Political Updates from Crow's Nest, December 20, 2018:
Park University Shines in Kansas City and Beyond
Park University, located in Parkville, Missouri, has been making headlines recently for a variety of reasons. The institution, which competes in the NAIA, has a long-standing competitive women's volleyball program that has participated in numerous regional and national tournaments.
In a spectacular turn of events, Park University's women's volleyball team clinched the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship on December 1, 2018. The championship match against Columbia (Mo.) College went five sets, with the final set needing extra play. Nada Meawad was named the national tournament Most Valuable Player, while Coach Mike Talamantes was honoured as Coach of the Year. Celina Monteiro was also named the tournament's Defender of the Year.
Park University's record for the season was an impressive 36-1. The team's star players, Danna Gomes and Maren Roper, were also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Off the court, Park University continues to excel. Cynthia Levin, '77, producing artistic director of the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Mo., was recently featured in a story on KCUR-FM. Kirby R. Brown, a distinguished figure, was appointed as the dean of Park University's College of Management, starting on January 1, 2019.
The university's academic achievements are also noteworthy. Park University was ranked No. 4 on the Kansas City Business Journal's list of the top Kansas City area colleges and universities, based on total local fall 2018 enrollment. The institution was also ranked as having the No. 1 Master of Business Administration program in the Kansas City area by the Kansas City Business Journal on November 30.
Park University's engagement with the community is evident in its partnerships and events. The 2019 Spencer Cave Black History Month Lecture, held in partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the National Archives at Kansas City, was a resounding success. The lecture, which is the 18th in the annual series, featured Dr. Arnold Rampersad, professor emeritus at Stanford University, speaking on Jackie Robinson. The event took place on February 25, 2019 at the Gem Theater in Kansas City, Mo.
The Missouri Humanities Council granted $2,500 to Park University for the Spencer Cave Black History Month Lecture Series. The Year of Engagement Documentary Series at Park University screened "Inventing Tomorrow" on January 22, 2019, and "The Jazz Ambassadors" on February 11, 2019.
Park University also hosted the Kansas Day Event at the National Archives at Kansas City on February 9, 2019.
In the realm of politics, Matt Harris, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, was interviewed for a story that aired on WDAF-TV in Kansas City on December 4 related to a political action committee trying to undo part of a new law related to redistricting in Missouri.
The university's esports gaming industry is also thriving. Ben Zibers, director for student engagement, was interviewed for a story that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on November 28 related to the esports gaming industry in the Kansas City region.
ECCO Select, led by Jeanette Prenger, '09, president and founder, and the vice chair of Park University's Board of Trustees, was ranked No. 14 on Ingram's list of the top area women-owned businesses, based on 2017 gross revenue.
Tamah Rivers, '16, a distinguished alumna, was featured in a story that appeared in The Island Packet (newspaper in Bluffton, S.C.) on November 23.
Brian Hoffman, Ph.D., professor of biology, provided comments for a story that appeared in the St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press on December 8 related to concerns still exist related to a possible flu pandemic.
Park University continues to make significant strides in various fields, solidifying its position as a key player in Kansas City and beyond.
- Park University, with its success in sports, academic achievements, and community engagement, demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning and education-and-self-development for its students and the wider community.
- As Park University excels in sports, academics, and community events, it also fosters an environment that nurtures lifelong learning, encouraging students to broaden their horizons through learning experiences both on and off the court.
