Park University Honors Students' Academic Successes Celebrated at Yearly Honors Ceremony (2024-25)
In a celebration of academic excellence, Park University held its annual Honours Convocation on April 29, 2025, at its Parkville Campus. The event honoured students and faculty members who have excelled in various fields and demonstrated the University's ideals in character, conduct, scholarship, and student activity participation.
Two outstanding students, Raeven Brownell and Gabrielle de Oliveira Campos Sandins, were bestowed with the prestigious Outstanding Parkite Award. Brownell, a senior biology and psychology major from Kansas City, Mo., and a member of Park's Honors Academy, has served as president of the Park Student Government Association for the past two years and received biology department honours for the 2023-24 academic year. Sandins, a senior sport and exercise science major from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been a member of Park's beach volleyball team for three seasons and earned an Undergraduate Certificate in tactical strength and conditioning. Additionally, Sandins was a co-recipient of the Sport and Exercise Science Service and Professional Development Award for 2024-25 and received a Dr. Doris Howell Leadership Award for 2023-24.
Other notable recipients included Leslie Jensby, associate teaching professor of social work and director of the Bachelor of Social Work program from Kansas City, Mo., who received the President's Award for Teaching Excellence. J. Mark Noe, Ph.D., professor of communication arts and director of the Master of Arts degree in communication and leadership program from Parkville, Mo., received the J.L. Zwingle Award. Camille Cook, director of library services and first-year experience, and assistant professor of library instruction and outreach from Lawrence, Kan., received the Excellence in Academic Advising Award.
The Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award was presented to Jeffery Kimmons, Ph.D., associate professor of biology from Kansas City, Mo. Manuchair Ebadi, Ph.D., a 1960 Park graduate who passed away in January 2015, established the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award in honour of Delta Gier, Ph.D.
Tammy Good, D.B.A., adjunct instructor of construction management from Pompano Beach, Fla., received the Provost's Award for Teaching Excellence. Danny Burger, senior communication studies major from Tunas, Mo., was the recipient of the Louisa Davidson Hinde / Carolyn Hinde Zarkaryan Memorial Award.
The awards are endowed by Dr. Elliot F. Parker in memory of his parents, Albert and Jessie Parker. The Outstanding Parkite Award is given to two students who best exemplify the ideals of the University in their character, conduct, scholarship, and student activity participation.
For more information about Park University’s Honours Convocation awards and their specific criteria, it is recommended to contact Park University’s Honors Program, Dean’s Office, or refer to the university’s official website for the most accurate and current details regarding these distinctions.
Raeven Brownell and Gabrielle de Oliveira Campos Sandins, recipientsof the Outstanding Parkite Award, have demonstrated a commitment to both their education-and-self-development and personal-growththrough their academic and extracurricular pursuits. Leslie Jensby, the recipient of the President's Award for Teaching Excellence, has shown dedication to learning and fostering the same in her students in the field of social work.
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