Daily Update from The Crow's Nest - May 3, 2024
Park University's Annual Honors Convocation Celebrates Achievements
On April 17, 2024, Park University's flagship Parkville Campus was buzzing with excitement as the annual Honors Convocation took place. This prestigious event honoured the outstanding contributions and achievements of students, staff, and faculty.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Outstanding Parkite Award, the most esteemed honour at Park University. This year, the award was bestowed upon seniors Annastasia Bair and Skyler Jensen, in recognition of their significant contributions to the university community. Unfortunately, the exact criteria and selection process for the Outstanding Parkite Award remain undisclosed. For detailed information, it is recommended to consult official Park University resources directly.
In addition to the Outstanding Parkite Award, numerous other achievements were celebrated. Computer science professors John Cigas, Ph.D., and Wen Hsin, Ph.D., showcased their expertise at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Central Plains Region. Cigas presented a session on "Coding Practice with Advent of Code," while Hsin moderated a session on "Distributing, Collecting and Autograding Assignments with GitHub Classroom" and presented a session on "Teach Me Video Project."
Meanwhile, Alivia Zubrod, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, shared her insights on "Unraveling Language Complexity: Past, Present and Future" at the Midwestern Psychological Association conference. Nancy Almodovar, Ph.D., director of the Mountain Home (Idaho) Air Force Base Campus, presented a session on "Him We Proclaim" at the International Society of Christian Apologetics.
The ceremony also marked the announcement of the 29th annual Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards, which celebrate leadership achievements at Park University. The Gilbert Campus revealed plans to start a competitive cheer program at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year.
Brad Kleindl, Ph.D., professor of marketing, led an Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs accreditation visit to Shanghai (China) Polytechnic University's School of Economics and Management. Susan Keim, Ph.D., associate professor of public administration, presented "Preparing Public Servants in Technology and Business Analytics" at the American Society for Public Administration's annual conference.
The event concluded with the announcement of the recipients of the Faculty Center for Innovation's scholarship and teaching fellows for the 2024-25 academic year. Kay Barnes, senior director for university engagement, served as a panelist at the Downtown Council (Kansas City, Mo.) annual luncheon about "The Evolution of Downtown."
The ceremony was a testament to the vibrant and dynamic community at Park University, with 687 students eligible to participate. A total of 242 students were set to receive a master's degree and/or graduate certificate, while 445 students were scheduled to receive a bachelor's degree, associate degree, and/or undergraduate certificate.
The keynote address during Park University's Kansas City Area Commencement on May 4, 2024, will be delivered by CiCi Rojas, co-founder of Tico Productions and Tico Sports. Meanwhile, Bree Bint has been appointed as the head coach for the competitive cheer program at the Park University Gilbert Campus.
Lastly, Joao Friedrich, a senior outside hitter for Park University's men's volleyball team, was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association 2024 NAIA All-America first team. This recognition is a fitting tribute to his exceptional skills and dedication to the sport.
In all, the Honors Convocation was a celebration of the remarkable achievements and contributions of the Park University community. The university continues to foster an environment that encourages learning, innovation, and growth, preparing its students for success in their future endeavours.
- Despite the focus on academics during Park University's Annual Honors Convocation, there was also appreciation for achievements outside the realm of education-and-self-development, as evidenced by the announcement of the 29th annual Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards and the appointment of Bree Bint as the head coach for the competitive cheer program at the Park University Gilbert Campus.
- The Honors Convocation was not just a platform for general-news related updates about the university, but also for scholarly contributions beyond the Park University campus, such as presentations at conferences like the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Central Plains Region, Midwestern Psychological Association, and the American Society for Public Administration's annual conference. Further, the keynote address during the Kansas City Area Commencement will be delivered by CiCi Rojas, a notable figure in the sports industry.
