"The Crow's Nest Newspaper - January 4, 2024 Edition"
Park University in the Spotlight: Research, Recognition, and Events
Park University continues to make headlines, with various achievements, research projects, and events taking centre stage.
In a significant development, the Valor Medals Review Project at Park University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War is currently focused on identifying minority veterans of World War I who may have been unjustly denied high-level valor awards due to racial or religious backgrounds. The ongoing research aims to rectify potential historical wrongs in military honors.
As of now, a list of 214 servicemembers under review has been identified, including 105 Jewish Americans, 73 African Americans, 24 Native Americans, 11 Hispanic Americans, and one Asian American. However, the project has not disclosed the names or detailed identities of these servicemembers.
Meanwhile, Park University students and faculty are also making a mark in various fields. Hannah Reynoldson, an incoming nursing and women's golf student-athlete, was featured on WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kan., as its Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 13. Rita Wilson, associate registrar at Park University, published an article on technology among student services employees.
The International Center for Music at Park University has scheduled three concerts in January and February. On January 12, Tatiana Dorokhova will present a piano recital, followed by the Rosamunde Trio on January 25, featuring two ICM faculty members and a pianist. The Park ICM Orchestra's annual Valentine's Day themed concert is scheduled for February 9. On February 24, the Park Quartet, featuring ICM students, will present a concert at The Church of Jesus Christ Outreach Restoration Branch in Independence, Mo. Sayevich and ICM collaborative pianist Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich will present a concert on February 29.
Several Park University students and alumni have also received recognition. Three members of the Park University women's volleyball team received All-America recognition on December 11. Kathleen Ramon-Venable, '14, was interviewed for a story that aired on WFAA-TV in Dallas on Dec. 12 related to a redevelopment plan in Arlington, Texas. Billy Rivera, a member of the Parkville (Mo.) Campus baseball team, was honored during the Ban Johnson Collegiate Baseball League banquet on Dec. 28, receiving the Frank White Award for Fielding Excellence.
In addition, Staff Sgt. Danny Tucker, '19, was recognized by the Kansas City Chiefs during the game against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 10 as part of the team's "Tribute to the Troops" program. Brian Virden, '15, MBA '22, was appointed as the Lake County, Mich., 911 central dispatch director, a development that was featured in the Big Rapids (Mich.) News on Dec. 14.
Park University has also been recognised for its academic excellence. CollegeFactual.com announced its 2024 rankings on Dec. 15. Among the highlighted national rankings for Park University: Best Schools for the Money in the U.S. for Bachelor's Degrees, No. 13 (out of 1,465); Best Associate Degree Schools in the U.S., No. 41 (out of 1,319); and Top Schools for Veterans for a Bachelor's Degree, No. 48 (out of 1,405).
The Valor Medals Review Project, conducted by Park University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War, has received an extension for research efforts through Dec. 31, 2028. Ilya Shmukler, a graduate student in Park University's International Center for Music, won the 2023 Wideman Piano Competition. Tim Westcott, a faculty member at Park University, was elected as the historian for the Independence (Mo.) Patriots Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
John Fierro, another Park University alumnus, was featured in a story published in Dos Mundos, a Kansas City bilingual newspaper focused on the Hispanic community. A story about Yiyi Pauls, daughter of Nikki Pauls DeSimone, assistant professor of social work, appeared in The Harbinger, the student newspaper at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Kan., on Dec. 10. Brad Kleindl, a faculty member at Park University, co-presented a webinar on AI for CTE and Business Classes.
Park University was ranked No. 12 by EDsmart.org on its "Best Open Admissions Colleges Online 2024" list. A feature story on John Gillette, an 1892 Park University graduate, appeared in The Forum of Fargo (N.D.) - Moorhead (Minn.).
In an interview for an "Inside the Indoor Game" article that appeared on the MASL website on Dec. 17, Erik Bergrud, chief strategic communications officer, discussed various aspects of Park University. Yira Brimage, vice president of Park University's Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus, was featured in the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce's "Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders" podcast on Dec. 5. Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, participated in two live interviews that aired on KCBS-AM in San Francisco on Dec. 6 and on 630 CHED (Edmonton, Canada) / QR Radio (Calgary, Canada) on Dec. 8 related to an article Harris authored for The Conversation about Taylor Swift being a political influencer. Harris was also interviewed by Agence France-Presse, an international news agency based in Paris, for a story that appeared in news outlets around the world on Dec. 23 related to the influence Taylor Swift could have on the 2024 presidential election.
Lastly, a story posted on Dec. 6 in The Hawk Newspaper (St. Joseph University [Pa.] student paper) included comments from Rosanna Kasemier, junior sport and exercise science major and former Parkville [Mo.] Campus women's soccer player. A story that appeared in The Kansas City Star on Dec. 27 about a partnership between John Knox Village, a retirement community in Lee's Summit, Mo., and Kansas City area health care facilities, included comments from Brian Opoka, '22, who serves as director of public safety at JKV.
In the ongoing saga of Park University, the Valor Medals Review Project under the George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War is also engaging in education and self-development, delving into researchers' significant efforts to rectify potential historical wrongs in military honors.
Meanwhile, in the domain of general news, Hannah Reynoldson, an incoming nursing and women's golf student-athlete, and Rita Wilson, associate registrar at Park University, have garnered recognition for their individual achievements, showcasing the university's commitment to self-development and scholastic excellence. In sports, the International Center for Music at Park University has scheduled a string of concerts, while several students and alumni have received recognition in various fields, further highlighting the multidisciplinary achievements within the university community.
