Unveiled: Crow's Nest Revelations of April 6, 2018
Park University has been making waves in various spheres, from academics to community events. Here's a roundup of some recent accomplishments and happenings at the institution.
First Woman to Run Play-by-Play Camera at NCAA Final Four
Janis Murray, a Park University alumna from the class of '80, made history by becoming the first woman ever to run the play-by-play camera for the NCAA men's basketball Final Four. Her story was featured on Fansided on March 28.
Affordable Online Degrees Recognition
The University has been recognised on two prestigious lists. It was ranked No. 24 on OnlineU.org's "2018 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Communications Master's Degrees" list and No. 12 on BestValueSchools.org's "Schools Offering the Best Online Teaching Degrees of 2018" list.
Legacy Honoured on Campus
Robert P. and Mary Alice Corbett, both distinguished alumni and honorary trustees of Park University, have left a lasting legacy on campus. The Robert P. and Mary Alice Corbett Stairway connects students who live in the Copley Quad residence hall to the academic heart of the campus.
Athletics Wall of Honor Inductee
Colleen (Mahoney) Scherman, another alumna from the class of '09, has been selected for Park University's 2018 class for the Park Athletics Wall of Honor. Scherman, Park's first-ever NAIA All-American in women's volleyball, will be the first women's volleyball individual to be inducted into the Athletics Wall of Honor. More information about Scherman and her accomplishments can be found on the university's athletics website.
Community Engagement Events
Park University is also actively involved in community engagement. The University's International Center for Music will be performing before the film screening of "Big Sonia," an event that includes a live music performance, a film screening, and a panel discussion. The film screening will begin at approximately 6:15 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion at approximately 7:45 p.m.
Another community event is the Park Student Government Association's third annual 5K Run/Walk for Charity on April 21. The entry fee for the event is a minimum of two nonperishable food items, with all donations going to Harvesters. Those that donate more than two items will earn additional tickets to be used toward a post-race raffle.
Innovation Grants and Conferences
Applications are open for the 2018-19 Sour website Tank Innovation Grants at Park University's Faculty Center for Innovation. Teams of three (faculty/staff/student combinations) can compete for grant awards up to $5,000 to fund implementation of an innovative teaching or learning idea.
Alla Adams, Harold Griffin, and James Vanderleeuw co-presented a poster at the Small Cities Connect Conference and Expo on March 28 in Kansas City, Mo. The poster, "How City Websites are Used," provided insight into the types of information being communicated, to whom the information is being communicated, and the extent to which city websites are used in a strategic manner to facilitate long-term city goals.
Academic Achievements and Recognition
Park University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences coordinator of academic advising, Roberta Park, presented a discussion on "Talking Tolkien" in Kansas City, Mo., on March 25.
Patty Ryberg, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, provided comments for a story that appeared on the National Geographic website on March 16 related to five new fossil forests being found in Antarctica. Ryberg was a part of a recent research trip to Antarctica over the winter break.
Notable Speakers and Interviews
Patrick Moon, former U.S. ambassador/chief of mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, who spoke at Park University on April 4 related to NATO-Russia relations and its impact on the U.S., was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on April 3.
Amy Wolf, Ph.D., associate professor of education, was interviewed by KCTV in Kansas City for stories that aired on April 2 related to active shooter response training for child care centres/providers.
Recognition in the Community
Two development projects in the Kansas City area that involved Park University were awarded Capstone Awards by the Kansas City Business Journal. Commerce Tower, home of Park University's Downtown Kansas City, Mo., Campus, won its award in the mixed use category, while the Lenexa (Kan.) Civic Campus, home to Park's Lenexa Campus, won its award in the community impact category.
Holocaust Education and Awareness
Sonia Warshawski, a Holocaust survivor living in the Kansas City area, will have her story screened at Park University on April 9. Warshawski, born Sonia Grynstein on November 10, 1925, in Miezric, Poland, is a Holocaust survivor who endured imprisonment in three notorious Nazi death camps: Auschwitz, Majdanek, and Bergen-Belsen. At Majdanek, she witnessed her mother being marched to the gas chamber. She was liberated at age 19 by British troops at Bergen-Belsen. After the war, Sonia immigrated to the United States in 1948, settling in Kansas City, Kansas.
Her story gained broader public attention through the documentary "Big Sonia," which portrays her survival, the physical and emotional scars left by the Holocaust, and her role as an educator sharing her testimony widely across schools, museums, synagogues, and theaters. Sonia ran a tailor shop in a Kansas City mall basement, which served as a unique venue for her to connect personally with diverse audiences and recount her experiences.
A screening focusing on Sonia Warshawski was held at Park University on April 9, 2017, further contributing to Holocaust education and awareness by sharing her powerful story.
Lora Zaidarhzauva, associate director of international recruitment, represented Park University and Study Missouri at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Advocacy Day, March 19-20, in Washington, D.C.
References: [1] Big Sonia, https://bigsoniafilm.com/ [5] Kansas City Star, https://www.kansascity.com/
The Park University alumna, Janis Murray, successfully made history by becoming the first woman to run the play-by-play camera at the NCAA men's basketball Final Four, showcasing the impact of education-and-self-development in sports. Recognizing the institution's commitment to affordable education, Park University was ranked 24th on OnlineU.org's "2018 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Communications Master's Degrees" list and 12th on BestValueSchools.org's "Schools Offering the Best Online Teaching Degrees of 2018" list.
In addition to education accomplishments, Park University is also actively engaging community members through events like the International Center for Music's live music performance, film screening, and panel discussion for "Big Sonia." Furthermore, the Park Student Government Association organizes the 5K Run/Walk for Charity, hoping to encourage the community to donate nonperishable food items to benefit Harvesters. These community engagement initiatives demonstrate the university's strong commitment to general-news topics and social responsibility.
