Unveiled: The Crow's Nest on June 29, 2018

Unveiled: The Crow's Nest on June 29, 2018 - Revealing the Details

Park University Commencements and Achievements

Park University is gearing up for a series of commencement ceremonies across its various campuses. The El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center will host the main event on July 20, where graduates from the El Paso, Fort Bliss, and Holloman Air Force Base Campuses will receive their diplomas.

The festivities kick off earlier with the Goodfellow Air Force Base Campus Commencement taking place on July 13 at the Base Event Center. Laughlin Air Force Base, Minot (N.D.) Air Force Base, and Lackland Air Force Base/Randolph Air Force Base Campuses will hold their ceremonies on July 13, 20, and August 4, respectively.

In other news, Park University has experienced significant enrollment growth over the past few academic terms. This growth is primarily attributed to strategic academic and advising initiatives. The introduction of new majors such as Cardiovascular Technology, Cyber Policy and Ethics, Data Analytics, Data Science, Neuroscience, and Industrial Design, along with the establishment of new tenure-granting academic departments, have been key factors. The university also overhauled its student advising structure, moving to a four-year advisor model to professionalize advisement and regulate portfolio sizes. These changes have led to a 4.5% increase in overall enrollment nationwide since the 2017-18 academic year.

Park University has also seen success in other areas. The Parkville Symphonic Band Concert will be held on July 4 at the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel. Meanwhile, summer graduate enrollment has increased by 10.1% in credit hours compared to the previous summer.

Achievements extend beyond the academic realm. Park University's degree programs have been ranked by various websites, and several faculty members have received accolades. Alla Adams and Harold Griffin, for instance, were honored with an International Best of Regions Excellence Award for their presentation on "Record Graduate Growth Rates Through Faculty-Led Recruitment and Retention Strategies."

The university community is also celebrating individual accomplishments. An article about Perl Decker, an 1897 graduate of Park University, appeared in the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. Rochelle Garciano was highlighted as one of Independence, Mo.'s "academic all-stars" by The Examiner. Mya Lawrence, director of the Lenexa (Kan.) Campus, was recognized by the Lincoln University (Mo.) National Alumni Association in its inaugural class of Young Alumni honorees.

As the summer term comes to a close on July 29, Park University is looking forward to the start of the Fall Semester/Fall I Term on August 13. The Fall Faculty Conference will be held on August 7-8 at the Parkville Campus.

In sports news, Lindsey Derry, softball head coach, is coaching a team of high school and college players on a USA Athletes International softball tour of Aruba. Park University's sports communications office was honoured with the Grant Berger Media Award by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for its NAIA women's volleyball Midwest region.

Finally, Park University's Ellen Finley Earhart Department of Nursing has received full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Parkville Nature Sanctuary was featured on KCTV in Kansas City, and Guillaume Lacroix, Consul General of France in Chicago, visited Park University's Parkville Campus to discuss possible partnerships between the University and France.

In addition, Erik Bergrud, associate vice president for external relations at Park University, was appointed to a statewide taskforce for "Talent for Tomorrow." Timothy Westcott is assisting the Kansas City Museum, Gallagher and Associates, and International Architects Atelier as a local historian and educator. John Hamilton was interviewed for a story related to the shooting deaths of two Kansas City, Kan., police officers.

Lastly, Ashley Lunde was appointed as engagement manager for Aligned, and Kay Barnes, a senior academic ambassador and liaison at Park University, was recognized as the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Alumna of the Year. Michelle Brooks became the new command master chief at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune (N.C.). The Carl Gregory Photography Exhibit: Images of Kenya is on display at the Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center).

Julymester begins on July 2, and the Junemester ends on July 1. The Parkville Campus is buzzing with activity, and the university community is excited for the upcoming academic year.