"The Crow's Nest Daily News, October 4th, 2024 Edition"
Park University has been making waves in September, with a host of achievements across various fields. While the 2023–24 academic year's achievements at the Parkville and Gilbert campuses have yet to be officially announced, several notable accomplishments have been made by students, alumni, and faculty.
Adam Shirley, a Park University student from 2015, was named the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan for September for his positive impact on his school and community. His altruistic efforts have undoubtedly contributed to Park University's strong reputation.
In the world of business, ECCO Select, an IT talent acquisition and advisory consulting company led by Jeanette Prenger, a Park University alumna from 2009, has been making strides. ECCO Select was ranked No. 7 on the Kansas City Business Journal's list of top Kansas City area women-owned businesses and No. 5 on Ingram's list of top Kansas City area minority-owned businesses.
In the realm of academics, several teams have shown exceptional academic performance. The Parkville and Gilbert campuses' women's cross country, outdoor track and field, and beach volleyball teams all boast impressive grade point averages. The Parkville Campus women's cross country team maintained a GPA of 3.67, while the women's outdoor track and field team and the women's beach volleyball team both achieved a GPA of 3.57. The Gilbert Campus women's outdoor track and field team, meanwhile, achieved a GPA of 3.71.
Park University has also been recognised for its online psychology degree programme, ranking No. 14 on EduMed.org's "Best Online Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology" list.
In terms of individual achievements, Yumi Hernandez-Hohm, a 2002 Park University graduate, was appointed as the senior marketing coordinator at the St. Louis headquarters of KAI, a planning, engineering, and construction firm, on September 5.
Musician Sebastian James (Anderson), a 2016 graduate and 2018 MBA graduate, launched his solo career and released his debut album, "Old School Cool," on October 4.
Ilya Shmukler, a graduate student at the Park University International Center for Music, performed a recording of Igor Stravinsky's "Three Movements from Petrushka" during the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022, which aired on American Public Media's "Performance Today" program in mid-September.
Ricky Godbolt, a 1993 graduate, received the 2024 Park University Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award and was featured in the Magnolia (Ark.) Banner-News on September 7.
Sarah Doran, a U.S. Army veteran and children's book author, was featured on the Lansing (Kan.) School District website on September 24.
Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, participated in a live discussion on KCUR-FM's "Up To Date" in Kansas City on September 11, discussing the previous night's presidential debate.
Harris was also interviewed for stories that aired on KCTV in Kansas City on September 11, 22, and 30, discussing celebrity political endorsements, the Missouri Supreme Court releasing opinions that put Amendment 3 on the ballot in November, and the race for sheriff in Johnson County, Kan., respectively.
The university has also been active in community engagement, hosting a poverty simulation event on September 16, featuring students Joazee (Smith) Jarvis, senior middle school education/language arts major, and Cierra Wilhoite, senior social work major. The event was covered by the Platte County (Mo.) Landmark on September 19.
Upcoming events at Park University include an art exhibit, concerts, a Park University Golf Scramble, an open house for the Frances Fishburn Archives and Special Collections, a political discussion, a commencement ceremony, Fright Night, and several International Center for Music concerts.
For the most accurate and detailed information about the 2023–24 academic achievements and notable events at Park University’s Parkville or Gilbert campuses, consult the university’s official publications or contact them directly.
In the world of sports, Adam Shirley, a Park University alumnus, was recognized for his positive impact and named the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan for September.
In the general news, the university's online psychology degree program was ranked 14th on EduMed.org's "Best Online Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology" list.
