Park University Announces Recipients of 2021 Annual Awards by Alumni Association
Park University has announced the recipients of its four annual awards, recognising the achievements of its alumni and faculty members. Among the honourees are Kenthedo Robinson, Donna Bachmann, Edna Martinson, and Rich Linden.
Kenthedo Robinson, a 1980 graduate, is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Robinson is a playwright known for the drama "The Buffalo Hero of World War I: The Wayne Miner Story" and "York – Slave or Saviour," which is about the only African American member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He is also recognised as a six-time Emmy Award-winning director. In 2021, he was honoured with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Park University, reflecting his significant accomplishments in drama and directing.
Donna Bachmann, professor emerita of art, is the recipient of the 2021 Paul H. Gault Service Award. Bachmann was a member of the Park faculty for 27 years (1986-2013) and served in various roles, including program coordinator and chair of the Department of Art and Design, and the director of the University's Campanella Art Gallery, which she helped found in 1988. A ceremony recognising Bachmann will be held on Friday, Oct. 1, starting at 1 p.m. inside Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the Parkville Campus.
Edna Martinson, a 2012 graduate, is the recipient of the Park Promising Young Professional Award. Martinson started Boddle Learning with her husband, Clarence Tan, in 2018 to combat educational gaps and help improve student outcomes in elementary schools. Boddle Learning is an education technology organisation with a mission to help kids grow their love for learning so that they can build a brighter future. In February, Martinson was named to Forbes magazine's first class of the "Next 1000," an initiative that showcases entrepreneurial heroes across the country.
Rich Linden, a resident of Overland Park, Kan., is the recipient of the Torchlighter Award. Linden serves as an advocate for Park University, particularly as the game announcer for various Park athletics events since 2006.
Carneysha Mendoza, a 2016 graduate, is the recipient of the Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award. Mendoza is a U.S. Capitol Police captain and was the initial speaker at the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee joint oversight hearing on security failures during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Mendoza has been a member of the Capitol Police for 19 years and currently serves as a field commander in the special operations division.
The ceremony recognising the recipients will be held on Sept. 30, during Park's Homecoming Weekend. The event will take place at the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall on the University's Parkville Campus.
Robinson's play, "The Buffalo Hero of WWI: The Wayne Miner Story," researched, wrote, and produced a play honoring the legacy of Miner, an Army private from Kansas City, Mo., who died in the hours between the signing of the Armistice and the time it was set to go into effect during World War I.
Linden has been a speaker and advocate for regional and national youth issues, including the Youth/Adult Alliance Against Underage Drinking, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Turning Resources and Energy in New Directions, Camp Quality, Missouri Association of Peer Helpers, National Association of Teen Institutes and Camp Fire.
These honourees have made significant contributions to their fields and to Park University, and their accomplishments serve as an inspiration to current students and alumni.
- Kenthedo Robinson, with his accolades in drama and directing, has not only made significant contributions to the field of education-and-self-development through his plays but has also been recognized in general-news channels.
- Rich Linden, in addition to his advocacy for Park University, has also been active in promoting sports-related youth issues, demonstrating his commitment to diverse areas.
