Latest News in The Crow's Nest on April 2, 2021:
Park University continues to make headlines with a variety of exciting announcements and achievements across its academic and community initiatives. Here's a roundup of some of the latest news:
**Educational Resources for Parents**
Since last spring, Park University's School of Education and the Department of Professional Education and Workforce Development have been offering a free resource for parents with K-12 learners at home called "Sharing the Classroom: Parents, Students, and the Community." This comprehensive course includes resources covering "brain breaks," online learning tips, and even mathematics resources for all ages.
**Academic Achievements**
Several Park University students and faculty have recently been honoured for their exceptional work. A paper authored by Camelin (Cochran) Sampson, senior organizational communication major, was honoured with the Lambda Pi Eta Top Paper Award by the Central States Communication Association, in conjunction with the National Communication Association. In addition, during the CSCA conference on March 25, Samantha Quinn, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, co-presented the paper, "'It Allows Me to Be 'Me'': Self-Presentation, Authenticity, and Affordances Among LGBTQ+ Social Media Users."
**Community Involvement**
Lorraine Moore, development director, was recently appointed to the board of directors for the Great Plains SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Additionally, Vince Clark, vice chair of Park University's Board of Trustees, will present the keynote address at the All-University Commencement ceremony on May 8.
**Arts and Culture**
Andrea Lee, Ph.D., authored the book, Tears of Transcendence, featuring more than 120 original works of art and essays. Park University's International Center for Music was also featured on KWJC-FM with 60 minutes of performances by ICM students and interviews with Stanislav Ioudenitch and pianist Kenny Broberg.
**Athletics Updates**
Park University has updated its spectator policy for Parkville Campus home athletic events and International Center for Music concerts for the remainder of the Spring 2021 semester. Facilities will be capped at 25 percent capacity for spectators to allow for social distancing guidelines. For athletics events, Park University students with student ID will be admitted to attend Pirates home events, and two family members of each Park student-athlete will be allowed admission on their respective game days. No visiting team spectators will be allowed.
**Civic Engagement**
Gary Kerr has been appointed as senior director of military and veteran affairs at Park University. Kerr is a 23-year U.S. Army veteran who recently retired as a lieutenant colonel. He most recently served as department chair and professor in the Department of Military Science and Leadership at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Vince Clark, the vice president of business development and chief corporate affairs officer at Creative Planning LLC, is also involved in civic engagement, serving as a past chair of the University's Civic Advisory Council.
**Rankings and Recognition**
Park University received several rankings, including from U.S. News and World Report, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, BachelorsDegreeCenter.org, and Study.com.
**Notable Alumni**
Donovan Thompson, '07, was honoured by the North Central Missouri College Foundation as a member of its 2020 Distinguished Alumni Class. Karina Garcia, '19, and a current student in the Master of Business Administration program, was highlighted in the Texas Observer magazine.
**Historical Tributes**
Each Monday in March, Park University's Department of History, Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies partnered with the Frances Fishburn Archives and Special Collections to pay tribute to significant women in Park's history.
**Ongoing Events**
The fourth annual J. Malcolm Good Mathematics Lecture will feature a virtual presentation by Nathan Albin, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mathematics at Kansas State University, on April 8. The event's title is "Wandering Through the Trees," and it will provide an introduction to spanning trees and random walks, two fascinating mathematical objects with a diverse set of applications.
**Safety Measures**
All spectators are required to fill out an RSVP form no later than 24 hours prior to the event they would like to attend; masks must be worn at all times; temperature checks are required before entering any facility; and no concessions will be available (outside food or drink is not allowed).
Stay tuned for more updates and achievements from Park University! To enroll in the course, visit
Park University's educational resources for parents extend beyond academic achievements, offering a free comprehensive course called "Sharing the Classroom: Parents, Students, and the Community." In the realm of sports, Park University has updated its spectator policy for home athletic events and International Center for Music concerts, allowing limited attendance while maintaining social distancing guidelines.
