Unveiling at Crow's Nest on July 27, 2018:
Park University Expands and Thrives
Park University is making strides in various areas, from athletics to academics. Here's a roundup of the latest news from the institution.
Sports and Recreation
The Park University Golf Scramble, a four-person tournament benefiting the University's athletic programs, is set to tee off on Monday, Oct. 8, at The National Golf Club of Kansas City. Interested parties can find tournament sponsorship details on the University's official website.
In a significant move, Park University will launch a varsity esports program starting in Spring 2019, making it the first college or university in the Kansas City area to do so.
Meanwhile, Park University baseball player Abdiel Rivera-Cotto, a junior business administration/international business major, was recently featured in The Kansas City Star, sharing his experiences living in the Midwest after Hurricane Maria.
Academic Achievements
Park University's Centre for Research and Training in Integrated Behavioural Health has secured a $25,000 grant from the Jackson County Community Health Fund. The grant will be utilised for providing training in strengths-based, person-centered interventions.
Tami Radohl, Ph.D., assistant professor of social work and director of field education, was interviewed for a story on KCPT-TV's digital magazine, Flatland, focusing on children who age out of the foster system.
Amanda Laurenceau, '14, and current Park women's basketball assistant coach, was featured in the Navajo Times on July 5, in relation to the annual NativeVision Sports and Lifeskills Camp she helped with in Shiprock, N.M.
Campus Developments
Park University is expanding its footprint with a new campus in Gilbert, Ariz., set to open in the Fall II 2018 term. The Gilbert Campus will initially serve adult learners in accelerated, eight-week evening classes and offer a variety of degree offerings in both face-to-face settings and online programs.
By the end of year three, Park University projects an enrollment of more than 300 students at the Gilbert campus. However, precise figures for enrollment and growth projections for the new campus are not currently available. For the most accurate information, interested individuals are advised to check the University's official website or contact their enrollment office directly.
Jeff Ehrlich, Ed.D., has been appointed as the executive director of the Gilbert Campus, while Donna Ehrlich, Ph.D., will serve as the academic director. Juli Wilson will join the Park University team in Gilbert as a campus center coach.
Former Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Kay Barnes has been appointed as the University's senior director for university engagement, and Steve Wilson has been appointed as the director of athletics for the Gilbert Campus.
Recognition and Achievements
Park University won two "Best of the Northland" awards, as selected by readers of two Kansas City area newspapers - Clay County (Mo.) Courier-Tribune and Gladstone (Mo.) Dispatch. Park received the most votes as the "Best College/University" in the Northland, as well as the "Best Online and Post-Graduate College/University" in the Northland.
Amber Tolbert, campus center director for Park University's Downtown Kansas City Campus, won $141,000 on the FOX show "Beat Shazam".
Skylar Britt, a junior multimedia journalism/public relations major, was featured in her hometown newspaper, The Examiner (Blue Springs, Mo.) on July 21, about joining Major League Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster Denny Matthews in the booth for a broadcast of a recent Kansas City Royals game.
Laurel Gagnon, '17, and current graduate student in the Park University International Center for Music, was featured in the July/August issue of KC Studio magazine.
Appointments and Elections
W. Ann Hansbrough, J.D., and retired Col. Andrew Shoffner have been elected to serve as members of Park University's Board of Trustees.
Bridget Locke has been promoted to the position of director of strategic communications.
Shokhrukh Sadikov, '12, was appointed as the music director and conductor of the Overland Park (Kan.) Orchestra.
Mackay Hall, an iconic building at Park University, has been lit up in LED red, white, and blue lights, allowing the University to showcase the building during the overnight hours every day.
Kay Barnes, former Mayor of Kansas City, Mo., was honoured on June 29 by the City of Kansas City, Mo. with the dedication of the "Kay Barnes Ballroom" at the Kansas City Convention Center.
- Park University's expansion in Gilbert, Arizona, encompasses various aspects, including education and self-development through the launch of an esports program and online degree offerings, as well as general news coverage of the new campus.
- In sports, Abdiel Rivera-Cotto, a Park University baseball player, was highlighted in The Kansas City Star, while off the field, Amanda Laurenceau, a former Park athlete, was recognized in the Navajo Times for her work with the NativeVision Sports and Lifeskills Camp.
