PARK UNIVERSITY •
4
R
o
lli
ng
Ou
t
the
We l c o
me Mat Mov e-I n
Da
y
20
1
7 •
P
Ja
ad
m
Tr
is
k
on
ar
, , 1
MAGAZINE SPRING 2018 VOL. 9 NO. 1
tering Heroes:
lobal Gratitud e • of G Pa
Kev
on
in
iti
Shel • le Co
#ONEFAMILY
rk’
PARK. YOU.
k
s
rs
D r,
ic
Fi t
il
y:
M
ee
h t t
s • Last Su erson r v i vin und g e G
Do o
li
tt l
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
m
ai
de
Fa
Inclusion, Diversity, One Family...
e
R
“
” -Mark Twain
The secret to getting ahead is getting started.
olling Out the Welcome Mat Park embraces its tradition of rolling out a sturdy, extra-wide welcome mat to help students comfortably cross the threshold to college life.
President Greg Gunderson greets new students during Move-In Day.
Director of Residence Life Karie Schaefer helps students unload vehicles on Move-In Day.
Going away to college takes courage. Every year, hundreds of students across the country and around the globe push past their fears and uproot their lives to pursue their dreams of a college education at Park University’s flagship Parkville Campus. Despite the lifelong friendships and new opportunities that await students, it’s no secret that college life can be a challenging adjustment. For students just getting started — or starting over — Park offers a warm welcome while always keeping its many doors to support and encouragement wide open. STRONG START Every August, Park pulls out the stops to give students a strong start. The University hosts Move-In Day, a proud Pirate tradition overseen by the University’s Office of Student Life, followed by a week of orientation programming to ensure a friendly introduction to all Park has to offer.
Interim Provost Michelle Myers gets in on the Move-In Day action.
Also known as an “all hands on deck” event, everyone from President Greg Gunderson, Ph.D., and the senior administrative staff to Park’s faculty and student volunteer groups roll up their sleeves to lend a hand. Together, they create a drive-up, move-in service to be at-the-ready for students and their families as they arrive on campus. With clipboards in hand, Park’s resident assistants lead the fine-tuned system to greet everyone and swiftly unload assorted dorm room provisions — from laundry baskets piled with clothing to classic college futons, along with a few extra-large flat screen TVs. “It’s important for students to feel supported and guided in the right direction — especially with all the logistics to getting settled — particularly for freshmen on their own for the first time,” said Allison Davidson, sophomore social work major and resident assistant.
“Our resident assistants go out of their way in whatever way possible to be inclusive of everyone,” said Karie Schaefer, ’06, M.A.C.L. ’12, director of residence life, who oversees Park’s 13 resident assistants. Schaefer credits her time as a Park student for her personal and professional success. “I had an amazing experience and now I enjoy giving back to a special place that has given so much to me,” she said. “The best part of the Park community is the family bond that is established almost instantly after stepping foot on campus. It definitely becomes a home away from home for many students.” To help ensure students’ well-being, safety and success, Park takes its resident assistant program seriously. Becoming an RA is a stringent process. Students are required to submit an application, formal cover letter, résumé and references, followed by a formal interview. Training includes in-depth learning about Park’s policies, health and safety protocol, and all of Park’s programs and services to share with students.
BEYOND THE WELCOME With an RA living on each floor of Park’s two residence halls — Copley Quad and Chesnut Hall — RAs work year-round to coordinate community-building activities to generate camaraderie and connection. To add another layer of support, Park created the First-Year Experience program. FYE pairs each freshman with an upperclass student to forge a mentoring relationship. FYE mentors become a reliable, personal resource for students as they navigate their first semester. FYE mentors like Joni Nelson, a sophomore nursing major, said she remembers many challenges her first year, including being homesick. “I know how hard it can be to transition to a bigger school or be away from home for the first time. That’s why I want to be there for freshmen because I can relate,” she said.
It’s important for students to feel “supported and guided in the right
direction — especially with the logistics to getting settled — particularly for freshmen on their own for the first time. -Allison Davidson, sophomore social work major
”
and resident assistant
ABOVE: Kevin Kamande, Park graduate assistant and Copley Quad resident director/wellness coordinator, directs traffic on Move-In Day. TOP: Members of Park’s men’s soccer team help students carry items to their rooms.
assistants go out of their way in whatever way “Our resident possible to be inclusive of everyone. -Karie Schaefer, Director of Residence Life
”
Director of Residence Life Karie Schaefer and members of Park’s men’s soccer team unload a vehicle during Move-In Day.
L-R: Emma Givens, resident assistant, Madison Klein, First-Year Experience mentor, and Taela Ivory, resident assistant.
Everyone at Park is there to “ make you feel at home. At Park,
”
you are accepted as a person.
-Iroda Narzullaeva, junior information and computer science/software engineering major and Park resident assistant
EVERYONE INCLUDED For students who are miles — and often continents — away from home, Park’s International Ambassador Program helps students who are not only settling into college life, but are also adapting to life in a new country. “I understand the many difficult challenges international students face and I enjoy doing what I can to help them,” said Ikem Eriobuna, a senior business administration/international business major from Nigeria who serves as a Park international student ambassador. “Everyone at Park is always there to help and make you feel at home,” said Iroda Narzullaeva, a resident assistant and junior information and computer science/software engineering major from Uzbekistan. “I learned it doesn’t matter what color of skin you have, what race you are or what country you come from. At Park, you are accepted as a person.” Park University is home to 261 international students from 58 countries. With many of Park’s international students living on the Parkville Campus, all students have a rare opportunity to meet and learn from others around the globe. “Being on the Parkville Campus, you learn so much about the world from everyone you meet. People talk about trying to have a more ‘global perspective,’ but at Park, it just naturally becomes your perspective,” said Emma Givens, a senior business administration/marketing and business administration/international business major who has traveled to Russia as part of the University’s study abroad program. “It’s so cool to meet people from all different cultures and countries on campus,” Givens added. “At Park, we are part of a family. Everyone is accepted. Everyone is included.”
Clockwise from top left: - Amy McIntosh, Park director of marketing/brand, helps her daughter, Sabrina, a freshman art major, move in to Copley Quad. - President Greg Gunderson visits with military students in the Pirate Café. - Burns & McDonnell completed a comprehensive $3 million remodel of Pirate Café in Thompson Commons on the Parkville Campus. - Park University campus center directors from across the country gathered on the Parkville Campus for their annual meeting in June 2017.
Park’s First Family: Meet the Gundersons From high school debate partners to prom and parenthood, Greg and Laurie Gunderson have always made a great team.
I love talking with Park students about their many interests, “ideas and goals. I encourage them to accept and celebrate what
”
makes them different.
- Greg Gunderson, Park University president
President Greg Gunderson and his wife, Laurie, at his 2016 Inauguration.
He does some of his best thinking in his basement workshop. Sorting through his collection of salvaged scraps of wood from all over the world — walnut, mahogany, olive and remnants of spindles from the old staircase in Park University’s Mackay Hall — he selects one and holds it steady on a wood lathe as the machine rotates, gradually brushing the wood into a smooth, cylinder shape. “I’ve made hundreds of pens as gifts using wood I’ve found over the years. Every pen tells a story,” said Greg Gunderson, Ph.D., Park University’s 17th president. “I’ve even designed pens using wood scraps from old ships and artillery that I’ve presented to Park’s military officers.”
The residence for Park University’s first family on the Parkville Campus, known as the University White House because of the white exterior. The University White House turned 100 years old in 2017.
From handcrafting pens to building electric guitars, restoring old cars and making dozens of dollhouses for his family members, Gunderson enjoys creating, intrigued to learn how things work. “Working with my hands frees my mind to contemplate other things.” His diverse interests reflect Gunderson’s curious and “quirky” nature. In fact, he said he’s no stranger to being called “weird” and welcomes being considered “different” — positive labels he encourages students to embrace in themselves. “I love talking with Park students about their many interests, ideas and goals. I encourage them to accept and celebrate what makes them different — and to realize it’s the source of their inherent strengths,” Gunderson said. “Everyone brings something different to the table at Park. It’s what makes us family.” A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRESIDENT As a gregarious and inspiring leader who values diversity, Gunderson was drawn to the opportunity to lead Park University. “During one of my interviews, a Park staff member asked if I knew the name of the custodian who cleaned my office at Webster University,” he recalled. The unexpected question demonstrated something special about Park for Gunderson. “I don’t think there’s any other university where I’d be asked that kind of question,” he said. Of course, Gunderson knew the custodian’s name. “I realized then that Park was a perfect fit for me.” Gunderson accepted the position in late 2015 and assumed his role as president in January 2016. Before arriving at Park, he was vice president and chief financial officer for almost five years at Webster University in St. Louis. Previously, he spent nine years at the University of NebraskaLincoln, first as director of financial resources and budget operations, and later assistant vice chancellor for business operations in the Office of Academic Affairs. As a “different kind of university president,” Gunderson prefers leading from the trenches.
President Gunderson making the rounds in the Pirate Café visiting with students.
Everyone brings something “different to the table at Park. It’s what makes us family. - President Greg Gunderson
”
The extended Gunderson family doing the “pirate hook” after Greg Gunderson’s inauguration as Park University’s 17th president.
LEFT: A May 2017 graduate accepts his diploma from President Gunderson. BELOW: President Gunderson sharing a laugh with resident assistants during Move-In Day 2017.
“I have no illusions of grandeur. I don’t have the best ideas. I’m not better than anyone else,” he said. “I believe in servant leadership. While some tend to lead from an ivory tower, I have zero interest in sitting on a pedestal. That’s not where solutions are found.” Most days, Gunderson can be found in the Pirate Café visiting with students during lunch. On Wednesday mornings, everyone — students, faculty, staff and friends of Park — is welcome to drop by his office without an appointment. “I want everyone to feel comfortable and encouraged to talk with me about their experiences, ideas and point of view.”
LEFT: The Gunderson’s oldest son, David, addresses the audience at Greg Gunderson’s presidential inauguration. RIGHT: The Gunderson’s youngest son, Jack, embraces his father during the inauguration.
has always treated “meGreg as his equal partner. We make a great team. - Laurie Gunderson
”
We’ve been happily “arguing for almost 40 years. Laurie is unquestionably a better debater. - President Greg Gunderson
”
Prom dates, Laurie and Greg Gunderson in 1984.
SMITTEN AT FIRST SIGHT But Gunderson wouldn’t have accepted the Park presidency if the decision wasn’t also a good fit for his high school debate partner, prom date and wife of 29 years, Laurie Gunderson. Greg and Laurie met in their high school debate class. They were smitten from the start. “I remember Laurie vividly. She wore a beautiful blue dress and had a very determined look about her,” Greg said. “Greg was always a little weird, with crazy ideas that teenagers couldn’t fully appreciate,” Laurie said. “Oh but I loved him,” she said with a laugh. They began dating when Greg asked Laurie, a junior, to his senior prom. They dated while attending different colleges — Laurie accepted a scholarship to the University of Nebraska-Kearney while Greg accepted a scholarship to the University of Nebraska-Omaha. “It was torture,” Laurie said about the long-distance courtship. She graduated a semester early so the two could marry. Laurie went on to earn a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. “We’ve been happily arguing for almost 40 years. But Laurie is unquestionably a better debater,” Greg said. “Greg has always treated me as his equal partner,” Laurie said. “We make a great team.”
The Gunderson family over the years..
Before living full-time in the University White House on the Parkville Campus, the Gundersons traveled nearly every weekend by train between St. Louis and Kansas City until their son, Jack, graduated from high school. He’s now a freshman at Park, majoring in criminal justice administration/security. Their oldest son, David, is a junior majoring in psychology and biology at Webster University. Laurie, an attorney who has worked for West Publishing, PayPal, and most recently for a nonprofit organization devoted to
LEFT: The Gundersons during their 25th anniversary. RIGHT: First Dog Griffin Gunderson sports a pirate-themed collar.
GRIFFIN
preventing drug abuse, said she’s grateful for Park’s family-like environment that made her feel right at home. “I want to do everything I can to help students feel as accepted as I do,” she said. “And as a mom with sons leaving the nest, I know how hard it can be for parents when their children leave for college. I especially admire the many Park students who are parents themselves, working full-time or deployed in the military while persevering to earn their degree in the University’s evening or online classes. Their determination inspires me.” LEADING THE LEGACY Without a doubt, both agree about Park’s mission and their priority to forge first name relationships, both at Park’s flagship campus in Parkville, Mo., and at the University’s campus centers across the country. Since becoming Park’s “first family,” the Gunderson’s calendar is packed with Park events. “We attend everything we can,” Greg said.
Compassion and concern are more than polite notions for the Gundersons. Laurie, for example, personally called more than 90 incoming freshmen to welcome them before their first semester to ask if they had questions or concerns. Though actively staying in touch with students on Twitter, Laurie knows genuine connection is fostered beyond the tweets. When a student posted that her service dog was sick, Laurie mailed her a care package. When another student posted she was feeling under the weather, she sent tea. “It’s a tremendous honor to be entrusted to continue Park’s 142-year proud heritage distinguished by a shared vision — that everyone should have access to an affordable college education,” Greg said. “Every day, we strive to embody Park’s highest ideals: academic excellence, inclusion, integrity, resilience and an unwavering spirit of innovation. We deeply believe in the power of a Park education. Both inside and outside the classroom, we want students to feel part of a family — one that believes in them and emboldens them to value their potential and pursue their dreams.”
The Gundersons with Edith and Benny Lee (a former member of Park’s Board of Trustees) at the University’s Night at the Helm fundraising event in June 2017 at the World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo. The event was a benefit for the Park Global Warrior Center and International Center for Music.
HEROES These men and women “took the oath to serve our country just like me. So why was I treated better?
”
- Kevin Jamison
Kevin Jamison, co-founder of the Veterans Community Project. (Photo courtesy Rebecca Booth)
Kevin Jamison, ’14, greets the barista at Parkville Coffee on Main Street in downtown Parkville, Mo. He studies the menu before deciding on a tall, dark roast reserve from Brazil. As he waits, he reminisces about the time he spent here cramming for exams while attending Park University. “You should see the upstairs,” Jamison said about the coffee shop’s mid-century decor. “I spent many long nights here.” Jamison, a retired U.S. Marine Corps chief
warrant officer and a Park University graduate, was born in Lawson, Mo. His family later moved to Parkville and he attended Park Hill High School in nearby Kansas City, Mo. A veteran of the Iraq War, Jamison said it was a natural fit to return home to Parkville more than two decades after he left for boot camp. “I like being around familiar faces,” he said of Parkville’s friendly, small town vibe. “It brings back good feelings for me.”
One homeless veteran is one too many. There were nearly 40,000 homeless veterans in the U.S. in 2016; an estimated 12,700 of those are veterans of recent conflicts.
1.4 million veterans are at risk of becoming homeless.
Risks for homelessness include lack of social support, lack of affordable housing, limited access to health care and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sources: National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Kevin Jamison worked with volunteers during a build day at the Veterans Community Project in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo courtesy Veterans Community Project)
Kevin Jamison visits with a homeless Veterans Community Project volunteer.
After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in social psychology in 2014, Jamison took a job as an outreach specialist at reStart, a nonprofit that helps homeless people in Kansas City. “I was leaving as many veterans on the street as I was helping. The experience was distressing and I wanted to find solutions to fill gaps I saw in the system,” Jamison said. “These men and women took the oath to serve our country just like me. So why was I treated better?” That question led Jamison to an idea that has since captivated national attention. In 2015, he co-founded the Veterans Community Project — a nonprofit with a mission to eliminate veteran homelessness. The VCP aims to offer free, temporary shelter to homeless people with a military background — even if they served a brief stint in the National Guard or Reserves, or were dishonorably discharged — conditions that may disqualify veterans from receiving government help.
Warrior Center really helped me with my transition “Park’s out of the military and my goal to complete me degree. - Kevin Jamison
”
Mark Solomon, Chris Stout and Kevin Jamison, co-founders of the Veterans Community Project, at the grand opening of Veterans Village.
What began as a two-man band has evolved into six full-time employees, a 7,000 square-foot office facility and thousands of volunteers. “People have connected with the idea, which was something I didn’t expect,” Jamison said. The VCP is building Veterans Village — a planned community of 50 “tiny” homes that are 240 square feet each — on 4.2 acres of land at 89th Street and Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. Each tiny home is built to code — many with the help of homeless veterans — and include a bed, desk, kitchen and bathroom. The first home was dedicated on May 2, 2016. When the VCP garnered viral media attention last fall from the Associated Press and CNN, Jamison said calls and donations began pouring in. “People from all over the country wanted to know how to create a similar community for veterans.” With Kansas City as a blueprint for other cities, the VCP’s ultimate goal is to eliminate veteran homelessness nationwide. SHARING THE STRUGGLE Jamison encountered his own challenges when he retired from military service in 2010 — from adjusting to life outside of the military to becoming a full-time student at 44 years old. He remembers spending many hours in the Park Global Warrior Center talking with fellow veterans about their similar struggles. “Park’s Warrior Center really helped me with my transition out of the military and my goal to complete my degree,” said Jamison, who is now assistant director of corporate relations for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation. Similar to the Park Global Warrior Center, the heart of the Veterans Community Project is a belief in the power of community. To help veterans reintegrate into a stable, civilian life, the VCP’s Outreach Center facilitates a variety of services, including counseling, mentoring, legal, employment and medical assistance — even yoga classes— to help veterans coping with post-traumatic stress disorder. A one-size-fits-all program doesn’t work for everyone, explained Jamison. Instead, it’s about connecting with people on an individual level. “Developing trust can takes months,” he said. “That’s why veterans will be able to stay in the community as long as they need to get back on their feet.” Veterans Village schematic of a planned community of 50 “tiny” homes.
one-size-fits-all program doesn’t work for everyone. Instead, “A it’s about connecting with people on an individual level. Developing trust can take months. That’s why veterans will be able to stay in the community as long as they need to get back on their feet. - Kevin Jamison
”
Each “tiny” home built by the Veterans Community Project offers transitional housing for homeless veterans. In contrast to traditional homeless services, the homes provide veterans with privacy, dignity, a sense of security and the ability to reintegrate at a comfortable pace.
PAR K Kitchenettes with full size refrigerators are standard in each “tiny” home.
A separate bedroom with heating and air conditioning are also standard in each “tiny” home.
R TE EN
WARRIO L A B RC O GL
loba l A PA R K FA M I LY T R A D I T I O N ratit ud e Brazil, Nigeria, Poland, England… Every year, family and friends of Park University graduates traverse the globe to join Park in a special tradition.
Today, you leave a comet trail of success. Many children will “follow in your footsteps. By example, you’ve showed them the transformative power of education to inform, enlighten and make the world a better place.
”
- President Greg Gunderson addressing students honored on the eve of their graduation day at Park’s Spring 2017 International Sash Ceremony on May 12.
Since 1999, the International Sash Ceremony has been an annual Park University tradition to honor the accomplishments of graduating international students, as well as students who’ve participated in Park’s study abroad program. “The Sash Ceremony exemplifies who we are,” said Kevin Vicker, senior director of Park University’s Office of International Students. “It represents Park’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students around the globe.” During the ceremony in the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the Park’s flagship campus in Parkville, Mo., each student was presented with a sash representing the colors of his or her native country’s flag and given time on stage to talk about their Park experience and to express gratitude to family and friends. Many shared heartfelt messages in both English and in their native languages to address non-English-speaking loved ones in the Chapel as well as those watching the ceremony streamed live around the globe.
“
I’d like to thank my family who are watching – it’s 2 a.m. in Kenya. My father has always believed in the power of education to change individuals and affect the world. This is for you, Dad.
”
- Janek Sunga — Kenya Master of Public Administration
“
I’m grateful to Park for all the University has done for me and for my family — in the good times when my children were born and in the toughest times when my father passed away. Thank you for all you do to help international students feel welcome. I’m a proud Park Pirate… and always will be. - Alexey Ermak — Russian Federation Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Park is extremely fortunate to welcome “students from all over the world. With their
diverse and invaluable perspectives, Park is proud to be an institution that thinks, acts and educates with a global conscience. - President Greg Gunderson
”
”
be afraid to communicate the best of yourself “andDon’t others to this world. That is how we can help
”
ourselves and each other. - Olga Pashchenko — Ukraine Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership
“
I’m grateful to my mom who flew all the way from England and my best friend who flew in from D.C. – and for all my new Park friends from Kenya, Nigeria, Brazil…and more. I’m fortunate to have met people from all over the world at Park.
”
- Lorraine Gengere — Zimbabwe Master of Healthcare Administration
“ “
When opportunity comes to you, you have to take it. I had the opportunity to play volleyball at Park and now here I am, graduating college. There are no more welcoming people than everyone at Park University.
”
-Daniela Vilhena Duarte — Brazil Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/International Business and Business Administration/Marketing
This moment is life changing. I have profound appreciation for Park and all it has done to help all of us international students to overcome our challenges to achieve our dream of an education.
”
-Abdul Alanazi — Saudi Arabia, Bachelor of Science in Economics
“
I came to this country 12 years ago and now my wife, my daughter and I are all proud Park graduates. We’re grateful for all the University has done for us.
”
-Hilton Appollis — South Africa Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” —Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
“
I’m thankful to my husband for supporting me — for listening to my ideas when I had a paper to write — and to my daughter for being with me through this journey. I’m especially grateful to Park’s Office of International Students for their understanding of how hard it is to come here from a different country.
”
-Asiya Ahmed — Nigeria Masters of Healthcare Administration
A new addition is on its way to the Park family. uilding Opportunity
Rendering of the new Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center, which will house the School of Business and the Park Global Warrior Center.
The future awaiting today’s students will be filled with relentless, fast-pace change. To prepare them with the utmost modern and applicable resources to succeed, Park University is planning to break ground in 2018 on a state-of-the-art building to house the University’s School of Business.
The 20,500-square-foot facility will be named the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center and will also be home to an expanded Park Global Warrior Center, which helps veterans and service members transitioning in and out of the military to achieve their college education.
To support Park’s “Building Passion” campaign, the Robert W. Plaster Foundation of Lebanon, Mo., made a substantial seven-figure gift toward the new building which will be constructed on the east side of Park’s flagship campus in Parkville, Mo.
The Plaster Center will include classroom and office space, finance and innovation labs, and a video production studio. “The facility will be designed to enable greater collaboration with the business community and our alumni,” said Brad Kleindl, Ph.D., dean of Park’s College of Management and professor of marketing.
“We are passionate about our vow to equip students for success,” said Park University President Greg Gunderson, Ph.D. “We’re grateful to the Plaster Foundation for its generous gift toward the new building that will help provide the state-of-the-art facility needed to keep our promise.”
networking
business
finance
marketing
community
The newly expanded Park Global Warrior Center will allow the University to provide in-demand resources to all active duty and veteran students, as well as the military community.
Rendering of the placement of the new Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center on the Parkville Campus. -
Robert Plaster, who was raised in Neosho, Mo., studied accounting at Joplin (Mo.) Junior College for three semesters before dropping out because he could no longer afford tuition. In 1963, he founded Empire Gas Corp., a company that became one of the largest retail liquefied petroleum gas distributors in the U.S. In 1983, he created the Robert W. Plaster Foundation dedicated to expanding educational opportunities with his belief that “hard work is the key to success and effectiveness of hard work is multiplied by having a good education.� Fundraising and planning for the Plaster Center continues. For more information or to support the School of Business building fund, contact Nathan Marticke, associate vice president of advancement, nathan.marticke@park.edu / (816) 584-6844.
FIRST FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
BUILDING EXCELLENCE The new home for Park’s School of Business will offer a modern environment for students, faculty and business leaders to intersect and engage, including: • A state-of-the-art finance lab, video production studio and video-enabled connections will offer real world experiences for students across the country. •
Spaces for adjunct faculty to meet individually with students on the Parkville Campus and connect with students across the country.
• A special Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab to facilitate collaboration. • A lounge, lockers and charging stations for commuter students. • Classrooms equipped for live-streaming lectures.
EXPANDING SUPPORT The Park Global Warrior Center, currently located in a 600-square-foot space on the Parkville Campus, will almost double in size in the Plaster Center. The Park Global Warrior Center provides information and resources for service members and veterans transitioning in and out of the military. “A lot of veterans have educational benefits and they don’t know how to use them. We help them through the process,” said Maj. Wade Abel, U.S. Army (Ret.), director of Park’s Department of Military and Veteran Student Services. “The Park Global Warrior Center is also a place for military students to get to know and rely on each other for help and support,” Abel said. “When people join the military or become a veteran, they are part of a big family — and families take care of each other.”
Too
to Call Himself a Hero Park Professor of English Dennis Okerstrom, Ph.D., persisted to shine a spotlight on Lt. Col. Dick Cole — the last surviving member of the Doolittle Raiders — whose courageous response to the attack on Pearl Harbor changed the course of World War II.
TOP LEFT: Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Dick Cole acknowledges attendees in the sold out auditorium at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. TOP RIGHT: Dennis Okerstrom on the stage with Cole as Cole shares his story as the last surviving member of the Doolittle Raiders. BOTTOM RIGHT: Audience members enjoy the discussion between Cole and Okerstrom. BOTTOM LEFT: Park University President Greg Gunderson (center) with members of the military attending the event.
Dennis Okerstrom (center) introduces Dick Cole (right) to Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James prior to the presentation.
He was determined to share the story of the 102-year-old war hero. But Dennis Okerstrom, Ph.D., Park professor of English, knows military heroes are often reluctant to step into the spotlight. His persistence paid off. On Dec. 7, 2016 — the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor — Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” Cole, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) shared his harrowing story of courage during a special event hosted by Park University at the National World I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo Cole is the last surviving member of the famous Doolittle Raiders. Cole, who served as co-pilot to Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle in the first U.S. air raid on Tokyo in World War II, was one of 80 men who volunteered for the raid. The operation, led by
Auditorium. To accommodate more people interested in meeting Cole at the sold out event — aptly titled “Before 9/11, There was a 12/7: Reflections of Doolittle Raider Dick Cole on World War II” — Park scheduled a similar, abbreviated program the previous day in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University’s Parkville Campus. The discussions commemorated the sacrifices of Cole and his crew and how their strike changed the course of World War II. Both events captured more than the spotlight for Cole and the University with whirlwind of media coverage, including TIME. Cole talked about the dangerous mission in response to the 1941 attack that “surprised and changed the country.” In May 2014, crew members of the Doolittle Raid were awarded the
Events like 9/11 or Pearl Harbor have become an essential part of the “American character. It’s important that we not only remember these events, but that we also honor the men and women who were there, who sacrificed — who made us who we are today. - Dennis Okerstrom
Doolittle on April 18, 1942, was a response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Their heroism is credited as the critical factor of the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway, often cited as the turning point in the Pacific war. “The Japanese were rolling over everything. They looked invincible,” Okerstrom said. “But Cole and his fellow Doolittle Raiders showed they were not.” BEFORE 9/11, THERE WAS 12/7 Okerstrom wants future generations to recognize the bravery of people like Cole. “Events like 9/11 or Pearl Harbor become an essential part of the American character,” he said. “It’s important that we not only remember these events, but honor the men and women who were there, who sacrificed — who made us who we are today.” Okerstrom, author of Dick Cole’s War: Doolittle Raider, Hump Pilot Air Commando, shared the stage with Cole to moderate the discussion that captivated an audience of more than 500 people in the Museum’s J.C. Nichols
”
Congressional Gold Medal. “The keystone of all we did was the love of freedom,” Cole said. SPEAKING FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT But convincing Cole to tell his story was no easy feat. Okerstrom, a licensed pilot, first got to know Cole while researching his first book, Project 9: The Birth of the Air Commandos in World War II. Okerstrom was so impressed with Cole that he urged Cole’s daughter, Cindy, to help him convince her father to share his story.
continues to do well, has a “He remarkable memory and a delightful sense of humor. - Dennis Okerstrom, speaking about Dick Cole
”
The USS Shaw explodes during the raid on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
The Doolittle Raiders preparing to take off from the USS Hornet in April 1942.
Crew No. 1 of the Doolittle Raiders, including Dick Cole (second from right), co-pilot, and Jimmy Doolittle (second from left), pilot.
For six months, Cole refused the invitation. He wasn’t a hero, he said. He was just doing his job. After little progress, Okerstrom decided to call Cole in February 2013. Cole was hesitant, but Okerstrom wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. “I think you have an absolute obligation, Col. Cole, to speak for those young men who cannot speak for themselves,” Okerstrom said. After a long pause, Cole said, “Well, I think that would be appropriate.” The phone call set the groundwork for Okerstrom’s second book and the opportunity for Park University to honor him. It also sparked a friendship. Okerstrom, who helped Cole celebrate his 102nd birthday on Sept. 7, 2017, said that Cole “continues to do well, has a remarkable memory, and a delightful sense of humor.” Cole is too humble to call himself a hero, Okerstrom said. “Future generations deserve to know this great man and what he and his comrades did in that largest of wars to save the world from fascism,” Okerstrom wrote in the foreward of one of his books about Cole’s heroism. “I am blessed to have gotten to know him and I am proud to call Dick Cole my friend.”
FAITH AND WORK:
Park’s Founding Philosophy Comes Full Circle Faith and work. These two words have defined Park University for more than 142 years and inspired a new scholarship program.
With proposed decreases to federal education funding being discussed “ almost daily — while the demand for advanced degree attainment as a means to remain gainfully employed continues to increase — Park sees a responsibility to undergrad students with an even stronger system of support. - President Greg Gunderson
”
Eligibility for the Fides et Labor Scholarship includes a 2.25 cumulative grade point average, essay and letter of recommendation. Recipients are required to:
• • • •
Work 20 hours per week on campus Engage in service to the University and the surrounding community Participate in at least one student organization Attend two events on campus each week (athletics, arts, organizational meetings, speakers, etc.)
As Park’s official motto, the Latin phrase fides et labor is the foundation on which the University was founded in 1875 — and a driving force behind Park’s unrelenting commitment to make a college education accessible to all. MORE THAN A MOTTO The tenacious tenet is more than a motto at Park. “We continue to believe the combination of hard work and education is the key that can unlock any door,” said Park President Greg Gunderson, Ph.D. Tapping into the University’s proud guiding principles, Gunderson introduced the Fides et Labor Scholarship program. The full-year, renewable scholarship is open to all students — including international and graduate students — and includes free room and board for students to live on Park’s flagship Parkville Campus in exchange for 20 hours of work each week on campus as well as participation in University activities. “With proposed decreases to federal education funding being discussed almost daily — while the demand for advanced degree attainment as a means to remain gainfully employed continues to increase — Park sees a responsibility to undergrad students with an even stronger system of support,” Gunderson said. IMMEASURABLE REWARDS A program of this type is not a new concept for Park. Park opened its doors during a time when only the
wealthiest young adults attended college. But Park co-founder John A. McAfee decided the University would be a school where ordinary people could earn a college education as long as they were willing to work. Back then, Park students did various chores in exchange for their education, from milking cows on Park’s farm to building desks and washing dishes. Today, Fides et Labor Scholarship recipients can gain professional experience assisting Park staff in the Office of Admissions, Student Success Center and other campus operations. “The scholarship not only offers financial assistance, it enables students to enhance their skills through engagement in the campus community,” Gunderson said. Gunderson is no stranger to the strong worth ethic embedded in the new scholarship. Early on, his parents instilled in him a simply ideology: the cost of success is hard work, and hard work is a price that anyone can afford to pay (though he thinks the late football coach Vince Lombardi may have given them a little bit of help with that nugget). Now, as Park’s 17th president and dedicated to opening ever wider the doors to a college education, Gunderson adds to this guiding wisdom: “Anyone willing to pay with their effort should reap the immeasurable benefits of an education.”
Phenomenal Family: Alumni Award Recipients PIRATE GOLD
Pirate treasure is real at Park University. Each year, the Park University Alumni Association honors the extraordinary achievements and contributions of treasured alumni and friends during Homecoming Weekend. The alchemy of their dedication, perseverance and inspiration sets the gold standard for success ever higher for us all.
PA R K U N I V E R S I T Y
2017 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS BANQUET Celebrating the INSPIRATION, DEDICATION and PERSEVERANCE
of Park alumni.
PIRATE
GOLD
THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD RECOGNIZES PARK ALUMNI WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES THROUGH CAREER, SERVICE OR COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS. WALTER PEARSON, ’90 - DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD, 2017 Pearson retired after a 24-year career with the State of Missouri, most recently as assistant commissioner for Missouri’s Office of Administration. Previously, he served as the assistant director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development and was appointed by Gov. Mel Carnahan to serve as the director of business and urban affairs for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
“
”
Education is the cornerstone for the rest of your life. No one can take it from you.
-Walter Pearson
ANTHONY MELCHIORRI, ’90 - DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD, 2016 Melchiorri is host, co-creator and co-executive producer of Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible” series of shows, including “Five-Star Secrets,” and a member of the Park University Board of Trustees. Prior to beginning his career in hotel hospitality, Melchiorri served as a protocol officer in the U.S. Air Force. Beginning as director of front office operations at The Plaza Hotel in New York, Melchiorri has repositioned some of the nation’s finest properties. At age 29, he was appointed general manager of The Lucerne hotel in 1997, and under his management, The Lucerne was selected as The New York Times Travel Guide’s Best Service Hotel. He also served as general manager of New York’s historic Algonquin Hotel and led a $15 million renovation of the property. Melchiorri founded Argeo Hospitality in 2010, a hotel management and consulting company, and he has launched a line of Anthony Melchiorri branded hotel products.
“
No matter what you do, go for it with passion. Many have opportunities but don’t see them; others don’t do the work to take advantage of what they see. Take advantage of your Park education. Do the work. Find your passion and the universe will conspire for your success. Anthony Melchiorri
”
THE TORCHLIGHTER AWARD HONORS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT, LONG-STANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND COMMITMENTS TO PARK UNIVERSITY, WHETHER ALUMNI, FACULTY OR FRIEND. RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD WHO ARE NOT GRADUATES ARE BESTOWED THE HONOR OF HONORARY ALUMNUS.
“
Giving back is just as important as succeeding. Always be generous –
”
in business and in life. Then you will find fulfillment. - Benny Lee BENNY LEE - TORCHLIGHTER AWARD, 2017
The serial entrepreneur is now chairman and chief executive officer of DuraComm Corp., a Kansas City, Mo., company that provides power and creative lighting solutions. Lee, together with his wife, Edith, has been dedicated to the success of Park’s International Center for Music since its inception in 2003. Lee currently serves on Park’s ICM Advisory Council and served three terms on Park’s Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2012. In May 2017, Lee was honorary chair for Park’s annual Night at the Helm fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the ICM and the Park Global Warrior Center. PETER DESILVA - TORCHLIGHTER AWARD, 2016 In 2016, deSilva moved to St. Louis to become president of Scottrade Inc. and Scottrade Investment Management. Previously, he was president and chief operating officer for UMB Financial Corp. During his tenure, he helped reposition the Kansas City, Mo.-based company from a Midwest bank to a diversified financial services company. deSilva is a former member of Park’s Board of Trustees (2006-15) where he served as board secretary, vice chair of the Trusteeship Committee and member of the Executive Committee. He has shared his professional insights as the keynote speaker for Park’s School of Business Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series in 2003 and 2008.
“
Make time for the things and people you care about. It can mean long
nights and weekends, but when you’re committed, you need to go all in. -Peter deSilva
”
THE PROMISING YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARD RECOGNIZES PARK ALUMNI WHO SHOW EXCEPTIONAL PROMISE OF LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR PROFESSION AND/OR COMMUNITY.
“
You hear it all the time, but it’s true. No matter what, never ever give up on your dreams.
”
-Casi Joy McCall
CASI JOY MCCALL, ’12 - PROMISING YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARD, 2017 McCall (who goes by the stage name of Casi Joy), a 2012 graduate, competed in season 12 of NBC’s “The Voice” as a member of Blake Shelton’s team. McCall moved from Smithville, Mo., to Nashville, Tenn., to pursue her music career and is now touring the country to promote her album, “Love on Repeat.” When she returns home to visit family, McCall wows the hometown crowd singing the “National Anthem” for the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs and Sporting Kansas City.
DARWIN RIVERA-ORTIZ, ’04, ’07 - PROMISING YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARD, 2016 While deployed in Iraq in the U.S. Air Force, Rivera-Ortiz earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Park University. Today, he is a senior executive at HID Global, a leader in cyber security and identity protection, specializing in health care, financial and government sectors. For his impressive career trajectory, he has been featured as a “rising star” in NSHMBA magazine, published by the National Society of Hispanic MBAs.
“
If you do good work but no one knows, it’s easy to be overlooked. Success depends on communicating your skills and evolving them. Relentlessly. You can’t afford to stagnate.
”
-Darwin Rivera-Ortiz
THE MARLOWE SHERWOOD MEMORIAL SERVICE AWARD RECOGNIZES PARK UNIVERSITY ALUMNI VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND/OR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. MICHAEL WOOLSTRUM, ’12 - MARLOWE SHERWOOD MEMORIAL SERVICE AWARD, 2017 Woolstrum, a resident of Round Rock, Texas, is the founder and chief executive officer of Touch International Corp., a provider of custom touch screen display solutions, and serves as senior pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Pflugerville, Texas. Woolstrum is also is board member for Century Charities, a global nonprofit that coordinates retreats and resources for communities in need, including opening K-12 schools in Texas, California, Oklahoma, Mexico and Thailand.
“
Every facet of my life is focused on investing in people to make a
”
meaningful difference. -Michael Woolstrum
“
There’s more to this ride than getting a degree and landing a job. Each of us — regardless of our profession — has a personal responsibility to contribute to the greater good. -Greg Mills
”
GREG MILLS, MPA ’97 - MARLOWE SHERWOOD MEMORIAL SERVICE AWARD, 2016 For 29 years, Mills led the Narcotics and Vice Division for the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department. After retiring from the KCPD in 2005, he became director of public safety and city administrator for the City of Riverside, Mo. He is a member and former president of both the Missouri Police Chiefs Association and the Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association. In 2014, he was named Public Administrator of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.
Homecoming & Alumni Weekend Park University’s 2017 Homecoming and Alumni Weekend took place Sept. 14-16 on the Parkville Campus. Supporters were out in force at the Pirates’ women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer games, and crowning of the Homecoming king and queen. In addition to the annual Alumni Awards Luncheon and the classes of 1961-63 reunion, other homecoming festivities included the annual alumni athletics games, Park Athletics Wall of Honor ceremony, Homecoming dance, family and community activities, lots of food and after hours events. A new event, the Park Limestone Tour, took place on the Parkville Campus, led by Scott Hageman, associate dean of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, and associate professor of geology.
Park U
Park Increases Enrollment 5.2 Percent
A record number of first-time freshmen, 293, began classes at Park University in August 2017. Park’s enrollment at the start of the fall semester totaled 9,510 students, a 5.2 percent increase over last year. “In 2016, we declared that enrollment growth was a key priority. Our Fall 2017 results confirm Park University heard the clarion call and responded in an unprecedented way,” said President Greg Gunderson, Ph.D. “From recruiting and retention, to the upkeep of the campus, hosting special events and providing superior support services to students, every effort impacted enrollment.”
Vision Becomes Reality
Park University has transformed its flagship Parkville Campus into an even more efficient, adaptable learning environment for the 21st century. :
Looking into Norrington Center’s learning lab, flanked by two huddle rooms.
Renovations to Norrington Center, the last remaining Carnegie Foundation funded library building remaining in existence on a Missouri college campus, were completed in spring 2016 thanks to the tremendous generosity — more than $350,000 — raised from corporations, foundations, Park alumni and friends of the University. Park’s faculty and staff also championed the project by raising $39,000 — exceeding a $25,000 goal — to fund one of two huddle rooms in the facility. The rooms, along with a learning lab, are equipped with the latest multimedia capabilities, including large interactive screens with cameras and live-stream video technology.
Thompson Commons now offers students a bright, contemporary student activity center after Burns & McDonnell completed a comprehensive $3 million remodel in summer 2017. Existing food service and seating in the Pirate Café was included in the renovation, and serving areas were reconfigured to Before and after photos of the remodeled Pirate Café. feature interactive food stations. Expanded seating for up to 240 diners was also part of the remodel. “The renovation of Thompson Commons and the Pirate Café supports Park’s commitment to student life and engagement,” said Jayme Uden, Ed.D., associate vice president and dean of students at Park.
Park Expands its KC Metro Footprint Fall semester classes started at Park’s campus centers nationwide and online in August 2017 — including at Park’s 41st and newest campus location in Lenexa, Kan., and at Park’s renovated Downtown Kansas City, Mo., Campus. The Lenexa Campus offers undergraduate and graduate classes within the Lenexa Civic Campus. The 5,000 square-foot spaces features five classrooms, faculty and staff offices, a collaboration space and a kitchen/vending area.
Architectural rendering of the new Lenexa City Center.
Park’s Downtown Kansas City Campus, relocated within Commerce Tower as part of a $71 million renovation and redevelopment project. The stateof-the-art campus, now located on the third floor of the building, includes multifunctional classrooms, collaborative spaces and staff offices.
Entry and reception area for the remodeled Downtown Kansas City, Mo., Campus.
Total Eclipse of the Park
Park University hosted a solar eclipse watch party on Aug. 21, 2017, at Julian Field on the University’s Parkville Campus. The partial eclipse began in Parkville at approximately 11:41 a.m. (Central time), with the start of the total eclipse at approximately 1:08 p.m. and lasting about 75 seconds. Nearly 100 years had eclipsed since a total solar eclipse was visible across the entire contiguous U.S. To prepare for the significant event, Park hosted “Eclipsing Park University: A Conversation with Dr. Lynn Bondurant” a day earlier. Bondurant, a 1961 Park graduate, is a retired NASA educational programs officer and a 2016 inductee into NASA’s Glenn Research Center Hall of Fame. Bondurant, a member of Park’s Board of Trustees, was a 1991 recipient of the Park University Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and received an honorary doctorate degree in science education in 1993 from the University.
Applause for Van Cliburn Silver Medalist Kenny Broberg
Congratulations to Kenny Broberg, graduate student in Park University’s International Center for Music, who won the silver medal at the prestigious 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to the silver medal, Broberg won $25,000 cash, three years of career management, U.S. concert tours and a recording partnership with Universal Music Group. Hosted every four years, the Van Cliburn competition was a two-week event (May 25 through June 10, 2017) that began with 30 competitors from across the world. Broberg was one of four Americans competing, and at age 23, the seventh-youngest competitor. In 2001, Broberg’s instructor in the ICM, Stanislav Ioudenitch, associate professor of music/piano, won the gold medal at the Van Cliburn competition.
Five-Star Welcome
Park University’s Board of Trustees recently elected four individuals to serve their first three-year term on the board, effective July 1.
Vince Clark, vice president of business development, Creative Planning Inc., Leawood, Kan.
We Are the Champions – Again!
For the fifth time in program history, Park University captured the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational Tournament championship, as the Pirates defeated Grand View University in the title game in St. Louis on April 22 in straight sets, 36-34, 25-21, 25-16. Park, which ended the season with a 26-5 record, also won titles in 2014, 2012, 2008 and 2003. It was the third championship for head coach Mike Talamantes, who also led both Park’s men’s and women’s teams to the top spot in 2014.
Pirate Police Chiefs
Rick Smith, ’97, was appointed chief of police in Kansas City, Mo., and was sworn in during a ceremony on Aug. 15, 2017. Smith, who was a major serving as Rick Smith Darryl Forte commander of the KCMO police department’s Central Patrol Division, takes over for Darryl Forte, ’90, who retired this spring. Of the last five KCMO police chiefs, four have been Park University graduates.
Anthony Melchiorri, ’90, and U.S. military veteran, host, co-creator and co-executive producer of Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible” series of shows, including “FiveStar Secrets.”
Cyprienne Simchowitz, J.D., honorary consul of the French Republic, serving French citizens of western Missouri and Kansas for the Consulate General of France’s Chicago office.
Troy Teague, director of recruiting at Cerner Corp., Kansas City, Mo.
Simply the Best
Park University athletics continues to shine for leading and inspiring student-athletes on and off the court.
In 2017, the American Midwest Conference honored Claude English, director of athletics, as AMC Athletic Director of the Year. English, who completed his 21st academic year as Park’s athletic director, saw eight Park teams participate in NAIA national championship events during the 2016-17 year as the Pirates finished fourth in the AMC’s President’s Cup.
Michael Talamantes, Park’s men’s and women’s volleyball head coach, was named the 2017 AMC Coach of Character Award winner. Talamantes has led Park to four NAIA titles (one women’s championship and three men’s National Invitational Tournament championships) since 2012.
Park Adds Men’s Golf and JV Athletic Programs Park University’s Department of Athletics announced in January the return of the men’s golf program in the 2017-18 season, a program that has been dormant for more than 30 years. In addition, the University has added seven developmental (junior varsity) athletics programs during the 2017-18 academic year. Park has added JV programs in men’s baseball, basketball and soccer, and women’s basketball, softball, soccer and volleyball. The developmental squads are competing against junior varsity, developmental and reserve programs from other institutions that play in the NAIA, NCAA and the National Junior College Athletic Association. The JV teams will play a smaller schedule filled primarily by teams within a few hours’ drive.
Report to Investors: Funding Success
Park University’s 2016-17 Report to Investors, titled “Building the Future, Honoring the Past,” has been published and can be viewed online at https://issuu.com/parkalumni/ docs/park_rti_digital_final. The publication includes a look back at the major fundraising events from the 2016-17 fiscal year, statistics on funds raised, scholarship recipients and a list of donors during the year.
Family Ties - Class Notes 1950s
Allen Larson, ’59, and the Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, were featured in a story that appeared in The WebsterKirkwood (Mo.) Times in September 2016. Larson is the conductor laureate of the orchestra.
1960s
David Graham, ’61, received the 2016 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching, as well as the 2016 Médaille d’Or du Mérite Francophone from the association La Renaissance Française. Rick Eberst, ’69, Ph.D., retired from teaching after 46 years at the university level. Gary Smith, ’69, Ph.D., is the chief operating officer for True Health Diagnostics, Frisco, Texas.
1970s
Ray Starzmann, ’70, was featured by USA Today in “What would Harry Truman say about Trump?” in January 2017. Starzmann is a Kansas City area actor who portrays President Harry S. Truman.
Bob Kendrick, ’85, was featured in a Kansas City Star article in November 2016 related to his obsession with golf.
Richard Musser, ’92, was appointed interim chair of Western Illinois University’s Department of Biological Sciences.
Mark Murdock, ’85, was appointed director of the Chillicothe (Ohio) VA Medical Center, which serves 21,000 veterans.
Herbert Daniel Jr., ’93, was named the Three Into One Community Project’s Teacher of the Year, and was the focus of a story that appeared in the Altavista (Va.) Journal in April 2017.
Bill Brown, ’86, was featured in a story that appeared in The Daily Journal in Franklin, Ind., in April 2017. Brown, a member of the Marion County Crusaders, a semi-pro football team in Indianapolis, sought to play one final season of football after a cancer (melanoma) scare two years ago. William Kono, ’86, Ed.D., is chief of force development, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He was honored as the 2015 Pacific Air Forces’ Nathan Altschuler Award winner for Outstanding Education and Training Program. Kelly Rundle, ’86, and Tammy Rundle, ’88, will produce a new film on an historic South Dakota Native American village site. Lydia Todd, ’87, is the first deputy commissioner of the Massachusetts Probation Service.
Wilford “Pete” Kale, ’71, had his latest novel, From Student to Warrior: A Military History of The College of William and Mary, published.
Elaine Shelton-Kono, ’88, joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Honolulu office as an area specialist.
SuEllen Fried, ’75, was induced into the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in March 2017.
Richard Strode, ’88, budget administrator for Strategic Plans and Programs Office, Headquarters Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing more than 4,000 hours of service, most often with the Educational Outreach Office. The award is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service and is administered by Points of Light.
Col. Robert Johns, ’75, authored Cooperate with God: Understand God’s Word in Plain Language. Bill Freund, ’77, was featured in an article that appeared in The Catholic Key, the newspaper of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph (Mo.). Freund, a middle school social studies teacher at St. Therese School in Kansas City, Mo., was named American History Teacher of the Year by the Sons of the American Revolution.
1980s
Rob Colones, ’80, president and chief executive officer at McLeod Health, was recognized as the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area 2017 Champion for Youth.
1990s
Karin Hill, ’91, was appointed as the director of internal audit for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Gary George, ’92, M.P.A. 96, retired in January 2017 as director of the Alpharetta (Ga.) Department of Public Safety after 50 years of service and leadership. He was presented with a resolution by the Georgia Senate in honor of his service.
Patrick Hogenbirk, ’93, was appointed senior vice president and chief compliance officer at Comprehensive Health Services, one of the nation’s largest and most experienced workforce medical services providers, based in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Col. Stephen Kravitsky, ’93, 90th Missile Wing commander at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Idaho, was highlighted in a story related to airmen from Warren AFB participating in a two-day tour of basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Amber Peebles, ’93, president and chief executive officer of Athena Construction, was the keynote speaker at the Women-In-Construction Conference in July 2017 in New Orleans. Gretchen (Call) Leigh, ’94, an executive secretary to the vice president of technology/ system chief information officer, and secretary for the University Computer Center, at Eastern New Mexico University, established a veterans-assistance telephone line in her campus office and answers questions or issues veteran students have and/or directs them to the appropriate office/person. Rev. Dr. Michael A. Poke Sr., ’94, of St. Albans, W.Va., is the senior pastor at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in St. Albans, W.Va. Brian Besten, ’95, is the chief financial officer at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, W.Va. Sgt. Richard Fletcher, ’95, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and assigned as the District 3 operations lieutenant for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Barbra Upton-Garvin, ’96, was appointed director of human resources at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo.
1990s (continued)
Janee Townsend, ’97, was featured in a story that appeared in the Kenosha (Wis.) News after being invited to be on the umpire crew at a National Amateur Softball Association girls U-16 tournament. Lt. Col. David Hetzler, ’98, retired from the U.S. Air Force in July after serving honorably for 28 years. He last served as an instructor mission crew commander with the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Stacie (Schmoker) Kelly, ’98, was appointed anti-money laundering compliance manager in the financial institutions division at SWBC in San Antonio in April 2017. Monica Lombraña, ’98, was appointed managing director of aviation and international bridges for the City of El Paso, Texas, in July 2017. Stancia Jenkins, M.P.A. ’99, is assistant vice president for diversity, access and inclusion at the University of Nebraska and its four campuses across the state. Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Muldowney, ’99, is the command chief master sergeant for the 514th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. He is responsible for the health, welfare, morale and the effective utilization of more than 2,100 enlisted personnel assigned to the wing. Jason Salstrom, ’99, was appointed director of the Purdue@WestGate initiative in Indiana, which aims to increase tech transfer and startup creation.
2000s
Jacqueline Clark, M.P.A. ’00, was elected to the Lee’s Summit (Mo.) School Board. Kevin Dickerson, ’00, was appointed business manager for the Page (Ariz.) School District. Layla (Daniels) Sweet, ’00, was featured in a story that appeared in the Ohio University student newspaper, The Post. Sweet was appointed the first female ROTC commander at Ohio University.
Nixon Dorvilien, ’01, was appointed director of rehabilitation for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association. Randy Jackson, ’01, is Hickory Point Bank’s investment advisor representative with Raymond James Financial Services Advisers Inc. in Decatur, Ill. Kirsten Clemons, M.E. ’02, is the principal at Lakeview Middle School in the Park Hill (Mo.) School District.
Justin Bennett, ’06, is president and chief executive officer of Geodata IT LLC. His company was recognized as the Minority Owned Small Business of the Year for Eastern Missouri for 2017 by the U.S. Small Business Administration St. Louis District Office. Nekasha (Ross) Pratt, ’06, was appointed director of marketing for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
Alexa Barton, ’03, M.P.A. ’07, is city manager for Belton, Mo.
Dolores Estrada, ’07, was featured in a story that appeared in the Palo Verde Valley (Calif.) Times. Estrada has worked as an early childhood teacher for 50 years, including 44 years as a preschool educator in the Palo Verde Unified School District.
Thom Hanrahan, ’04, was appointed sports editor of the St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press in January 2017.
Jordan Martincich, ’07, was promoted to director of development at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
Ted Graves, M.E. ’02, was reappointed Clay County (Mo.) treasurer.
Michelle Francis, ’05, was promoted to partner at The Raboin and Francis Law Firm, Baxter, Minn.
PARK MOURNS
James Johnson, ’05, is the vice president of residential services at Carolina Youth Development Center, a nonprofit organization in North Charleston, S.C., that serves the community’s most vulnerable children and families.
Note: All dates are 2017 unless noted.
Amber Kahler, ’05, is the assistant principal at Lakeview Middle School in the Park Hill (Mo.) School District.
Elefteria “Lytz” Pitis Jeorse, ’37 Munster, Ind., March 9, 2016
Michael Mendoza, ’05, is working on his independent film making ambition creating short documentary films. Command Master Chief Jeffrey Pickering, ’05, retired after 31 years of loyal, faithful and honorable service in the U.S. Navy. Gustavo Rocha, ’05, was appointed by the University of Southern California women’s beach volleyball program as an assistant coach. Roach was a three-time allconference men’s volleyball player at Park. James Anderson, ’06, is the west regional vice president of operations for Lincoln Property Co. based in Dallas.
1930s
Eleanor Virginia Martin Van Dyke, ’33 Niles, Mich., March 24
Winifred H. Scheib, ’37 Peoria, Ariz., May 17, 2016 Faye (Donna) Adams, ’38 Hamilton, Mo., June 22 Laura Belle McKittrick Ingraham, ’38 Greenville, S.C., June 9, 2016 Maron Lorimer Moore, ’38 Overland Park, Kan., Dec. 2, 2015 Elizabeth Baker Glenn, ’39 Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 30, 2016
1940s
J. Ross Brown, ’41 Pekin, Ill., Sept. 10 John Cory, ’42 Albuquerque, N.M., May 9 Pauline Lucille Swigart Krause, ’42 Anderson, S.C., March 23, 2016
Berry Louise Votaw, ’42 Portage, Ind., July 19, 2016
Shirley Jean Hawk, ’46 Racine, Wis., Nov. 29, 2016
Doris Gerner, ’51 Kansas City, Mo., April 14, 2016
Curtis Cosgrave, x63 Alexandra, Va., May 21, 2016
Helen Fearing Hale, ’43 Lakewood, Colo., March 17
Mary A. Peter, ’46 Ballwin, Mo., Nov. 25, 2014
Forrest G. Dressler Jr., ’63 Universal City, Texas, Aug. 8
Elizabeth Breese Hinde, x43 Fort Collins, Colo., Dec. 16, 2016
Grant Martin Clothier, x47 Prairie Village, Kan., Aug. 6, 2016
Yuzuru Takeshita, ’51 Ann Arbor, Mich., Oct. 17, 2016
Joe Gene Schoggen, ’43 Litchfield Park, Ariz., Sept. 15 Joseph Thomas Sefcik, ’43 Harrisonburg, Va., Jan. 18 Charles Shangler, ’43 Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 17, 2016 Saranna Temple, ’43 Platte Woods, Mo., Feb. 15, 2016 Della Maier Vivion, ’43 Rawlins, Wyo., Aug 11, 2016 Lois Ilene Walker, x43 Gypsum, Colo., Sept. 23 Luz Doris Rosa Davis, ’44 Horse Cave, Ky., June 13 Jean Wolfe Edwards, ’44 Ann Arbor, Mich., May 5, 2016 Rachel Agnes Martin Kendell, ’44 Austin, Texas, May 30, 2016 Donald H. McMasters Jr., ’44 Sapulpa, Okla., Sept. 16 John Longstaff Goodenberger, ’45 Milwaukie, Ore., Aug. 13
Lenore Brownlee Kensett, x48 Overland Park, Kan., June 9, 2016 Dallas Lloyd “Tex” Anderson, ’49 Richmond, Mo., Nov. 19, 2016 Yvonne Arlene Whitman Brandt, x49 Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 23, 2016 James “Jim” Cariddi, ’49 Lee’s Summit, Mo., July 15, 2016 Opal Ringen Congdon, ’49 Missoula, Mont., March 12, 2016 Mary Engelmann, ’49 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Aug. 23 Myrtle Margaret Browning Fulton, ’49 Glenrock, Wyo., April 1, 2016 Robert M. Smith, ’49 Schaumburg, Ill., Jan. 29
Carol S. McMasters, ’45 Tulsa, Okla., Oct. 16, 2016
Mary Catherine Furnish Thomas, ’49 Pearland, Texas, Sept. 8, 2014
Gordon E. Medlock, ’45 Granger, Ind., May 11
Agnes Turnbaugh, ’49 Lee’s Summit, Mo., April 2
Jack H. Mooney, ’45 Hilton Head Island, S.C., May 11
1950s
Jane Fischer Nishiwaki, x45 Ferguson, Mo., May 11 Frances A. Howell Smith, ’45 Overland Park, Kan., March 29, 2016 Kathryn Paxton Teener, ’45 Ashland, Wis., Jan. 6
Philip Bozzo, ’50 Kingwood, Texas, Aug. 4 Theodore Lindeman, ’50 Alta, Iowa, Sept. 8
Mary Ann Werst, ’51 Ocala, Fla., July 17, 2016 Ann Clarke Soper Davidson, ’52 Concord, Mass., April 12, 2016 Norman Storer, ’52 San Diego, Calif., March 10 Barbara Louise Hopkins, ’53 Troy, Mo., July 3, 2016
Robert E. Grinnell, ’63 Williamson, N.Y., Feb. 29, 2016 Glenore “Glen” Hanna, ’63 Mesa, Ariz., March 1, 2016 James B. Miller, ’63 Platte Woods, Mo., July 14 Melvin L. Blades, ’64 Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 29, 2016
Bruce Watson, ’53 Tinley Park, Ill., Aug. 8, 2016
Michael Lansdon, ’65 Ystrad Meurig, Wales, United Kingdom, June 2016
James LeRoy Thomson, ’54 Louisville, Colo., March 24, 2016
Fredrick Schleusing, ’65 Gig Harbor, Wash., Nov. 10, 2016
Brenda Davis Petersen, ’55 Keller, Texas, May 20, 2016
John E. Mann Sr., ’66 Baltimore, Md., Dec. 12, 2015
Virginia Siewert, ’55 Prescott, Ariz., June 3
Robert D. McDonald, ’67 Springfield, Ill., May 7, 2016
William F. Clemenson, ’56 Franklin, Ind., August 27, 2015
Edward F. McCoy, ’68 Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 1
Paul Danforth, ’56 Oneonta, N.Y., July 10
Robert E. Theiss, ’67 Little River, S.C., Feb. 16, 2016
Pauline Jaben, ’56 Kansas City, Mo., March 27
Ellis Joseph Budin, ’69 Wilmington, Del., April 16
Eugene H. Schlapper, x56 Lexington, Mo., March 26
George J. Danco Jr., ’69 Florham Park, N.J., July 25, 2016
Wand J. Wiest Stegall, x56 Hattiesburg, Miss., July 4, 2016
Harvey R. Hougen, ’69 Sidney, Ohio, March 13
Mary Lee Yagelowich, ’56 Snohomish, Wash., May 2, 2016
Thomas B. Mallette Jr., ’69 Valparaiso, Fla., May 28, 2016
Frances (Fran) Marie Browning White, ’57 Concord, Calif., June 19, 2016
Charles Tedford “Bud” Pryor, ’69 Cottage Grove, Ore., July 18, 2016
Charles E. Watson, ’59 Columbus, Ohio, March 9
1960s
1970s
Deanna K. Armstrong, ’70 Kansas City, Mo., June 13
John A. Simpson, ’50 Springfield, Mo., June 18
Sylvia (Helms) Gault, ’60 Parkville, Mo., Oct. 11, 2016
Michelle Merri Schwartz, ’70 New Oxford, Pa., Sept. 8, 2016
Mary Louise Beckett, x51 Las Cruces, N.M., Dec. 17, 2016
Patricia Ann Yingst, ’61 Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 2
Eric Field Engstrom, ’71 Lone Jack, Mo., April 21
Frederic E. Mannke, ’71 Phoenix, Ariz., April 26
Theodore Krebs, ’77 Austin, Texas, April 16, 2016
William E. Berg, ’72 Stuttgart, Ark., July 22
Charles E. “Chuck” Reith, ’77 Panama City, Fla., July 2, 2016
George Konopsky, ’72 Edison, N.J., Oct. 23, 2015
David G. Brown, ’78 Murrells Inlet, S.C., July 6
Timothy Desiderio, ’73 Fair Oaks, Calif., Aug. 10, 2016
Edward L. Ellis, ’78 Haughton, La., Sept. 25, 2016
Walter Kimball Shrider II, ’73 San Angelo, Texas, June 8
Curtis C. Ground, ’78 Parkville, Mo., April 2
Charlene “Mikki” Fiorini-Maresca, ’87 Port Charlotte, Fla., Feb. 15, 2016 Bennie C. Spinks, ’87 Fairview Heights, Ill., April 28
Carol Ann Logan, ’97 Blue Springs, Mo., Nov. 1, 2016 Seth Fuller, ’98 San Antonio, Texas, May 2
2000s
Jimmie Lee Butler, ’88 Grandview, Mo., May 18, 2016
Gilbert F. Sarabia, ’00 El Paso, Texas, April 26, 2016
Kevin Lee Underwood, ’88 Broad Creek, N.C., July 26, 2016
Karen M. Fletcher, ’01 Cabot, Ark., July 11, 2016
Marianne Wicker, ’88 Independence, Mo., Sept. 10
Kristy Papka, ’02 Bloomington, Ill., Aug. 19
Carroll Edwin Crawford, ’89 Farmington, N.M., Feb. 17, 2016
Susan D. Parretta, ’04 Smithville, Mo., Aug. 29, 2016
Lafe Williams, ’73 San Antonio, Texas, July 17
James W. Berry, ’79 Alamogordo, N.M., June 25, 2016
Robert L. Baker, ’74 Columbus, Ohio, July 24
Ruth Gibbons, ’79 Frederick, Md., May 25
Penelope Alexandre Olson, ’89 Warsaw, Mo., April 14, 2016
Aaron P. Thompson, ’04 Liberty, Mo., June 4
Walter William “Walt” Canady, ’74 Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 12, 2016
Larry H. Krumm, ’79 Huber Heights, Ohio, July 10, 2016
1990s
Matthias Masango, x06 Utica, N.Y., Feb. 17
Mary Griswold “Mimi” Sommer, ’79 Westerville, Ohio, July 9, 2016
Mirica M. Black, ’91 Parkville, Mo., July 7
Luigi Lombardi, ’74 Auburn, N.Y., June 7, 2015 Richard Allen Bunn, ’75 Cataula, Ga., Dec. 15, 2016
1980s
Kevin H. Due, ’90 Kansas City, Mo., July 30, 2016
Janice Rine, ’91 Newark, Ohio, Feb. 20
Doug Larson, ’07 Ogden, Utah, June 5, 2016 Denise Ann Odom Bogert, ’08 Independence, Mo., April 15, 2016 Brandon R. Cavanaugh, ’08 Farmington Hills, Mich., April 13
Andrew Leon Justice, x80 Newark, Ohio, Feb. 20
Patrick Shayne Ballard, x93 Grenada, Miss., Aug. 9
Barry Skye, ’81 Superior, Wis., Aug. 26
Charles O. Hill Jr., ’93 Ferrelview, Mo., June 28
Dale Fellin, ’10 Kansas City, Mo., May 15
Edward J. Cicale Sr., ’82 Heath, Ohio, Jan. 17
William K. Keeler, ’93 Jacksonville, Ark., June 27
Camille Mary Butler, ’11 Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 24
Georgia M. Covington, ’83 Roanoke, Va., Aug. 1
Timmy C. McMichael, ’93 Oak Grove, Mo., Aug. 24
Dorothy A. Cosgrove, ’84 Lenexa, Kan., July 7, 2016
Jaime Labrado, ’11 Mansfield, Texas, May 22, 2015
Carolyn Murray-Davis, ’93 Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 11, 2016
Clinton R. Helms, ’84 Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 14, 2016
Novie Jean Bray, ’94 Taylor, Texas, April 25, 2016
Ben R. Howard, ’84 Gilbert, Ariz., June 18
Bryan D. Brown, ’95 Knob Noster, Mo., Nov. 5, 2016
Ronald Perez, ’12 Cedar Point, N.C., May 14, 2016
Jerald R. Cuff Sr., ’85 Richmond, Va., Dec. 3, 2016
Jeffery Lynn Fisher, ’95 Kettering, Ohio, May 13, 2016
Veronica Ortega Rodarte, ’15 El Paso, Texas, Feb. 5
Judy Quichocho Salas, ’85 Yuba City, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015
Sandra Kay Kuhlman, ’95 Tucson, Ariz., Feb. 19
Nicholas K. Ehrhardt, ’16 Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Aug. 24
Larry Fritts, ’77 Bellbrook, Ohio, Sept. 8, 2016
Julian Douglas Holtorf, ’86 Ocean Springs, Miss., April 9
Richard W. Rayer, ’95 Blacklick, Ohio, May 7, 2016
John W. Keyes Jr., ’77 Kansas City, Mo., March 6
Jeffrey A. Markley, ’86 Kiefer, Okla., June 7
Pamela J. Deason, ’96 Lee’s Summit, Mo., Aug. 17
Joel Carter Denney, ’76 Anniston, Ala., Aug. 13 Ralph Layton Eddins, ’76 Sunrise Beach, Mo., Feb. 7 Tony Ferreira Held, ’76 Waxahachie, Texas, Sept. 14, 2016 Harold L. Reed, ’76 Vicksburg, Miss., April 6 Edmund H. Russell, ’76 Lenexa, Kan., Aug. 22, 2016 Lonnie O. Yeary, ’76 El Paso, Texas, March 28, 2016 Kenneth E. Crabb, ’77 Tarpon Springs, Fla., Dec. 7, 2016
2010s
Mary Carol Olson, ’12 Round Rock, Texas, June 27, 2016
Park Family Mourns the Passing of Sylvia Helms Gault, ’60, and Deanna Medlin Armstrong, ’70, two special Park alumnae who contributed greatly to Park University. Sylvia Helms Gault, ’60
Feb. 7, 1938 – Oct. 11, 2016 Gault inspired many with her dedication to preserving the proud history of Park University. As an active member of the Park University Alumni Association, Gault was fondly regarded as a walking encyclopedia of the University’s proud history. After graduating from Park, Gault started her career with the school as an administrative assistant to the business manager. In 1964, she married Paul Gault, ’65, M.P.A. ’88, who has worked at Park since 1961 and currently serves as special assistant for endowment administration. Over the years, she spent countless hours researching Park’s history, including locating more than 100 descendants of Park’s co-founder, George S. Park, and documenting facts about the University’s history that she learned along the way. For her dedication, Park honored Gault with the Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award in 2005. As an active member of the Parkville (Mo.) Presbyterian Church, Gault served as a deacon and was church secretary and treasurer for 33 years. With a passionate interest in genealogy, Gault was as a member of the Civil War Round Table of Kansas City and a longtime member of the Walnut Grove Cemetery Board of Directors where she served as a caretaker. She was also a member of the Platte County (Mo.) Historical Society, the Banneker School Preservation Society and Friends of Park Hill Education Foundation. “Sylvia was always patient and willing to answer queries from anyone, whether they were from Parkville or not,” said Park archivist Carolyn McHenry Elwess, ’71. “Her perseverance, meticulous organization and willingness to share have proven invaluable, both to the University and to the entire Parkville community.”
Deanna Medlin Armstrong, ’70 April 29, 1948 – June 13, 2017
Armstrong was a dedicated member of the Park University community. As the first in her family to earn a college degree, Armstrong attended Park on a full scholarship while working part-time in the library and as a resident assistant. Her career began as an educator in the Park Hill (Mo.) School District where she was recognized as the Missouri Journalism Educator of the Year. With a passion for community service, Armstrong’s career path veered toward the nonprofit arena where she served as the chief program officer for the National Campfire USA, executive director of Head Start of Shawnee Mission (Kan.), and most recently, executive director for Platte (County, Mo.) Senior Services. She generously shared her leadership skills with Park, serving 14 years on Park’s Alumni Council, including a term as president in 1998. As president, Armstrong created the Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Scholarship and the Torchlighter Award to shine a bright light on the contributions of Park alumni and friends. She also served as a member of Park’s Board of Trustees for nine years. Park turned the spotlight back on Armstrong to honor her outstanding dedication to the University with the Tipton Award in 2009 and the Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award in 2012. Her lifelong connection to Park led her to become board president of the Bell Road Barn Players, the oldest community theater in Kansas City. The theater was started by Armstrong’s theater and English professor at Park, the late Jenkin David. Armstrong was known for her enthusiastic support of others. In her Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award profile, Armstrong said: “What drives me is giving others the opportunity to imagine and pursue things they never thought possible, just as Park gives students an opportunity to dream big dreams and pursue their education. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping others reach their goals.”
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Kansas City, MO Permit No. 6112
8700 NW River Park Drive Parkville, MO 64152
PARK UNIVERSITY
CAMPAIGN FOR PARK
building opportunity building excellence building success
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Through education, we build a better community. Empowering students through innovative teaching methods and exposure to entrepreneurs will build a community of strong leaders who are equipped to meet the challenges of the workforce and the world. Park University is building an environment to develop thought leaders and community change agents. For more information contact: Nathan Marticke (816) 584-6844 nathan.marticke@park.edu
FUTURE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS BUILDING