipate the future. Sincerely,
Photo by Dan Videtich.
The mission of Park University is to provide access to a quality higher education experience that prepares a diverse community of learners to think critically, communicate effectively, demonstrate a global perspective, and engage in lifelong learning and service to others. Core Values • We expect ACCOUNTABILITY for our actions at all levels, to each other and to Park University. • We treat all with CIVILITY and RESPECT while being open and honest in our communication. • We seek EXCELLENCE in all we do, with passionate learning as our highest priority. • We celebrate GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP through our connected learning and working environment, as well as community stewardship.
David M. Fowler President Park University
• We embrace INCLUSIVITY that fosters diversity, teamwork and collaboration. • We act with INTEGRITY through honesty, efficiency and reliability.
Brad Biles Director of University Communications (816) 584-6888 brad.biles@park.edu Julie McCollum, '71 (Hon.), '11 (Hon.) Director of Alumni Relations (816) 584-6206 julie.mccollum@park.edu
Let us hear from you
Contact the Office of External Relations & Marketing Communications with your comments about the Park University Magazine. (816) 584-6200 communication@park.edu Office of External Relations & Marketing Communications 8700 NW River Park Drive, Box 65 Parkville, MO 64152 Winter 2015 - 1
I arrived at Park University in the fall of 2004 to teach my first freshman English composition class at the University’s beautiful flagship campus in Parkville, Mo. I’d prepared my syllabus for a room full of students, presumably from the Midwest, just embarking on their independence. What my students lacked in life experience (in retrospect, I had little room to judge) would be compensated for by the diverse and provocative course readings I would provide to expand their horizons.
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At the end of that first class, I tossed my syllabus out the window — along with my preconceived notions of Park. Far from despairing, I realized that I had found my ideal university community.
Truly extraordinary
When asked to share my perspective on pride for this issue of Park University Magazine, I found it challenging to put into words the culture that invigorates and sustains me each day. I could go on and on about the venerable history of Park’s liberal
arts education, its dedicated faculty and the University’s many accolades. But for me, Park pride is about the students who, through their diverse perspectives, create a kind of learning community that startlingly resembles real life — something many people claim higher education couldn’t be further from. Academia has long been portrayed and criticized as an ivory tower stubbornly detached from reality. Park defies that stereotype. We don’t treat students as if
seem like a recipe for disaster: an intergenerational group of students with multiple life perspectives, educational experiences and end goals. Yet every day I witness the 19-year-old high school graduate, the 35-year-old father of three children, the 52-year-old veteran and the student who just arrived in the U.S. from Uzbekistan, learn alongside and from one another — guided by faculty who see themselves as co-learners. Park endeavors to make a seat at the table for a diverse population of students who are ready and willing to work toward their educational goals. Park values access and inclusivity — and always has.
Authentic community
In my doctoral dissertation, I argued for exactly what I am fortunate to experience at Park. Based on the theories and communicative practices of public spheres, I demonstrated that rhetoric classrooms do not just emulate, but function as real publics. My research critiqued the misperception that universities are merely training grounds for citizenship instead of integral drivers of social change. This is why Park was so stunning to me when I arrived more than a decade ago. I discovered the ideal example of what I had been arguing for: a university that offers a real, diverse and authentic community.
they’re preparing for or proving themselves ready to contribute to some outside world. What I’ve gratefully discovered in Park is a very real world, in which students are contributing to the richness of their varied life experiences to create a truly unique and transformational learning experience.
Seat at the table
Living in the real world is about living in community; and, as we know, it’s unscripted, often messy and limitlessly rewarding. To the outside observer, the Park classroom — whether on the ground or online — may
Discourse in a public sphere can be challenging and uncomfortable, yet it yields great rewards that propel growth and progress (and, I should add, build the skills employers want). It is the diversity in Park’s classroom that forces students to confront, negotiate and embrace differences while finding common ground. No textbook or eloquent lecture can generate this invaluable opportunity. Together, Park students create an experience that cannot be manufactured — and from which we all benefit. The Park community is a self-perpetuating source of pride. It’s a privilege to teach and learn in a community where students continuously challenge and expand my horizons.
Park “ Together, students create an
experience that cannot be manufactured — and from which we all benefit.” — Dr. Emily Sallee
Meet the new CLAS Dean In May 2014, Emily Sallee, Ph.D., was appointed dean of Park University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences after serving as interim dean since July 2013. Since joining Park in 2004, Sallee has served in a variety of faculty and administrative roles, including program coordinator for First-Year Writing, chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages, and director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. In 2011, Sallee was honored as the Park University Distinguished Faculty Scholar. Prior to joining Park, Sallee served as assistant director of the writing center at the University of Kansas and taught courses in composition and technical writing. There, she also earned both a Master of Arts degree in language and literature and a doctorate in rhetoric and composition. Sallee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and secondary education from William Jewell College. The Park Pride scarf that Sallee is wearing in the photo can be purchased at https://alumnishop.park.edu
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We Are The
Champions Park volleyball teams crowned national champs in 2014 “We’ve been knocking on the door,” said Mike Talamantes, Park University men’s and women’s volleyball head coach. “This year, we finally blew that door down.” Since he arrived at Park in 2011, Talamantes has had his eye on winning the NAIA women’s volleyball championship. The Park women’s volleyball team made it to its first national tournament in school history in 2013, winning a record-breaking 35 of 42 matches. A year later, the Pirates returned to the national tournament, and on Dec. 6, 2014, Park capped off a perfect 40-0 season. In front of a boisterous crowd in Sioux City, Iowa, and an ESPN3 broadcast, Park defeated the defending champs, the University of Texas at Brownsville, in straight sets (25-23, 25-19, 25-16) to win the University’s first women’s volleyball national title.
A dream come true
Talamantes said he’s living the dream. “It’s been my career goal to coach both women’s and men’s college volleyball. It’s been beyond my dreams for both Park teams to take the national crown.” Last April, Park’s men’s team took the crown at the 2014 NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational Tournament in Denver. And the dream just kept getting better when Talamantes received word that he had been named the 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association’s NAIA National Coach of the Year. In addition, he was selected by the Kansas City Sports Commission as its Burns and McDonnell Coach of the Year, beating out Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost for the honor. As with any dream, there were adjustments along the way for the Los Angeles native. “On my first day on the Parkville Campus, it was a sweltering 112 degrees,” Talamantes said. And he soon discovered his Mustang convertible wasn’t designed for a foot of Midwest snow. But he has no complaints. “I’m raising my family here and coaching the top two teams in the nation,” he said. “I’m proud to see Park student-athletes getting the recognition they deserve on the national stage.”
Take nothing for granted
Achieving victory had little to do with luck, Talamantes said, and everything to do with hard work and dedication. “Park student-athletes have a work ethic and discipline that is beyond anything I’ve seen in my 18-year career coaching volleyball. In volleyball, you can lose a couple sets and still win the match.” Park’s women’s squad took nothing for granted. In going undefeated, the Pirates lost just six of the season’s 126 sets. Winter 2015 - 4
s
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We Are The
Champions When Park University's women’s volleyball team entered the top 10 in the Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 poll in September 2014, fans packed Breckon Sports Center on the Parkville Campus. “The enthusiastic support from everyone really showed Park’s incredible pride,” Talamantes said. For the semifinal and championship matches in Sioux City, the University chartered a bus to transport students, faculty, staff and alumni. “That’s what Winter 2015 - 6
I love most about sports. It’s about more than winning; it’s about bringing people closer together.” After an exhilarating year, Park’s women’s and men’s volleyball teams are back in the gym, hitting it hard to prepare for the 2015 season. “We’ve set the bar high,” Talamantes said. “I’m looking forward to see what we do next.”
Espn's Cory Westra congratulates Mike Talamantes. ESPN Celebrities Before claiming the national title, Park’s women’s volleyball team caught the attention of worldwide television. An impressive kick-save by Park senior Juliana Barros was highlighted on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays of the night at No. 8 when the Pirates defeated Columbia College in Breckon Sports Center on Oct. 8, 2014, marking the first time Park student-athletes were featured on the network. “When the video ran on ESPN, my phone blew up," said Park head coach Mike Talamantes. The highlight, which appeared 12 times on SportsCenter rebroadcasts throughout the evening and next day, was seen by an estimated 3.3 million viewers and garnered an estimated $168,000 in free publicity for the University. Take a look: http://bit.ly/1zwByKv.
Two Times a Charm Last April, Park's men's volleyball team took the crown at the 2014 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Invitational Tournament in Denver. The NAIA title was Park's fourth championship in team history.
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Park University Master of Social Work students Rachel Fessenden, ’09, (left) and Adriana Mendoza, '14 (middle right), with two of their professors, Jan Kircher, Ph.D. (middle left), assistant professor of social work and director of field education, and Walter Kisthardt, Ph.D. (right), professor and department chair of social work and director of the MSW program.
Mastering pride Social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social workers is expected to grow by 25 percent through 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. To help students advance in this highdemand career, Park University welcomed its first cohort of students to its inaugural Master of Social Work degree program last summer. The new MSW program, an important aspect of the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, was informed by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation in February that it has been Winter 2015 - 8
approved to move forward in “candidacy” toward final accreditation in February 2016. Beyond the classroom, MSW students are participating in supervised field practicums coordinated by Park faculty through its partnerships with hospitals, social service agencies and child welfare organizations. Students are not only proud to pursue their MSW degree at Park, but also to have the invaluable opportunity to expand their hands-on experience in a field dedicated to helping others.
Helping others find their strengths
Turning life around for others
Rachel Fessenden, ’09, had been accepted to several Master of Social Work degree programs when she contacted her professors at Park University for a letter of recommendation. “When I found out Park’s new MSW program was beginning in 2014, I immediately shifted directions. From my experience earning my Bachelor of Social Work degree at Park — and how well it prepared me for the field — I knew Park’s MSW program was where I wanted to be.”
“I was one of those kids parents tell their children to stay away from,” said Adriana Mendoza, ’14. Mendoza said she ran with the wrong crowd and ended up leading a neighborhood gang. When she saw her children heading down a similar path, she turned her life around.
In fact, it was at Park where Fessenden, who also completed a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership at Park in 2010, first discovered the field of social work. “Growing up, I always volunteered and knew I wanted to work with children and families,” she said. “When I took an introductory social work course, I was inspired by the passion Park instructors had for their profession.” For her required field practicum, Fessenden is benefitting from invaluable experience as a social work intern at KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. “I’m working with children and teens that have experienced abuse, neglect and other traumas. They need to be somewhere safe and secure to help them stabilize,” she said. KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital offers inpatient and residential treatment services for children and adolescents with a spectrum of emotional, behavioral and psychiatric symptoms. The hospital is part of KVC Health Systems, a national leader in child welfare and behavioral health care. Fessenden conducts individual and group therapy sessions in addition to comprehensive assessments to better understand patients’ challenges and strengths. “Building on strengths is a guiding principle in both Park’s undergraduate and graduate social work programs and is what resonates most for me about my profession,” she said. Fessenden is also working part-time as a social worker at PACES, a nonprofit agency in Kansas City, Kan., dedicated to helping children with behavioral health needs. “It’s a rewarding field where I witness a lot of positive change. For me, social work is being a part of a collaborative effort to help others discover strengths they don’t know they have.”
“I’m not proud of it, but I’ve incorporated that part of my life into something positive and made a 360-degree turn to help others in my career as a social worker,” she said. But for most of her life, having a career wasn’t something she thought was possible. That’s why Park represents more than an education.
What’s Next? This fall, Park Univeristy will launch its new four-year, prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program on the Parkville Campus to meet the growing demand for nursing education. Park currently offers an associate degree in nursing for licensed practical nurses and an onlineonly BSN degree completion program for registered nurses. This new program will open a pathway for incoming freshmen or transfer students without nursing credentials to pursue a BSN degree. Park's Ellen Finley Earhart Nursing Program, one element of the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, is currently developing space in the Parkville Commercial Underground to house the expanded program.
“Park has been a door that opened to help me find people who believed in me.” While completing her associate degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College, Mendoza was invited to tour the Parkville Campus. That’s when she met Walter Kisthardt, Ph.D., undergraduate chair and professor of social work and MSW program director. “Dr. Kisthardt told me about the social work field and how I could be a success in it,” she said. Worried Kisthardt would be concerned about her past, Mendoza revealed her story. “He told me he was only interested in what I wanted to do in the future. I left that conversation with an overwhelming sense of possibility for my life. Every instructor in Park’s social work program has reinforced this belief in my ability to make a difference with my life,” she said. As part of the MSW program, Mendoza is working a field practicum at Signature Psychiatric Hospital. Affiliated with North Kansas City (Mo.) Hospital, the 24-bed hospital treats patients in mental and behavioral health crisis. Mendoza conducts psychiatric assessments to determine if patients meet the criteria to be admitted and follows patients’ progress. Mendoza is also a community volunteer who helps kids know there’s more for them in life. “If you grew up the way I grew up, you learned to expect the worst. Dreams were not an option. Now I’m doing things I never thought I could do and that’s what I try to show kids,” Mendoza said. “In my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d be attending Park and on my way to earning a master’s degree. I’ve always felt like I was behind in my life. But since Park just started its new MSW program, it looks like I’m right on time.” Winter 2015 - 9
Sunderland Foundation partners with students to build Old Kate Court, a new outdoor intramural basketball court and commons area on the Parkville Campus. Winter 2015 - 10
Jeremy Barnes, Kent Sunderland and Royce Skocny, '14 (from left) celebrate the completion of Old Kate Court with an assist from Sir George.
Photo by Kenny Johnson.
Full-Court Pride
Royce Skocny,’14, enjoyed seeing students play pickup basketball games at area schools on his drive to class. With pride in the beautiful Parkville Campus, Skocny was surprised to discover something he wanted to change. “I looked around and found a cracked and overgrown outdoor basketball court on campus, and apparently, I started griping about it quite a bit,” Skocny said. While the U.S. Navy veteran was serving as a workstudy student in the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services, home of the Park Warrior Center, a fellow student suggested he stop complaining — and do something about it. Putting the ball in play After being elected to the board of the Park Student Government Association, Skocny began exploring possibilities to build a new intramural basketball court. Equipped with a student poll in favor of his idea, Skocny knew he was on the right track. The PSGA voted to use reserved funds for the project. “Royce’s vision, initiative and enthusiasm captured everyone’s attention,” said Jayme Uden, Ed.D., associate dean of students. “I was happy to help him connect with various University groups to identify additional funding opportunities.” Uden worked with Skocny to coordinate with other Park student organizations, including the Residence Hall Council, which agreed to combine resources with the PSGA for a total of $25,000. “Once word got out that students were willing to commit their own reserved funds to make this happen, other Park groups stepped in to help us keep the ball rolling,” Skocny said. Getting an assist On behalf of students, Park’s Office of External Relations & Marketing Communications approached the Sunderland Foundation to partner with
Honoring a Park Legend After considering various Pirate-themed names, Park University Parkville Campus students unanimously voted to name the new basketball court in honor of a proud Park legend: Old Kate Court. Old Kate was a beloved mule that hauled water to the Parkville Campus for more than a decade before her death in 1900 — the same year that Park’s new waterworks began pumping water to campus buildings. Her independence and resourcefulness endeared her to students. There was no need of lines to drive her; she knew her daily route and walked it herself. When finished, she headed for the barn where she waited patiently to be unharnessed. Mournful students buried Old Kate near what is now the concession stand for Julian Field. Many Park alumni still pay their respects where her stone is located adjacent to the seating area. In 1932, the wheels from her cart were fashioned into chandeliers that still hang in Park’s McCoy Meetin’ House. “Old Kate represented Park’s motto of faith and work,” said Jeremy Barnes, Park Student Government Association president and junior chemistry major. “Her name represents our pride in working together to build this project for future generations to enjoy — and for our pride in the history of Park University.” More about Old Kate will be included in Fides et Labor: 140 Years of Pioneering Education, The Story of Park University, which will be published this fall. See the back cover for more information. The Park Pride scarf that Kent Sunderland is wearing in the photo on the adjacent page can be purchased at https://alumnishop.park.edu.
the student groups to provide the additional funds needed to begin construction, which began last fall after receiving a $44,000 grant from the Foundation. “We had the funds to install a basic court, but it was the grant from the Sunderland Foundation that enabled us to create something better than we imagined,” said Jeremy Barnes, PSGA president and junior chemistry major.
In addition to the 50-by-80-foot concrete slab for the court, the project includes a two-foot retaining wall with limestone boulders sourced from the Parkville Campus to direct water flow away from the court while providing a natural source for seating. The new court was completed with a 10-foot fence and a timed lighting system. “The fact that students took the initiative and were willing to invest their own sweat equity, so Winter 2015 - 11
Full-Court Pride to speak, by contributing their funds to build the new court demonstrated to us the importance of this project,” said Kent Sunderland, president of the Sunderland Foundation and vice chairman of the board for Ash Grove Cement Co. headquartered in Overland Park, Kan. “We wanted to help Park students reach their goal.” The project also resonated with Sunderland personally. “I used to play a lot of intramural basketball in my day. Like me, many students don’t get to play at the varsity level in college, but love the game as much as I do,” he said. “I know how important it is for college students to have recreation opportunities on campus and a pickup basketball game is always a fun way to meet and socialize.”
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Full-court press Designed larger than a standard basketball court, the space offers students access not only to a new court where they can also play the popular half-court soccer, but also a new multipurpose outdoor space for University activities and events. The newly installed professional lighting system enables evening occasions as well. “The commitment to this project among students was impressive,” said Laurie McCormack, vice president of external relations and marketing communications. “We appreciate the Sunderland Foundation for partnering with Park students to make construction of the beautiful new court and multipurpose space possible.”
Photo by Kenny Johnson.
This is not the first time the Sunderland Foundation has provided grant funds to ensure capital improvements on the Parkville Campus. Over the years, the Foundation has provided more than $225,000 to support renovation projects for Norrington Center, Copley Quad, Julian Field, and the Robert P. and Mary Alice Corbett Stairway. “We’re proud of our long history with Park University,” Sunderland said.
“The new court represents many facets of Park pride — from the students working together to make a positive difference, to the responsiveness to students from University administration, and the civic support Park is fortunate to have in the community,” Barnes said. “Just like in the classroom, everyone at Park rallied to help students achieve their goals.”
More than a game The new court symbolizes something much greater than a successfully completed project. “It not only looks awesome, but it represents the power of positive collaboration at Park,” said Skocny, who is now employed full-time at Park as an admissions representative.
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Legacy of pride
Photo by Kenny Johnson.
Just two weeks after graduating from Park University, Jody Manchion, ’99, received devastating news. Her eldest son, Nicholas, had died in an accident. He was just 21 years old.
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“I’ll never forget the outpouring of care and support from the faculty and staff at Park. They wrapped their arms around me and my family,” said Manchion, who has worked at Park’s flagship campus in Parkville, Mo., for more than 22 years. She began her career at Park in 1992 as an academic evaluator and became assistant registrar in 1999. In 2012, Manchion was promoted to registrar. “I’ve always valued the extraordinary opportunity Park has given me to work in higher education, earn my degree and help students succeed. But it was then that I knew I was in a very special place and decided to do everything I could to give back to Park.” Honoring Nicholas Although Nicholas attended Park and loved learning, Manchion said he was drawn to explore life outside the classroom. “Books were his passion. You never found Nick without one in his hand; he loved to write poems and short stories.” Though Nicholas wasn’t able to fulfill his dreams, Manchion and her husband Ed, along with their son, Adam, ’02, established the Nicholas Manchion Endowed English Scholarship at Park University to help other students pursue their dreams. “The scholarship gave us a special way to cherish Nick’s memory and keep his name alive while reflecting our pride and gratitude for Park,” Manchion said. As registrar, Manchion is dedicated to helping students navigate degree requirements and ensure the integrity of their records. “Park is about helping others find their path. I’m proud we created a scholarship as a living tribute to Nick to help Park students who share his love of the power and beauty of words.” Her loyalty to Park extends beyond the University’s family-like community that carried her through one of the most difficult times in her life. She shares her pride in her alma mater with Adam and his wife Kyrie, ’04, who is the daughter of Dennis Okerstrom, '74, Ph.D., professor of English at Park. Ed has also served the University as an adjunct instructor of biology. “Park has become a legacy of great pride for me and my entire family,” Manchion said.
Park in the family Park University Registrar Jody Manchion, ’99, with her husband Ed, established the Nicholas Manchion Endowed English Scholarship at Park in memory of their son, Nicholas.
Power of love
An excerpt from “Surf” by Nicholas Manchion One thing is for certain in life: as long as the dreamers still dream and the writers still write, there will always be love. Like the sea, love is one of the only things that if we just sit back, just feel a little, just try to understand each other, then maybe, just maybe, we can find the time in our busy lives to figure out how powerful love really is.
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Designs on pride
Kevin Briody, junior business administration/ marketing major, works on his design for this issue of the Park University Magazine.
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Pride is allusive and often hard to articulate. Its shape and color varies depending on your view. While designing their futures at Park University, graphic design majors recently tapped their visual talents to show, rather than tell, their personal perspectives on pride. “My students constantly inspire me with their distinct design perspectives and intense pride in their work,� said Jeff Smith, assistant professor of graphic design, who challenged students with an extra credit assignment to interpret their Park pride.
Photo by Kenny Johnson.
Demanding discipline Smith joined Park in 2011 to lead the University’s growing graphic design program, bringing more than 20 years of professional design experience into the classroom. In a profession that is always evolving, Smith maintains his expertise as a freelance designer specializing in logo and brand promotion for local and national clients.
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Designs on pride
Jeff Smith, Park University assistant professor of graphic design.
Photo by Kenny Johnson.
“I consider myself an art director who teaches the next generation of art directors to succeed in a fast-growing industry,” Smith said. Smith knows well the demands of the graphic design world. “When I started, I was a straight-A graphic design student who discovered I was not prepared for a professional business environment. That’s why Park’s program is rigorous. The demands I make of my students aren’t mine, they’re the demands of the profession they’ve chosen,” he said.
Portfolio of pride Park’s four-year graphic design program is a specialized sequence of courses and electives that include foundational drawing, color theory, typography, illustration, three-dimentional animation, photography and multi-media design. Park’s fully equipped design studio includes Macintosh workstations with up-to-date software, a production facility and a workroom.
Graphic design is more than laying out copy and text, Smith said. “Simply knowing how to use design software does not make someone a graphic designer. In fact, software often amplifies bad design. A true graphic designer is trained to create a well-crafted execution of careful thought process.”
Smith said he’s proud of Park graphic design graduates who are working professionally as art directors in some of the biggest companies and advertising agencies in the Midwest. “I work closely with each student to help them build their portfolios to secure internships that are critical to their career. I’m always filled with great pride to see them succeed.”
The thought process includes a disciplined understanding of the business side of creativity. “I’d be negligent if I didn’t prepare students to work with clients and internal staff by adhering to stringent processes and deadlines in the classroom,” Smith said.
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Designed by Christina Lindsay, senior graphic design major.
Designed by Jasmin Menez, senior graphic design major.
Designed by Tracy Milburn, senior interdisciplinary studies major. Winter 2015 - 19
UNIVERSITY NEWS
Photo by Melissa Baxendale.
Park University staff, faculty and students, along with members of the El Paso, Texas, community, at the grand opening of Park's newest campus center in El Paso.
Park University adds campuses in Southern California and El Paso Park University, which had already been serving students to pursue their higher education dreams in Southern California at four locations in the region and in El Paso, Texas, at the Fort Bliss Campus Center, has opened two new campuses in those areas.
Victorville
Victor Valley College in Victorville, Calif., became home to Park’s 41st campus center in the country in October 2014. By locating on the VVC campus, Park can increase educational opportunities for students attending VVC and living in the High Desert area. In December 2014, the University expanded in the El Paso community, opening a campus on the city’s east side. Park is celebrating its 40th anniversary in El Paso as the Fort Bliss Campus Center opened in 1975. Park is offering degrees at VVC as part of a 2+2 program, with an associate degree from Victor Valley College satisfying requirements for the first two years of a bachelor’s degree from Park. Bachelor’s degrees offered face-to-face at VVC include criminal justice administration, education, management, public administration and social psychology. The expansion in El Paso introduces more face-to-face degree offerings, including a Master of Business Administration degree and nine undergraduate offerings not available at Fort Bliss.
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El Paso
UNIVERSITY NEWS
University earns accolades, rankings For the fourth consecutive year, Park University was selected as one of less than 300 colleges and universities across the country to the 2014-15 Colleges of Distinction list. The designation is given to select schools to honor their excellence in student-focused higher education. The University was found to excel in all four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes. Park University received a pair of rankings in the fall of 2014 from Best Value Schools, a website that assists students in getting the most value in a college or graduate degree. Park was ranked No. 9 on the “30 Best Affordable Online Colleges 2014” list and No. 19 on the “Best Online Colleges 2014” list. The “best affordable online” ranking is based on a number of factors, including tuition, freshman retention rate, six-year graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, number of bachelor’s degree programs offered, breadth of subjects available to study, College Prowler academics rating and percent of “excellent” and “strongly agree” student poll responses on College Prowler. The “best online” ranking, which included all of the factors previously listed except for tuition, included comments highlighting the University’s Academic Support Center and Career Development Center. For the third year in a row, Park University earned a top ranking for the services and support it offers to active duty military, veterans and their families. Military Times, an independent source for news and information for the military community, and its associated newsweeklies, released its “Best for Vets: Colleges 2015” list in November 2014. Park was ranked No. 4 among all private colleges/universities in the country and No. 7 overall in the “online and nontraditional” category (schools that serve military students primarily online or through a network of small campuses). The publication gave Park four stars (out of four) for its staff support and 3.5 stars for its academic support. Park’s online Master of Healthcare Administration program was ranked No. 18 among MHA programs across the country during the summer of 2014 by BestColleges.com, an online resource designed to assist prospective students in their search for higher education institutions. Park was the only university based in Missouri to earn this distinction. The rankings were compiled based on acceptance, retention, graduation and enrollment rates for each university. Park scored high in admission and retention, indicating student satisfaction and success.
Grant to fund innovative practices in the humanities at Park Park University was one of four institutional recipients of a $215,000 Teagle Foundation grant to promote active and engaged learning in the humanities. A team of faculty from Park are working over the next three years to incorporate pedagogical designs that optimize time in class for interactive and advanced levels of learning. The project, “Sustained Change in Practices of Engaged and Active Learning in Humanities Instruction,” calls attention to various techniques used to “flip” classrooms. These techniques are often associated with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, and this project will demonstrate and document the ways humanities faculty similarly deepen engagement in class by leveraging out-of-class activities. Park’s team is working with teams from Elon University, the University of Kansas and Rockhurst University to construct an electronic repository of course materials and to engage in collaboration toward scholarly publications and presentations about their work.
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
Park alumni, Medal of Honor recipients honored by University Park University honored Col. Lewis L. Millett, ’63, a recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Korean War, during a dedication ceremony in November 2014 on the University’s Parkville Campus. The ceremony, organized by Park history majors and the University’s Zeta Omicron Chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, included a dedication of a historical plaque and the raising of the Medal of Honor recipient flag in honor of Millett. Millett was wounded while leading a platoon on Hill 180 in Soam-ni, (South) Korea in 1951. Refusing evacuation, he led a bayonet charge under opposing fire and became engaged in hand-to-hand combat, earning him the Medal of Honor. President Harry S. Truman awarded Millett the Medal of Honor on July 15, 1951. Millett died on Nov. 15, 2009, at the age of 88. During his career, Millett earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, three Legions of Merit, four Purple Hearts, the Croix de Guerre (France) and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Cadet Ashley Carpenter, senior geography major, retired Col. Jerry Jorgensen, provost and senior vice president, Staff Sgt. Stephen Terry, assistant dean of military and veteran programs, and Spc. Justin Bremenkamp, sophomore business administration/international business major (from left), raise the Medal of Honor flag.
In addition, the Zeta Omicron Chapter signed an agreement to establish the George S. Robb Great War Endowment Fund at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Mo. The purpose of the Fund is to preserve, conserve, maintain, digitize and purchase papers, manuscripts and other archival (non-three-dimensional) materials related to World War I. As an endowment fund, only the interest generated on an annual basis will be used to support these activities. The gift from the Zeta Omicron Chapter was given to honor the service personnel, units and civilians who served and defended their causes, many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. The fund is named after Robb (1887-1972), a 1912 graduate of Park University and a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor in 1919.
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Anna Fleming, senior applied history with new media major and president of Park University's Zeta Omicron Chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, signs the paperwork to establish the endowment fund.
University’s MarCom team earns top awards from public relations organization and CASE
Debbie Johnston, director of creative services, Brad Biles, director of university communications, Rita Weighill, '90, executive director of student marketing, and Katelyn McInerney, media coordinator (from left), represented the University at the GKC-PRSA PRISM Awards.
Park University’s Office of External Relations & Marketing Communications came away with a trio of awards, including two golds, at the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s annual PRISM Awards in October 2014 in Kansas City, Mo. All of the awards received, in partnership with the University’s branding agency 160over90, were related to projects for the School of Business. In addition, Michael Grimaldi, a member of CLAS (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) Connectors, one of the University’s external advisory groups, was recognized with the Roger Yarrington Public Relations Professional of the Year Award. Grimaldi, who was honored in his role as senior communications consultant with Trozzolo Communications Group in Kansas City, Mo., was appointed press secretary to Kansas City, Mo., mayor Sly James in early February. In addition, the team earned four gold awards at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District VI Conference in January in Denver. One of Park’s entries, which won gold in the Platinum Category for Best Practices in Communications and Marketing for its efforts related to the University’s Global Executive Master of Business Administration program, now advances to the CASE Circle of Excellence national competition. Winners will be announced in early June.
UNIVERSITY NEWS Center for Global Peace Journalism receives State Department grant Park University’s Center for Global Peace Journalism received a $35,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, in the summer of 2014 to address the issue of inflammatory coverage of Syrian refugees. The grant funds the “Reporting Syrian Refugees: Building Communities of Understanding in Turkey” project. The Center is partnering with the University of Istanbul (Turkey) to feature seminars and field reporting experiences that seek to defuse the tension between refugees and their host communities. In addition, project participants are offering counter-narratives in the media that reject stereotypes and xenophobia through telling stories of the refugees in a way that helps communities understand the scope of the crisis. Planning for the project began in the fall of 2014, and Steve Youngblood, director of the CGPJ and associate professor of communication arts, taught seminars in southern Turkey in December. In addition, two Park students will have the opportunity to participate in the closing Peace Journalism Summit, held in Istanbul in March.
University honored by Southern California chamber of commerce organization Park University was recognized by the High Desert (Calif.) Hispanic Chamber of Commerce during the organization’s annual awards banquet in October 2014. Park was honored with the HDHCC’s Large Business of the Year Award for its contributions to the community, its commitment to higher education and its support of the Chamber. According to Eric Camarena, chair of the Chamber’s board, the University was selected for the award because in just the few short years Park has had a campus center in the region, Park has made a commitment to the future of the High Desert area. Camarena also said that Arely Moreno, Park’s area director for California desert operations, has been instrumental to Park’s efforts in the region. Winter 2015 - 23
UNIVERSITY NEWS
Park student appointed concertmaster of Israel Philharmonic Orchestra The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra appointed David Radzynski, a graduate student pursing an artist diploma in violin performance at Park University’s International Center for Music, as its concertmaster. Radzynski, who will assume his position in March, was selected following an audition in December 2014 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Thirty violinists were invited to compete for the position through a pre-screening process by the Orchestra, and Radzynski, one of four finalists, earned the appointment after performing Johannes Brahms’ “Violin Concerto” alongside the IPO and maestro Zubin Mehta. He was announced as the unanimous winner by the jury after only five minutes of deliberation.
Park nursing students first in Midwest equipped with groundbreaking scrubs According to MorUniversity, a Park University partner that supplies students in the Ellen Finley Earhart Nursing Program with scrubs, Park is the first college/university in the Midwest to have its nursing students outfitted with innovative, state-of-the-art antimicrobial scrubs. What makes these uniforms state-of-the-art is the meshing of the Silpure (antimicrobial), Tencil (wood pulp “green” fiber), DuPont Teflon protector and cotton/ spandex stretch material. The uniform offers extra protection in a clinical setting, not only for the nursing students, but for patients as well. Park joins some of the largest nursing schools in the country to wear these one-of-a-kind fabric uniforms. Winter 2015 - 24
Abduraimov appointed ICM artist-in-residence Park University’s International Center for Music appointed internationally renowned pianist Behzod Abduraimov as artist-in-residence. Abduraimov, who began his duties on Aug. 1, 2014, had been studying under associate professor of music/piano Stanislav Ioudenitch since 2007. The winner of the 2009 London International Piano Competition, Abduraimov has performed extensively around the world and has released two CDs via Decca Classics. He will make his Kansas City recital debut in a special concert on Friday, May 15, at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, Mo., starting at 8 p.m. “Behzod has already enjoyed an incredibly successful career and had many choices when it came to selecting his home base,” said Ioudenitch. “We are excited that he decided to join the ICM family in a new role as artist-in-residence. He continues to proudly present the ICM worldwide and believes in its mission of artistic excellence."
LEADING THE WAY
Park University Magazine continues this special series to highlight members of Park’s Board of Trustees and various advisory boards who provide support and counsel to the University. Park is grateful for their invaluable commitment of time, expertise and financial support to lead the way to Park’s continued success.
Mark Foster Board of Trustees
When Mark Foster was growing up in Platte County, Mo., Park University was simply “the college on the hill.” In 2013, Foster joined Park’s Board of Trustees where he advocates for the quality education that he said has a growing economic impact on the region and around the globe. Foster brings to Park a wealth of expertise from his 41-year career as a litigation attorney at Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP (now Stinson Leonard Street), where he was managing partner for 15 years until his retirement in 2013. He has been frequently recognized by both The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers as a leading commercial litigator. While in law school, Foster was called to active duty and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1970. As a judge advocate general officer, he served assignments around the world, including Hawaii, Japan and Washington, D.C. He retired in 1990 as a lieutenant commander.
Gregory P. Mills, ’97 Hauptmann School of Public Affairs Advisory Council Chair
Every day, Greg Mills experiences pride in his alma mater as the director of public safety and city administrator for the City of Riverside, Mo. “I’m always meeting people who have a connection to Park, either as an alumnus or a supporter, particularly in the law enforcement community. A large number of police leaders in the Kansas City metropolitan area have degrees from Park. We share our pride for Park,” Mills said. Mills is retired from the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department where he served 29 years and led the narcotics and vice divisions. He is a member and former president of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association. In 2014, Mills was honored as the Public Administrator of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration.
Foster has high regard for Park’s global focus. “When I was a kid, we didn’t think much beyond our borders. Traveling in the military broadened my understanding of other cultures,” Foster said. “Today, we live in a global world. Watch how the stock market moves relative to issues around the world and you see how we’re tied together. Park’s diverse, international population gives students an invaluable opportunity to meet one another and learn different cultural perspectives.”
As a member of Park’s Hauptmann School of Public Affairs Advisory Council, Mills has been instrumental in developing the school’s online programs. As an adjunct professor, Mills brought his vast experience to Park to public administration and criminal justice students, both face-to-face and online. “My goal is to ensure the principles and philosophies of the school’s namesake, the late Professor Emeritus Jerzy Hauptmann, Ph.D., are spread far and wide,” Mills said. “His values for service, ethics and creating public value is a message that resonates in the reality of my work every day.”
Touring Park’s campus centers across the country, Foster sees the broad impact Park is making. “The flagship Parkville Campus has a relatively small percentage of students compared to the number of students who rely on Park’s quality education across the country and online,” he said. “Many people don’t fully understand Park’s national and international presence and the positive influence the University has around globe.”
Mills said it’s a point of Park pride to represent Hauptmann’s teachings in his professional and personal life. “Park’s values-based education is a source of pride that shines through the work of my fellow Park alumni and colleagues who work to uphold Dr. Hauptmann’s principles to find solutions for the greater good of the communities we serve.”
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In academia Publications An article written by Gregory Claycomb, Ph.D., (left) associate professor of chemistry, and Frances Venable, ’13, was published in the Journal of Chemical Education. The article, “Selection, Evaluation and Modification of a Standard Operating Procedure as a Mechanism for Introducing an Undergraduate Student to Chemical Research: A Case Study,” focused on an effort to broaden the selection of research opportunities available to a student (Venable) registered in a onesemester, upper-level independent study course at Park University by evaluating and modifying a standard operating procedure. A book review written by Kay Dennis, Ed.D., associate professor of adult education, was published in Studies in Continuing Education journal. Dennis reviewed the book, The Savvy Student’s Guide to Online Learning, recommending it as a “point of light” for prospective online students, as well as a useful resource for the faculty/staff who work with these students. A book written by Roger Dusing, associate vice president and chief human resource officer, was published as an e-book. The book, I’m Fired?!? A Business Fable About the Challenges of Losing One Job and Finding Another. According to Dusing, readers learn how to deal with the emotions of losing a job, how to start a job search and how to use networking to uncover the 70 percent of job openings that are never advertised. A paper co-authored by Steven Hallman, D.B.A., associate professor and undergraduate program coordinator of management/computer information systems, and area coordinator for management information systems in the Master of Business Administration program, and Anna Whitehead, '03, M.P.A. '05, M.A.C.L. '14, associate director of academic services and academic director at the Fort Bliss (Texas) Campus Center, was published in the International Journal of Humanities and Management Sciences. The title of the paper is “The Need for Semantical Understanding of Prosocial Behavior in the Workplace.” An article co-written by John Jumara, ’90, Ph.D., associate professor of economics and area coordinator of business, government and global society, and Rebekkah Stuteville, Ph.D., (left) associate professor and chair of public administration, and director of the Master of
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Public Affairs program, was published in the Sept. 18, 2014, issue of The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social and Community Studies. The article, “Path Dependency in Public Administration and Economics: Future Implications,” examines how public administration and economics are locked in to theories and practices which limit their ability to respond to change. An article written by Adam Potthast, associate professor and program coordinator of philosophy, chair/program coordinator of liberal studies, and program coordinator of peace studies and religion, was published in Ethics in Biology, Engineering and Medicine: An International Journal. The article, “Is There Such a Thing as an Unethical Professor? A Taxonomy of Positions,” examines the relationship between ethical skills and other skills in the professions.
Presentations Andrew Davis, (left) director of student success, and Jayme Uden, Ed.D., (right) associate dean of students, co-presented a paper on “Building a Student Success Plan,” at the National Symposium on Student Retention in November 2014 in Louisville, Ky. The presentation explained Park University’s implementation of a student success plan designed to find what interventions and programmatic elements are positively correlated with specific student populations at the University. Greg Plumb, J.D., professor and chair of criminal justice administration, presented a paper on “Supervising Internships from a Distance” at the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association’s annual meeting in September 2014 in Chicago. The paper presented a system Plumb created for use at Park University, showing that internship supervision by faculty can be accomplished without face-to-face or telephone contact. Sunita Rao, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting, presented a session on “Assurance on Sustainability Reports: A Study of Factors Influencing the Choice of Assurance Frameworks,” at the American Accounting Association’s annual meeting in August 2014 in Atlanta. Rao’s session discussed the factors that influence assurance providers in the selection of an assurance framework for the purpose of ensuring sustainability reports where the choice is between international assurance frameworks and national assurance frameworks.
In academia Stacey Kikendall, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and program coordinator of English literature, presented a paper at the Midwestern American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies in October 2014 in Kansas City, Mo. Kikendall’s paper, “‘Just Subordination and Honest Independence’: Women in Maria Edgeworth’s Revolutionary Paris” examines Edgeworth’s 1809 novella Madame de Fleury. Through analyzing the various roles women occupy in the tale, as well as the challenges they face, Kikendall argued that Edgeworth constituted the city as a particularly fraught setting for women of all classes.
Awards, appointments, and recognitions Kay Barnes, distinguished professor for public leadership and founding director of Park University’s Center for Leadership, was appointed a co-champion of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s newest “Big 5” goal. Barnes will help lead the Chamber’s regional kindergarten readiness initiative. Michael Becraft, D.Mgt., Edward F. Lyle professor of finance and director of the graduate program in business, was appointed to the editorial board for the SAM – Advanced Management Journal, a publication of the Society for Advancement of Management. Linda Bell, lecturer and program coordinator of accounting, was elected president of the Missouri Association of Accounting Educators at the organization’s annual conference in November 2014 in Osage Beach, Mo. Bell has served as an officer of the MAAE for the past four years, including serving the past year as the organization’s vice president. Erik Bergrud, M.P.A. '94, associate vice president of constituent engagement, was selected by the National Academy of Public Administration to participate on a five-member panel charged with reviewing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s telework program. Virginia Brackett, Ph.D., associate professor of English and director of the Honors Academy, and her electronic book, Girl Murders: Literarti, was recognized as one of 22 finalists for the Thorpe Menn Award by the Kansas City Branch of the American Association of University Women.
Julie Creek, assistant professor and program coordinator of international business, was elected to serve a one-year term as a board member of the International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City. Brad Kleindl, Ph.D., dean of Park University’s School of Business, was elected to serve a one-year term as president of the International Relations Council for 2015. The nonprofit organization supports and strengthens the Kansas City region by promoting global awareness and understanding. He was also elected to a three-year term on the Accreditation Council for Business School Programs’ Baccalaureate and Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners. Lolly Ockerstrom, '73, Ph.D., associate professor of English, was appointed to serve a two-year term on the Forum Advisory Council for The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi’s journal, Phi Kappa Phi Forum. “Into Being,” a work composed for a cappella choir by Ingrid Stölzel, D.M.A., director of Park University’s International Center for Music, was selected to be performed at the 2015 Missouri State University Composition Festival in March. Stölzel’s composition was one of just two selected for the competition out of 682 submissions from 418 composers. Stephen Terry, assistant dean of military and veteran programs, was appointed to serve on the Education Committee for the National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators during 201516. The organization is devoted to promoting professional competency and efficiency through those involved in Veterans Education Assistance Programs. Timothy Westcott, Ph.D., associate professor of history, was appointed to serve a one-year term on the Organization of American Historians Committee on Teaching. The Committee works to improve the teaching and understanding of history at all levels of training and in diverse venues. Julie Wilson, a member of Park University’s Board of Trustees and executive vice president and chief people officer at Cerner Corp., was selected to the 2014 class of “Women Who Mean Business” by the Kansas City Business Journal.
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Alumni Council Toni Madeira, ’88 President Kansas City, Mo. antoinette.madeira@park.edu
Robert M. Dandridge, ‘04 New Baden, Ill. robert.dandridge@park.edu
LaKeisha Johnson, ’08, MPA ‘12 Independence, Mo. lakeisha.johnson@park.edu
Sarah Hopkins-Chery, ’07, MA ‘09 President-Elect Parkville, Mo. sarah.hopkins@park.edu
Duane Davidson, ’00, MPA ’03 Liberty, Mo. duane.davidson@park.edu
Edna Martinson, ‘12 Kansas City, Mo. edna.martinson@park.edu
Jeff McKinney, ’81 Immediate Past President, Board of Trustees representative Round Rock, Texas jeff.mckinney@park.edu
Dan Durrer, ‘04 Kansas City, Mo. daniel.durrer@park.edu
Elizabeth Weese Muncal, ‘05 Scottsdale, Ariz. elizabeth.weese@park.edu
David Ehrlich, ’00 Dumfries, Va. david.ehrlich@park.edu
Derrick W. Quarterman, ‘03 Triangle, Va. derrick.quarterman@park.edu
Jay Flaherty, ‘71 Kansas City, Mo. james.flaherty@park.edu
Amber G. Steele, ‘10 Excelsior Springs, Mo. amber.steele@park.edu
Michelle Gaiewski, ‘10 Cedar Park, Texas michelle.gaiewski@park.edu
Charles K. Williams, ‘96 Trotwood, Ohio charles.williams06@park.edu
Kelvin Igumbor, ‘13 Parkville, Mo. kelvin.igumbor@park.edu
Staff Liaison
Kathryn Phillips Hernandez, ‘83 Treasurer St. Joseph, Mo. kathryn.hernandez@park.edu Michael J. Badilla, ‘09 Fort Belvoir, Va. michael.badilla@park.edu Andre T. Butler, ‘95 Raymore, Mo. andre.butler@park.edu Nick Casale, ‘71 Parkville, Mo. nicholas.casale@park.edu
Pedro Jimenez III, ‘01 El Paso, Texas pedro.jimenez@park.edu
The mission of the Park University Alumni Association is to serve as a vital partner with Park University to inspire passion and pride, promote participation and foster meaningful lifelong connections throughout our global and diverse alumni community.
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Julie McCollum, '71 (Hon.), '11 (Hon.) Director of Alumni Relations julie.mccollum@park.edu alumnioffice@park.edu (816) 584-6206 - office (800) 488-7275 (816) 505-5409 - fax Contact the Office of Alumni Relations with news, comments and questions about the Park University Alumni Association and its members. Phone: Fax: E-mail: Address:
(816) 584-6206 or (800) 488-PARK (7275) (816) 505-5409 alumnioffice@park.edu 8700 NW River Park Drive, Box 37 Parkville, MO 64152
Parkville campus, 1922, Left to right: McCormick Chapel, Alumni Hall, Copley Thaw Hall, Mackay Hall and the White House
Celebrating 140 years of Park University
Park University was established in 1875 in Parkville, Mo. This private, nonprofit institution has a rich history of providing quality education and service to its students and community. Now, that story is being put into print. Fides et Labor: 140 years of Pioneering Education. The Story of Park University This 160-page book will be filled with stories and photos covering the University’s 140 years as the institution grew from a small Presbyterian school, built on the banks of the Missouri River, with 17 students, into a world-class provider of higher education to more than 18,700 students at 42 campuses and online around the world.
Old Kate was a beloved mule that hauled water to the Parkville Campus for more than a decade.
The book will be available in September, but pre-orders are being taken now at a discounted rate. Order the book before Aug. 1 for $39.95. After Aug. 1, the price will be $44.95, and supply will be limited. The book may be picked up on the Parkville Campus at Park House or shipped for an additional $6. Visit www.park.edu/historybook to order your book.
Alumniad News and notes for Park University alumni Winter 2015 Vol. 105, No. 1 www.park.edu/alumni Winter 2015 - 29
Dear Friends, It’s incredible how often I meet Park University graduates in my travels — and the instant connection we find in our shared pride for Park. This powerful connection is what Park’s Alumni Council is all about. More than 69,000 alumni are members of the Park University Alumni Association, with more than 70 percent living outside of the Kansas City area. We’re working to expand connections for all Park alumni — coast to coast and around the globe. Of course, we need your help — just a few hours to assist with short-term projects can be immeasurably beneficial. We recently introduced a new PRIDE initiative to help alumni understand the many ways to connect to their alma mater: socks and window stickers. Check out the Park alumni shop: http://alumnishop.park.edu.
• RECRUIT — Refer your friends, relatives and co-workers to Park, and we’ll show our appreciation by waiving their application fee to attend Park. If the new student is a child/ stepchild, niece/nephew, sibling, spouse, parent or grandparent of a Park graduate, they may be eligible to apply for the Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Scholarship, the Alumni Association’s legacy scholarship.
• INVOLVE — As we expand alumni events at campus centers across the country, we need alumni to help host networking events. We’re
always interested to receive your nominations for Park’s alumni awards and student scholarships. To learn about opportunities to get involved, visit http://advancing.park.edu/pages/alumni/alumni-volunteers.
• DONATE — Park prides itself in providing education to qualified students, regardless of their ability to pay. Tuition is supported through
contributions from alumni, foundations, corporations and revenue projects of the University. To donate, visit http://advancing.park.edu/givenow.
• EMPLOY — Share your professional expertise by helping students find internships and graduates find employment. Alumni who are interested in posting jobs or serving as mentors can contact Park’s Career Development Center at http://advancing.park.edu/pages/career-home.
I’d be happy to talk with you about ways to connect to Park that most interest you. You’re welcome to e-mail me anytime. I’d love to hear from you!
Toni Madeira, ’88
President, Park University Alumni Association antoinette.madeira@park.edu Winter 2015 - 30
Photo by Kenny Johnson.
• PROMOTE — Show your Park pride with new Park apparel, from shirts and scarves to
Alumni Benefits Enjoy the benefits of belonging to the Park University Alumni Association as one of its 69,000 members. Visit www.park. edu/alumni/benefits to learn about such benefits as legacy scholarships, graduate school fee waivers, special license plates, tribute brick garden and more! Liberty Mutual Auto and Property Insurance Visit libertymutual.com/park or call (800) 524-9400 to learn more. UMB Visa Rewards Card www.cardpartner.com/pro/app/park Travel to Exotic Lands. Next trip South Africa! See the ad on page 41 or visit www.park.edu/alumni/SA2016. Park Alumni E-mail www.park.edu/alumni/email.asp
Park University Columbarium columbarium (kä-ləm-'ber-ē-əm) noun — a structure of vaults lined with recesses for funeral urns. Park University will soon start construction on a columbarium next to Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University’s Parkville Campus. Constructed in granite and limestone, the structure will match the campus ambiance and become part of the landscape adjacent to Armstrong Terrace. Niches/vaults will be available for purchase soon. Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu or (800) 488-7275 to reserve a niche/vault or for more information.
Park University Merchandise http://alumnishop.park.edu Alumni Career Services www.park.edu/career-development-center PirateLink Online Alumni Directory www.park.edu/alumni Uploma — Customizable Graduation Recognition http://uplomausa.com/park-university
Connect to Park alumni through social media Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ ParkU.alumni Twitter: www.twitter.com/parkalumni LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com Join the “Park University Alumni” group Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/ parkalumni/collections You Tube: www.youtube.com/parkuniversityvideos
Park Running Club For all people who like Park University and like to run, the Park Running Club has been formed. Alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the University are welcome to join this informal club — no need to be a Park athlete. Annual memberships are $15 and include an official T-shirt (with a new design each year) and the opportunity to meet and run with other club members. Sign up early as all memberships expire every Dec. 31. Future club benefits may include running advice from Brian Renshaw, Park cross country/track and field head coach, additional branded running apparel, organized running events around the world and a webpage dedicated to the club. Wear your shirt in your favorite official races, then take a photo and send it to the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu and it will be posted to www.park.edu/alumni. You can look for other Park runners and take a group photo as well. Other ways to take advantage of the Park Running Club include registering for a race in your area and letting the Office of Alumni Relations Office know — we will introduce you to other members in your area, or you can start your own local running team by encouraging friends to join the Park Running Club. Visit www.park.edu/runningclub for more information. Winter 2015 - 31
Pride around the globe Around the world, Park University alumni are encouraging others to pursue an education. With pride in their alma mater, they are inviting prospective students — from Europe to Asia — to consider the many options available at Park University wherever they live.
Preparing the future for success As an active duty Marine, Caleb Eames, ’06, never knew when or where he’d be deployed. Completing a college degree seemed unlikely. However, through Park University’s online program, Eames not only completed a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, but he will complete a Master of Public Affairs degree in disaster and emergency management from Park this spring — all while serving his country and raising a family in Okinawa, Japan. When he learned that the local high school was hosting a college night on his base in Okinawa, Eames decided he wanted to tell students about his alma mater.
Caleb Eames, '06, spoke with high school students about Park University during a college night recruitment event hosted on the base where he is stationed in Japan.
“The event was packed with more than 1,000 people. I personally talked with more than 100 prospective students,” Eames said. “Many had never heard of Park but were very interested in the University’s diverse campus locations and degree options. Thankfully, Park shipped posters and boxes of brochures for me to share with students and help me proudly represent Park.” Beyond his pride for Park, Eames takes great pride in the value of a college education. “I enjoy helping the younger generation prepare for their success after high school. It’s not easy for students living on base in Japan to visit college campuses and learn what’s available to them,” Eames said. “And there’s nothing like talking to an alumnus who can share personal insights. Many liked that Park had a beautiful flagship campus and multiple campus centers, in addition to online programs, especially since they are never certain where their families will be stationed.” Eames is currently a public affairs officer for Marine Corps Installations Pacific on Camp Foster. In November 2013, he coordinated communications access for national media outlets — including CNN, Time and National Geographic — to assist them in covering areas severally affected by Typhoon Hainan in the Philippines. With a focus in disaster management, Eames said Park’s MPA program is perfect for both his current work and future goals. “I’ve been involved in a lot of humanitarian work through the military and see the good that nonprofits contribute to the world,” he said. “With my master’s degree, I look forward to growing my career in the rewarding field of public affairs.” Alumni who would like to assist in the recruiting of future Park students should contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu Caleb Eames, '06, is serving in the U.S. Marine Corps while stationed in Okinawa, Japan, with his wife, Monett, and their three children. Winter 2015 - 32
Carlos Estrada, ’12, with his son, Isaiah, represented Park University during a college night recruitment event at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Carlos Estrada, ’12, celebrates his graduation from Park with his role model and proud mother by his side.
One step at a time When he heard about the college night event last fall at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Carlos Estrada, ’12, scrolled the list of schools and decided to make sure Park University was represented. “I completed my degree while living on base in Texas and wanted other military members and their families to know they could have the same great Park University education from anywhere in the world,” said Estrada, who works as an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Air Force. Beyond taking the time and initiative to spread the good word about Park, Estrada used the opportunity to share his personal advice. “Sometimes people in the military are hesitant to pursue their education. I remember being overwhelmed by the list of classes to earn my degree, but I tell them what I’ve learned: Take it one step at time, so long as you are making progress,” Estrada said. “College is not as hard as people make it out to be and Park’s online, accelerated 8-week course format makes it possible to reach your goals.” His advice is infused with his personal inspiration. “I saw what education did for my mom. I remember her working low-income jobs and going to school at night when I was in high school. I was proud to watch her walk across the stage at graduation,” Estrada said. “I pass along her wisdom to prospective students: Just keep going, one step at a time, so long as you’re making progress toward your goals.” Today, Estrada’s mother works in human resources for a West Coast technology company. Estrada said students especially liked the photos of the Parkville Campus. “Though I enjoyed Park’s online program, I liked knowing I was attending a university with a real home campus with a rich history,” Estrada said. That’s why he drove from Texas to Missouri twice so he and his wife, Kristin Couper Estrada, ’11, could proudly walk in commencement ceremonies and visit the campus, along with his mother. “We wanted the complete graduation experience to celebrate our accomplishments.” Winter 2015 - 33
Alumni weekend
Alumni Weekend / Harvest Fest 2014 Recap More than 700 visitors to Park University’s Parkville Campus filled the weekend of Sept. 18-20 as a part of Alumni Weekend 2014. Soccer and volleyball games, an awards luncheon, a barbecue picnic with activities for children, reunions, campus tours, alumni athletic games, a karaoke contest, and a night with dinosaurs and mythical creatures were among the many activities that filled the weekend. Mark your calendar to join the fun for Alumni Weekend 2015, Thursday, Sept. 17, through Saturday, Sept. 19.
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Highlights from Alumni Weekend / Harvest Fest 2014: 1. Members of the Class of 1964 each received gold medallions and a certificate in tribute to their lifelong learning. 2. David Fowler, Park University president; Toni Madeira, ’88, Alumni Association president; SuEllen Fried, ’75, Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award recipient; and Sarah Hopkins-Chery, ’07, MACL ’09, Alumni Association president-elect, at the Alumni Association Awards Luncheon. 3. Alumni and their families explore the Museum at Prairiefire’s Discovery Room filled with dinosaur bones. 4. Softball alumni met the current Park team on the field, then made friends after the game. 5. Men’s soccer alumni, including members of the 1984 NAIA District 16 championship team, scrimmaged on Julian Field. 6. Students join the Alumni Weekend/Harvest Fest festivities. 7. Face painting was a favorite activity at the Park Pirate Family Fun Day. 8. Alumni enjoyed a barbeque with their children at the picnic. Winter 2015 - 34
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Pride of
Darryl Forté, ’90, SuEllen Fried, ’75, Rev. David Laird Barclay, ’53, and Rodrigo Neri, ’09.
Achievement Each year, Park University honors a few of its outstanding alumni and friends. We beam with pride for their career and civic achievements and look to them as guiding examples of leadership, innovation and commitment as they continue to proudly improve the lives of others. Winter 2015 - 36
Distinguished Alumnus Award
This award recognizes Park University alumni who have distinguished themselves through career, service or community achievements.
Darryl Forté, ’90
Chief of Police, Kansas City, Mo. Protecting one of America’s largest cities
It’s one of the toughest jobs in the city. Forté, a lifelong Kansas City resident and graduate of Park University’s criminal justice program — is widely respected for his nearly 30 years of police service to protect his hometown, one of the largest metropolitan cities in the U.S. In 2011, Forté was named chief of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department. He is the first black police chief in the city’s history.
High expectations
As one of five children, Forté credits his mother, Willa Forté-Davis, for his success. “Raising five children as a working, single mother was no easy task,” Forté said. “My mother set high expectations and held us accountable. And, she was strict. In my neighborhood, (other children) often called her the ‘warden.’” According to his mother, Forté dreamed of becoming a police officer (or a race car driver) since he was 4 years old. “You can’t have a record and enter the police force. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said. Her hard work paid off when Forté was appointed the 44th chief of police in the city, overseeing more than 1,400 police officers and 600 non-sworn staff who serve nearly half a million residents across 319 square miles.
Improving the lives of others
Forté earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice administration at Park before going on to earn a master’s degree. He began his career with the KCPD in 1985 and has been steadily promoted. His motivation has always been to make a bigger impact. “I progressed through the ranks to be in a position to assist more people,” Forté said. “Success isn’t about a title; it’s about using the opportunities you have to improve the lives of others.”
Leading with humility
Forté graduated from the FBI National Academy and the Texas A&M University/U.S. Department of Justice Weapons of Mass Destruction Incident Management/Unified Command Course. In 2013, he completed the FBI’s National Executive Institute Training. For his civic leadership, Forté has received numerous honors, including the NAACP Diversity in Law Enforcement Award, the Community Service Award from the Southern Christian Leader-
ship Conference, the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime’s Dedication and Distinguished Service Award, and the Boys & Girls Club Role Model of the Year Award. Approachable and humble, Forté drives the city daily, personally meeting with residents and community leaders. Last fall, Forté began traveling the city on two wheels after completing “Wheel School,” KCPD’s 80-hour safety program that qualifies officers across the Midwest to ride a police motorcycle. Forte married Lori Forté in 1987 and has two daughters. When he’s not managing his intensive responsibilities as chief of a major metropolitan police force, Forté enjoys time with his family, a peaceful day fishing or heading out on the highway on his personal motorcycle — riding under the speed limit, of course.
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Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award
This award recognizes Park University alumni volunteer service to community and/or civic organizations.
SuEllen Fried, ’75
Author, Bullying Prevention Activist and Community Volunteer Healing the human heart
When asked to teach psychiatric patients the cha-cha, she was terrified. “Despite years of dance training, I had no idea how to cha-cha,” said Fried. Instead, she developed a ballet class “that Baryshnikov would love.” Fried remembers the 50 weary women who entered her first class at Osawatomie (Kan.) State Hospital. Afterward, the volunteer coordinator told her the class was fabulous. “I knew fabulous and assured her it was not,” Fried said. “Yet, she explained something that changed my life — I had treated the women like dance students, not patients.”
Serendipitous path
This new idea of fabulous led Fried on an unexpected life path to facilitate healing of the human heart. “Osawatomie State Hospital was my university; the patients were my professors,” she said. “I never knew such abandonment and abuse existed.” After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Park, Fried earned a Master of Arts equivalency from the American Dance Therapy Association. As past-president of the Kansas Mental Health Association, Fried created a statewide network for the prevention of child abuse. Subsequently, she served as president of the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse (now Prevent Child Abuse America) and expanded the program nationwide.
Never an iota of fear
To honor the late Karl Menninger, M.D., Fried appointed a committee to visit Kansas prisons to facilitate ideas from his book, The Crime of Punishment. While at the Lansing (Kan.) Correction Facility, Fried met the “Lifer’s Club” president. “While serving a life sentence for murder, this brilliant man surveyed inmates to show a correlation between abuse and incarceration,” she said. Together, they co-founded Reaching Out From Within, a self-help program that motivates offenders to advocate for non-violence. During her weekly prison visits, Fried “never has one iota of fear.” The program’s recidivism rate is remarkable: more than 90 percent of inmates who attend ROFW meetings don’t return to prison (the national rate is 50 percent). The program is now in every Kansas prison. Fried’s dream to expand nationwide got a boost when “CBS Sunday Morning” knocked on her door. The feature story highlighting ROFW drew overwhelming response: more than 100 people from 27 states contacted Fried to start the program. Winter 2015 - 38
Prisons to playgrounds
Fried’s compassion extends from prisons to playgrounds. Through her daughter, Paula Fried, Ph.D., she met a child dealing with cancer who told them she feared recess as children would pull off her wig and taunt her because she was bald. “We never recovered from that conversation,” she said. Fried has since penned four books on bullying, two co-authored with Paula, and two with Blanche Sosland, Ph.D., Park professor emeritus of education. Fried also created BullySafeUSA, a bullying prevention program in 36 states. To spread compassion wherever she goes, Fried wears a “Power of Kindness” button. “When I see someone do a kind act, I give them the button, tell them why, ask them to wear it and pass it on.”
Torchlighter Award This award honors individuals who have made significant, long-standing contributions and commitments to Park University, whether alumni, faculty or friend. Recipients of this award who are not graduates are bestowed the honor of honorary alumnus.
Rev. David Laird Barclay, ’53 Retired Alumni Council Member/Volunteer Warm and welcoming Park presence
“My time at Park as a student was one of the happiest times of my life,” said Barclay. Fortunately for Park University, he remained dedicated to his alma mater, creating a legacy of long-standing service to support Park’s future. Barclay is known for his warm and welcoming presence at Park. He has led chapel services during Alumni Weekends, prepared invocations for University events and contributed countless hours serving on Park University Alumni Council committees during his two terms of service.
Priority to participate
Barclay earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, paying his tuition by washing dishes and working in the print shop. “I did a little bit of everything, from re-roofing the University White House to painting Park House. I even learned how to weld,” he said. With a full schedule of academics, Barclay made it a priority to participate in all the opportunities Park offered. He was president of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service organization, and honed his acting skills as a member of Theta Alpha Phi National Theatre Honors Fraternity. As an athlete, Barclay played on the Parchevard team, lettering five times and earning the letter "P" for Park College. As an Eagle Scout, Barclay was the first Protestant to earn the Boy Scouts of America’s God and Country Award. Barclay attended Park for two years before enlisting in the Navy where he served on two battleships — the USS Missouri and the USS Wisconsin — during the Korean War. Barclay returned to Park after four years of service to graduate in 1953 and marry his college sweetheart, Joan Caldwell, in 1954. They have a family of five children and 10 grandchildren.
Following a passion
He followed his passion to enter the ministry by attending the Episcopal Theological School (now Episcopal Divinity School) in Cambridge, Mass., an affiliate of Harvard Divinity School, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. In 1956, he was ordained an Episcopal priest at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City, Mo. “I’ve loved my life’s work and have preached in 25 churches throughout Kansas and western Missouri," he said. He also ministered in Episcopal churches in Indiana and California.
Barclay retired from working full-time in the clergy last year after serving more than 30 years with Memorial Chapel at Fort Leavenworth. In recognition of his decades of service, he received a medal from the suffragan bishop for the Armed Forces and Federated Ministries in the Episcopal Church.
Lifelong connections
Barclay retired last year from the Park University Alumni Council, but continues to embody the spirit of Park. “It’s been a joy to represent Park and create lifelong connections with alumni across the generations,” he said.
Note: David Barclay passed away on February, 18. He will be dearly missed. Winter 2015 - 39
Park University Promising Young Professional Award This award recognizes Park University alumni who show exceptional promise of leadership and contribution to their profession and/or community. The recipient of this award will have graduated from Park within the last five years and be under the age of 35.
Rodrigo Neri, ’09
Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Instin LLC Rewards of risk
A native of Brazil, Neri came to Park University on Jan. 1, 2005, from sunny São Paulo. With great risk — like moving sight-unseen thousands of miles from home — came great reward. As a confident risk-taker, Neri’s innovation prompted the launch of one of the fastest growing entrepreneurial companies in the Midwest. But it wasn’t exactly planned. In fact, Neri struggled with planning, particularly in college. “I kept losing my student planner,” he said. While earning a Bachelor of Science degree in information and computer science/software engineering, he built a planner to fit safely in his pocket. “I always had my phone with me and kept wondering how I could create an app to organize my homework.” Though built for his own use, he made his myHomework app available for free download. Meanwhile, Neri interned at Cerner Corp., a health care technology company headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., where he landed a full-time job as a senior software engineer.
Downloading by the millions
While at Cerner, he realized that his myHomework app continued to be downloaded — by the millions. “People around the world were using my app and I wasn’t doing anything about it,” he said. Leading corporate teams by day, Neri rebuilt the app by night, along with two colleagues. Together, they risked leaving the corporate world to form Instin LLC with two primary products: myHomework — an app to help students stay organized with more than five million downloads and 600,000 monthly users in 150 countries — and Teachers.io, a compatible online platform for educators. “At Park, I learned about building software people can use, and now I'm happy to help students advance their education.” Neri was named by Ingram’s (a Kansas City business magazine) to its “20 in their Twenties” class of 2012, which recognizes the promise of young entrepreneurs in the Kansas City region. In 2013, Neri received an “All Star Entrepreneur” award, presented by Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James.
Imagination takes you everywhere
Neri met Brittany Thornburg, ’10, at Park and they were married in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University's Parkville Campus. Recently, they welcomed a baby boy, Luka. As his family
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grows, so does his future. “Being an entrepreneur opens opportunities I never imagined,” Neri said. “Success is not given to you. You have to go for it and keep learning. A college degree is just the beginning.” Neri draws inspiration from great minds. Unlike the sophisticated apps he creates, Neri keeps a simple note in his office with wisdom from Albert Einstein that keeps him focused on his promising future: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
2015
HARVEST FEST
Park’s Homecoming and Alumni Weekend September 17-19 on the Parkville Campus
Highlights
www.park.edu/alumni/harvestfest
• Men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball matches • Class reunions for classes ending in 5 and 0 • 50th reunion dinner for Class of 1965 • Alumni Association Awards Luncheon • Campus tours and Park Pirate Family Fun Day • Come and meet Park University's 16th president, who will be appointed this summer.
Get reacquainted with Park
CLASS NOTES 1980s Kimberly Admire, ’87, is chief human resources officer at Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va.
1990s Rick Barrett, ’91, D.C., was selected as the 2014 Star of the Year, Fort Bend County, Texas. He was honored for his extensive service, locally and internationally, through medical missions. He has traveled at least twice per year for the last 19 years, providing care to thousands of patients in underprivileged areas. Barrett operates a chiropractic clinic, Barrett Health Center, in Missouri City, Texas.
1950s
1960s John B. Campbell, ’65, Ph. D., is adjunct associate professor of anthropology, archaeology and sociology at James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. He is known for his expertise in archaeological heritage, space exploration and the development of protocols for preservation of space heritage, human evolution, forensic applications of archaeology, research, publishing and cultural heritage.
Chuck and Shirley Howard Linn, both ’54, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 11, 2014. Their two sons and their families joined them for the celebration in Topeka, Kan. The Linns were married in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel in 1954 before the building had air conditioning, and according to Shirley, the air temperature was 108 degrees.
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1970s Marilyn Stuart McAlice, x73, was the ghostwriter of My Road to the President’s Own...And Beyond, the autobiography of Master Gunnery Sgt. (Ret.) Terrance Detwiler, a member of the U.S. Marine Band. The book was published in February 2014. Felipe Bustillo, ’74, M.D., is director of clinical policy and improvement, and medical director of Medicaid, at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Christopher Aune, ’93, is a staff writer, with an emphasis on sports, at The HeraldTribune, Batesville, Ind. J.R. Buckner, ’94, is president and chief executive officer of First Federal Bank, one of the largest mutually-owned banks based in Kansas City, Mo. Richard L. Dewey, ’94, assistant professor, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Fla., was awarded the Susan H. Johnson Endowed Teaching Chair. Dewey will focus on effective use of open educational resources, utilizing technology to enhance teaching and learning in the IRSC criminal justice department. David Shearer, ’97, is executive director of (ISC)², the largest not-for-profit membership body of certified information and software security professionals with more than 100,000 members worldwide. W. Travis Forbes, ’98, is chief of police, Lee’s Summit, Mo.
What's going on in your life? We want to hear about it! Submit your news for inclusion in Class Notes to the Office of Alumni Relations: alumnioffice@park.edu or Park University, 8700 NW River Park Drive, Parkville, MO 64152.
Richard “Todd” Kerkering, ’99, was hired by the City of Sarasota, Fla., as emergency manager, a new city role devoted to preparing for major storms and other calamities, reflecting the city’s growing attention to disaster preparedness. Carol Miles, ’99, who serves as the director of Park University’s Little Rock (Ark.) Air Force Base Campus Center, was appointed by the Arkansas Board of Education to serve as a member of the Jacksonville-North Pulaski (Ark.) School Board, and she was elected secretary of the board. Miles is one of seven members of the board that was formed after Jacksonville and northern Pulaski County residents voted to create a new school district. Roberto Villaseñor, ’99, chief of police in Tucson, Ariz., was appointed to President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, created in the aftermath of the Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y., situations.
2000s Rafael Dominguez, ’02, is mayor of Monument, Colo. Before his election in April 2014, Dominquez retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a chief warrant officer, and joined Sabre Systems, an IT, software and program management firm. He splits his time between both positions. Jeremy W. Francis, ’03, M.P.A. ’06, Ph.D., was awarded the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal and was named a recipient of the 2014 Executive Office of the United States Attorneys Director’s Award for Superior Performance. Francis, a lieutenant junior grade Navy intelligence officer, is assigned to the Information Dominance Corps Midwest European Command detachment 0366 at Fort Sheridan, Ill., and works as a special agent with the FBI in Chicago.
Craig Scriven, ’04, is the women’s soccer assistant coach at Creighton University, Omaha, Neb. Mignon R.V. Walker, ’05, has written her first novel, Deprived Truth, Deprived Identity. The book follows the life of a young girl as she grows into an adult, all while searching for the identity of her biological father. www. createspace.com/5020907 James Brown, ’06, M.P.A. ’11, is chief of police, Topeka, Kan. Toni Duckworth, ’07, wrote her second book, The Wo Code, in June 2014, under the pen name, “Toni Rae.” She previously authored I Dated This Guy Once…, an autobiography/ relationship advice book published by Abbott Press. Toni currently resides in New York. www.idatedthisguyonce.com Megan Shmigelsky Gates, ’07, received the highest honor from the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department as she was recognized with the Medal of Valor on Dec. 16, 2014. This award is bestowed to officers who perform an exceptionally valorous act far above what is normally expected. On March 29, 2013, Gates and another officer (who was also awarded the Medal of Valor) confronted an active shooter who was firing into a van with four occupants. Gates and the other officer protected the area residents while ignoring extreme personal danger to themselves. Gates received the award from KCPD Deputy Chief Randy Hopkins, ’01.
Jennifer Johannes Hascall, ’07, M.H.A. ’09, based on her home decorating hobby, was selected to serve as a holiday decorator this past year at the White House. She spent five days wiring and painting ornaments, and placing them on the Blue Room tree, which was about 18 feet tall and held more than 2,000 ornaments. She worked with volunteers from all over the U.S. and met First Lady Michelle Obama. Rebecca Mickelson, ’07, was selected as the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime (Ohio) Associate of the Month for March 2014. Mickelson is an acquisition specialist within the Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate. Timothy Russell, M.P.A. ’07, is director of external affairs at The Arts Asylum, a new Kansas City, Mo. art venue. Jesse Henkensiefken, ’08, D.M.A., is assistant professor of music, director of orchestras at Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, Kan. He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Kansas in 2010. His wife, Tatiana Tessman, ’07, is a concert pianist and adjunct professor of keyboard studies at KWU. They returned to the Midwest after orchestral conducting and ensemble directing experience in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Eastchester, N.Y.
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CLASS NOTES Master Sgt. Sean E. Swank, ’08, retired from the U.S. Air Force on Sept. 1, 2014. After more than 20 years of service, including five tours in Kuwait and Iraq, Swank is now working in the human resources field within the gas and oil industry in Tulsa, Okla.
Odis Smith, ’07, married Emily Hanover, ’14, on Jan. 16. Emily is currently completing a Master of Social Work degree at Park University. The couple resides in Kansas City, Mo.
2010s
Ryan Kinne, ’09, M.B.A. ’14, married Susan Kline on May 3, 2014. The wedding was filled with Park alumni, including the mother of the groom, Deanna Kinne, ’09, best man Jeff Kinne, ’08, groomsman Ryan Walstrom, ’12, and the bride’s brother, U.S. Army Capt. Steve Kline, ’10,. The couple honeymooned in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and reside in Kansas City, Mo.
Cristian Fatu, ’10, was awarded a oneyear appointment as principal second violin of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra in Charleston, and he is a member of the Montclaire String Quartet, the quartet-inresidence with the WVSO. Lisa Patterson, ’10, is the executive director for human resources for the Independent School District, Hutto, Texas. Andrea Plunkett, ’10, was selected as one of 37 Janet Steiger Fellows from among 300 applicants nationwide. The prestigious honor allowed her to work in the Kansas attorney general’s office as the Steiger Antitrust Fellow during the summer of 2014. She is a law student at Washburn University, attending as a Schamberg Scholar, which covers full tuition and a stipend. Crystal Young-Haskins, M.E.’11, is a lieutenant with the Little Rock, Ark., Police Department. She is the Southwest Patrol Division third shift commander, supervising, evaluating and facilitating the performances of three sergeants and 20 patrolmen.
Weddings Dave Larson, ’96, married Jessica Westgard on June 6, 2014. Larsen is self-employed and the couple resides in Fargo, N.D. Winter 2015 - 44
Emily Thompson, ’12, married Travis Puls, on July 14, 2014, at Mount Pleasant Winery, Augusta, Mo. The bride is an art teacher at Argentine Middle School, Kansas City, Kan.
Births John Wyatt Greenlee, M.P.A. ’11, and wife, Vanessa, announce the birth of son Roan Thomas Askel Greenlee. He was born on June 7, 2014, in Ithaca. N.Y. He weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Roan was welcomed home by his 3-year-old brother, Finian.
ASPA Awards to Brecke, Park alumni The Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration honored a trio from the Park University family during the organization’s annual awards event on May 21, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo. Ronald Brecke, Ph.D., professor of political science, received the L.P. Cookingham Award that recognizes outstanding contributions to public administration over an extended period of time. Brecke was unable to attend the event, but accepted the award via video. http://bit.ly/1DbbAJd In addition, Greg Mills, M.P.A. ’97, city administrator, chief of police and director of public safety for the City of Riverside, Mo., was honored with the Public Administrator of the Year – Local Government Award that recognizes outstanding performance in the practice of public administration and local government in the Greater Kansas City area. Also, Alexa Barton, ’03, M.P.A. ’07, city administrator for the City of Grain Valley, Mo., and longstanding GKC-ASPA board treasurer, received the Special Contributions Award that recognizes a member of the chapter whose work and contributions to the chapter have made a significant difference.
Get your park swag
Micki Casper Wainscott, ’12, husband Aaron and big sister Isabelle, welcomed Mae Ellen Wainscott on April 30, 2014, to the family. Mae was 8 pounds, 11 ounces, and 22 inches long. Micki is a case manager with Village Hospice in Lee’s Summit, Mo.
https://alumnishop.park.edu
MOURNS 1930s
James Willson, ’56 Lakewood, Colo., Nov. 17
Therese Meyer, ’83 Jacksonville, Ark., Oct. 11
Ruth Yoakum Mackenzie, ’33 Pleasant Hill, Tenn., July 17 See story at far right.
Constance Uebner Donley, ’57 Gilbertsville, Ky., Sept. 3
William C. Roberts, ’87 Cabot, Ark., Nov. 14
Martha Sinclair Koenigsdorf, ’38 Kansas City, Mo., May 30
Milton Hibbard, ’58 Dunwoody, Ga., Sept. 27
William K. Harvey, ’89 Montclair, N.J., Oct. 30
Katherine Jones Schrader, ’39 Kennett Square, Pa., April 19
1960s
1990s
1940s
Ronald Berkey, ’63 Bedford, N.H., Nov. 15
Jane Turner Dodson, ’40 Ormond Beach, Fla., Oct. 6
Maj. Charles H. Swim, ’64 Paradise, Calif., Feb. 8
Wade D. Rubick, ’41 Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 1
Pamela Farnam Green, ’68 Fairfield, Conn., Dec. 2
Elizabeth Sunderwirth Pollard, ’42 Shawnee, Kan., July 24
Charles Megerman, ’68 Overland Park, Kan., July 14
Deborah Kerr Metcalf, ’44 Ottawa Hills, Ohio, July 31
Phillip Lainhart, ’69 Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 17
Edith Stumpf Trumpold, ’44 Tremont, Va., Aug. 2
R. Carter Wolf, ’69 Portland, Maine, Sept. 23
Joseph K. Ladd, ’45 Macomb, Ill., May 18
1970s
Evelyn Elaine Hagood, ’95 Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 4
Bradford H. Smith, ’70 Farmington, Maine, Nov. 1
Franklin L. Norris, ’97 Columbia, S.C., Dec. 2
Michael William Hill Sr., ’75 Kansas City, Kan., May 9
2000s
Mary Ruth Moyes Hall, ’46 Carmel, Ind., Oct. 2 Robert M. King, ’49 Lewiston, N.Y., Jan. 26
1950s
Robert Frances Ehrler, ’76 Viera, Fla., March 17
John F. McConaughy, ’50 Atco, N.J., July 30
Patrick J. Norris, ’76 West College Corner, Ind., July 17
Betty A. Polley, ’50 Peoria, Ariz., March
Maurice P. Keezer, ’77 Overland Park, Kan., July 10
Robert E. Rundus, ’50 Urbana, Ill., Oct. 10
Rev. Russell Davis Sr., ’78 Kansas City, Kan., Nov. 10
John M. Hicks, ’52 Des Moines, Iowa, May 18
Noble Harold Johnson, ’78 North Kansas City, Mo., May 26
Rev. David Laird Barclay, '53 Overland Park, Kan., Feb. 18, 2015
Kenneth Bender, ’79 Huber Heights, Ohio, Oct. 28
Carolyn Hedkin Fetrow, ’53 Richmond, Va., Nov. 13
Chief Master Sgt. Earl Phillips, ’79 Jacksonville, Ark., Oct. 8
Clarence F. Johnson, ’54 Waukee, Iowa, Dec. 4
1980s
Kent Trindel, ’54 Winnsboro, Texas, Sept. 9
James Brainard, ’81 Fairborn, Ohio, April 17
Denise C. Lingard, ’90 Buckner, Mo., Nov. 2 Tanya Wallace, ’90 El Paso, Texas, Oct. 26 Paul M. Raymond, ’91 El Paso, Texas, Aug. 12 Bobby Cooper Sr., ’92 Amarillo, Texas, Nov. 11 John MacKenn, ’93 Fredericksburg, Va., May 5 Kenneth Dawson, ’95 Fairborn, Ohio, Oct. 25
Vincent E. Reynolds, ’00 Kansas City, Mo., April 21 Tina Reese Fields, ’02 Pleasant Hill, Mo., July 11 Danny Terrell Williams, ’03 Mansfield, Texas, Dec. 12 Charles Hinson, ’04 Lake Waukomis, Mo., June 15 David Lopez Jr., ’04 El Paso, Texas, Nov. 13 Melanie Tate Saccaro, ’04 Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 4 Rachel Atwood-Smoot, ’07 Kansas City, Mo., July 22 Roy F. Wake, ’07 Newark, Ill., Oct. 21 Note: All dates in 2014 unless noted.
Ruth Yoakum Mackenzie, ’33, passed away on July 17 in Pleasant Hill, Tenn., at the age of 102. Her husband, Dr. Donald Mackenzie, ’33, who passed away in 1998, served as president of Park University from 1966-72. Students at Park between 1966 and 1972 remember Mrs. Mackenzie as energetic, dignified, sincere, kind and friendly. She was a patron of the arts and encouraged local artists to share their work with the Parkville and University communities. Ruth was elected president of the Parkville Fine Arts Association in 1966 and served as chair for the annual Fine Arts Festival. While living in the University White House, Ruth cooked for visiting dignitaries and faculty. She and Dr. Mackenzie hosted dinners for each graduating class, serving full course dinners in installments. In addition, she wrote a column, “From the White House,” for the Alumniad. She was well known for giving piano concerts and book reviews throughout the Kansas City area and played two piano concerts a year until she was 95.
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