The Crow’s Nest — September 5, 2025
Park University Announces Alumni Association 2025 Honorees and Gault Service Award
The Park University Alumni Association has announced the 2025 honorees of its annual awards. A ceremony recognizing the recipients, along with the University’s 2025 Athletics Wall of Honor awardees (announced in June) and the Paul H. Gault Service Award, will be held as part of Park’s Homecoming Weekend festivities on Friday, Sept. 26, starting at 3 p.m. in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University’s flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus.
Following the awards ceremony, at 4:15 p.m., plaques recognizing the Athletics Wall of Honor recipients will be unveiled in the hallway adjacent to the University’s 6th Street entrance to the Mabee Learning Center/Academic Underground, followed immediately by a reception in honor of all the awardees. Both events are open to the public.
The 2025 Park University Alumni Association awards honorees:
• Distinguished Alumna Award — This award, which recognizes Park alumni who have distinguished themselves through career service or community achievements, will be presented to Hannah NeSmith (left), 2009 graduate. NeSmith is the founder and chief executive officer of Matlock Realty Group, a company she founded in 2016 in Arab.
• Torchlighter Award — This award is given to honor individuals who have made significant, long-standing contributions and commitment to Park University, whether alumni, faculty or friend. The recipient of this year’s award is Brian Hoffman, Ph.D. (above right). Hoffman, a 1986 graduate, serves as professor of biology at Park and has been on the faculty since 1995.
• Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award — This award is presented to Park University alumni in recognition of volunteer service to community and/or civic organizations. The award is named in honor of Marlowe Sherwood, 1963 graduate, who exemplified the school motto of fides et labor (faith and labor). This year’s recipient is Kimberlee Ried (left), 2016 graduate (Master of Arts). Ried has been employed by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration for the past 22 years, and currently serves as a management and program analyst within the Office of Government Information Services.
• Park Promising Young Professional Award — This award recognizes a Park University alumnus/a who graduated from Park within the last 10 years, is under the age of 40 and shows exceptional leadership promise in his or her profession and community. This year’s recipient, Madisyn Pettit (above right), a 2018 graduate, has been the director of operations for Patriot Grassroots since January 2024.
• Philanthropic Leadership Award — This award celebrates individuals or couples whose generosity and leadership have transformed Park University through significant financial support and advocacy, and inspire others to give. This year’s recipient is Elizabeth (Weese) Muncal. A 2005 Park graduate, Muncal has served as the chief development officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale since May 2024.
• Park Proud Business Leadership Award — This award 
honors businesses that reflect Park University’s values through leadership, innovation and community impact. The business must have a minimum of five years in operation, be led by or partnered with Park alumni and demonstrate mentorship, service and/or philanthropy. The inaugural winner of this award is Enterprise Mobility, an active partner in the University’s career success programming for students.
As part of the ceremony, Park University’s Office of Academic Affairs will honor the recipient of the 2025 Paul H. Gault Service Award. The award is presented annually to a retired Park University faculty or staff member who provided a minimum of 15 years of distinguished service to the University, with special consideration given to individuals who held volunteer leadership positions within the University or in the community as a University representative. This award is named Gault, ’65, MPA ’88, whose dedicated service to Park spanned more than five decades. This year’s honoree is Jennifer Ehrlich, who served the University from 1998-2022, first as a director of Park’s campuses in the Washington, D.C., area before being promoted to the role of regional director to oversee 13 campuses in the University’s network across the country.
2025 Hauptmann Lecture to Discuss the American Decline and Crisis of Liberal Order
A presentation on “The Great Unravelling: American Decline and the Crisis of Liberal Order” will be the focus of Park University’s 33rd annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series event on Thursday, Sept. 18, starting at 6 p.m. in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall on the University’s flagship Parkville Campus. Admission is free and open to the public. In addition, the lecture, presented in conjunction with the American Society for Public Administration, will be livestreamed at parkumedia.com.
The speaker for the 2025 Hauptmann Lecture will be Daniel Nexon, Ph.D., professor in the Walsh School of Foreign Service and Government Department within the Mortara Center for International Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Related to the title of his speech, Nexon said, “The United States is the only country in human history to achieve global dominance, but after nearly 30 years of primacy it no longer bestrides the world like a colossus. What happened? How far has the U.S. actually fallen? And is it possible to halt, or even reverse, the relative decline of American international leadership?” Read more about Nexon and the Hauptmann Lecture at park.edu/news/2025-hauptmann-lecture.
International Center for Music’s 23rd Season Kicks Off Sept. 5 with Violist Carr, Pianist Petrova
The Park University International Center for Music’s 2025-26 concert season will begin Friday, Sept. 5, with a performance by violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova showcasing classical music created entirely by female composers. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the 1900 Building in Mission Woods, Kan. The program, titled “HERS,” vibrantly celebrates the vision, strength, resilience and vital contributions of females throughout history. Through music and storytelling, the Carr-Petrova Duo will lead the audience through the inspirations, battles and incredible accomplishments of eight fearless women — from the 12th century’s Hildegard Von Bingen (a German Benedictine abbess, visionary mystic and composer) to today’s Beyoncé — inviting attendees to share in the centuries of heartbreak, struggles and triumphs that comprise the female experience.
Tickets for the concert are $30 for the general public and $20 for students (not including fees), and are available in advance through Eventbrite. For more information about the Carr-Petrova Duo concert, visit park.edu/news/carr-petrova-duo. The next concert in the Park International Center for Music’s 2025-26 season will feature the Park ICM Orchestra, led by guest conductor Timothy Hankewich, music director of Orchestra Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 3, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University’s Parkville Campus. Admission to ICM Orchestra events in the Chapel are free, but reservations are recommended for this concert at park.libcal.com/calendar/ICM/FallConcert25.
In addition, the International Center for Music has announced that a concert on Thursday, Oct. 23, will now feature members of the ICM faculty performing with principal string members of the Kansas City Symphony in a side-by-side concert starting at 7:30 p.m. at the 1900 Building in Mission Woods, Kan. This concert replaces the originally scheduled performance on the same date by violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi, who was forced to cancel his appearance due to health reasons.
Park University Named an Opportunity College and University by Carnegie Classifications
Earlier this year, Park University was designated as an Opportunity College and University by Carnegie Classifications, recognizing Park as an institution that can serve as a model for studying how campuses can foster student success. The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area. Park is one of 479 institutions across the U.S. that have been identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities. For more information, visit carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/news/carnegie-classifications-redesign-better-reflects-the-higher-education-landscape-and-recognizes-student-success.
Park University, Central Bank Forge Future-Focused Partnership
Park University and Central Bank have announced a new strategic partnership naming Central Bank the Proud Banking Partner of Park University. The collaboration launches during Park’s 150th anniversary year and reflects a joint commitment to supporting student success, building financial confidence and celebrating school pride for years to come. As part of the partnership, Central Bank will debut the Official Park U Debit Card and Park Checking in September — offering students, alumni and fans a meaningful way to show their Park pride in everyday life. These custom financial solutions will be paired with personalized financial education for Park students, including dedicated programs for international students and student-athletes.
The partnership also includes Central Bank’s involvement in key Parkville (Mo.) Campus moments such as New Student Orientation, Welcome Week and career fairs. Support extends to Parkville athletics programs, where Central Bank will help student-athletes enhance financial knowledge and confidence both on and off the field. A new Central Bank Financial Resource Center, located in the Mabee Learning Center/Academic Underground, serves as an on-campus space for banking resources, student engagement and financial support. Additionally, Central Bank will contribute annually to Park’s Student Success Fund, further investing in student enrichment. Read more at park.edu/news/central-bank-partnership.
Park University Golf Scramble Set for October 6
The 2025 Park University Golf Scramble, a four-person tournament that benefits the University’s Parkville (Mo.) Campus athletics programs, is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6, at The National Golf Club of Kansas City. Golfers get on the course with a shotgun start at 10 a.m., with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Registration fees are $1,500 per four-person team, and a variety of sponsorship packages are available, ranging in price from $3,000 to $7,000. Entries include 18 holes of golf with a cart, box lunch on the course, driving range access prior to the event, on-course games and contests, refreshments, flight prizes. In addition, golf sponsorships include season tickets to home athletics events and admission to the Park University International Center for Music’s 2026 Stanislav and Friends concert. Non-golf sponsorships are also available, ranging in price from $400 to $600. To register for the tournament or for more information, visit park.edu/golf. For questions about the tournament or sponsorship levels, contact Celeste Lupercio, director of corporate and foundation relations, at celeste.lupercio@park.edu / (816) 584-6399.
Register for ParkAlert — Park’s Emergency Alert System
With the recent start of the fall semester and winter weather arriving across the country in the coming months, Park University students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for ParkAlert, a mass notification system that can alert the University community with time-sensitive messages via text, voice and e-mail. ParkAlert will be used to notify the University community with important/urgent/emergency messages and/or weather-related alerts and updates; it is not used for advertising or other unsolicited content.
ParkAlert is designed to allow participants to choose the Park University campus they attend (or is in their area) and receive messages related only to that specific campus or the entire University. ParkAlert adds another immediate notification mechanism to the University’s existing methods for alerts. The following are the available alert options:
• Text — Text message alerts to the mobile phone(s) that you register in the system.
• Voice — Similar to the text message, this service delivers a voice alert to your registered phone(s).
• E-Mail — An e-mail alert is sent to your registered e-mail address. (It is suggested that you register an e-mail address that is not a Park University account since the University’s communications team or the Office of Campus Safety may send an extended e-mail message to your Park e-mail address.)
To register, visit park.edu/about-park/campus-safety/park-alerts. If you previously registered, it is suggested that you verify your information and correct options by signing in to your account at park.omnilert.net/subscriber.php. After registering, please verify that you are signed up to the proper group(s) by selecting one or more campus center. For those in the Kansas City area, it is recommended that you choose at least one campus (Parkville and/or Independence) AND the “All Kansas City Area Campuses” group.
Faculty, Staff, Student News
Martha Linscott, Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s and women’s golf head coach, competed in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, Aug. 21-24 at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif. Linscott completed the four rounds, finishing in a tie for 41st with a score of 19-over par (311) on the par 73 course. Her score was also good to finish third among all amateurs.
Earlier in August, Linscott competed in a U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur qualifying event at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, Kan., shooting a 2-over par 74 to win the tournament and grab the only spot in the event to advance to the USSWA event to be played Sept. 13-18 at the Omni Homestead Resort (Cascades Course) in Hot Springs, Va. The first two rounds of the event will be stroke play. Should Linscott finish the two rounds in the top 64, she will advance to the single-elimination match play portion of the event.
Pablo Canamero Carrasco, a graduate student pursing a Master of Business Administration degree in business analytics, presented a paper and e-poster titled “Predicting MLS Players’ Market Values Using Machine Learning Algorithms” at the American Statistical Association’s Joint Statistical Meeting on Aug. 3 in Nashville, Tenn. The paper, which is scheduled to appear in the JSM Proceedings in October, was co-authored by Abdelmonaem Jornaz, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems and business analytics. The study aimed to build and compare predictive models using machine learning algorithms to estimate the market value of Major League Soccer players based on several key factors, which will help clubs and agents objectively predict the worth of a player they would like to buy or sell.
Park in the News
Thelma Jean Curl, ’50, believed to be the currently oldest living Park University graduate, celebrated her 105th birthday on Aug. 2 in Evansville, Ind. Curl joined the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving as a control tower specialist. After being discharged in 1945, she came to Park, graduating in 1950 before a long career as a history teacher. Stories about Curl’s birthday celebration aired on WFIE in Evansville that day.
Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBC-TV in Kansas City on Aug. 4 related to redistricting plans for the State of Missouri.
That same day, Harris appeared in an 11-minute live interview for KCTV’s (Kansas City) digital platforms related to the Missouri redistricting plans, with soundbites appearing in stories later in the day.
The following day (Aug. 5), Harris appeared live on “Midday with Jayme and Wier” on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City for a 15-minute interview (part 6) about the redistricting plans.
Harris participated in a 12-minute live interview with KCTV in Kansas City on Aug. 18 related to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announcing he was resigning to become the co-deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Soundbites from the interview appeared in stories that same evening. The next day, Harris provided comments for stories about Bailey that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City.
An Aug. 25 article published in The Independent (an online newspaper in the United Kingdom) that focused on “doomsday” scenarios on redistricting across the U.S. included comments from Harris.
Park University’s Parkville (Mo.) Campus was highlighted on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Aug. 8 as students moved in to residential halls. Molly Pierson, Ed.D., dean of students, Angel Martinez Jr., sophomore sport and exercise science major and a member of the men’s soccer team, and his father Angel Martinez Sr., were interviewed for the story. In addition, KMBC-TV in Kansas City aired stories, some of which included soundbites from Harley Gaudet, sophomore management major and a member of the softball team.
On Aug. 11, WDAF-TV in Kansas City aired live shots from the flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus for the first day of classes, with Pierson being interviewed.
Kevin Curran, Ph.D., adjunct instructor of communication arts, appeared on The Sports Economist podcast on Aug. 8. Curran discussed how sports play-by-play announcers drive revenue while functioning as sophisticated marketing tools who build deep emotional connections with fans to drive ticket sales, merchandise purchases and brand loyalty.
Martha Linscott, head coach of the Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s and women’s golf teams, was featured on KCTV in Kansas City on Aug. 11 prior to playing in the U.S. Golf Association’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open (see story above).
The following day (Aug. 12), the Platte County (Mo.) Citizen highlighted Linscott.
Verenice Castillo, ’18, and the winner of the Park University Alumni Association’s Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award in 2022, authored an article, “Alex’s Journey: From Challenges to Triumphs” that was published on the Partners in Promise website on Aug. 24. The story focused on Castillo’s son who was diagnosed with autism 13 years ago.
A story about Gilda Gil, ’08, being appointed chief executive officer of the YMCA of El Paso (Texas), appeared on the El Paso Inc. website on Aug. 27.
Victoria Malicoat, ’22, MHA ’25, and Jeanette Prenger, ’09, were named to the “Top 50 Women Leaders of Missouri for 2025” by Women We Admire. It is the second consecutive time Prenger, founder and chief executive officer of ECCO Select in Kansas City, Mo., and former Park Board of Trustees chair, was named to the list. Malicoat is the director of delivery at Acacium Group, a company based in London.
Upcoming Events
(All events are Central time and on the flagship Parkville [Mo.] Campus unless noted)
• Through Sept. 19 — Senior Art Exhibit: Sofia McCroskie, Cameron McMeekin and Cheri Regis, Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
• September 5 — Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base (Calif.) Campus Commencement Ceremony, Noon, Camp Pendleton Theater and Training Center
• September 5 — Ellen Finley Earhart Department of Nursing White Coat Ceremony, 2 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• September 5 — International Center for Music Concert: Violist Molly Carr and Pianist Anna Petrova, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
• September 18 — Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture: Dr. Daniel Nexon, 6 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall) and Virtual
• September 19 — International Talk Like a Pirate Day
• September 19 — Beaufort (S.C.) Marine Corps Air Station Campus Commencement Ceremony, 1 p.m., Parris Island Depot Theater
• September 25-27 — Homecoming Weekend, Parkville Campus
• September 26 — Park University Alumni Association Awards / Athletics Wall of Honor / Paul H. Gault Service Award Ceremony, 3 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• October 3 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra with Guest Conductor Timothy Hankewich, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• October 5 — Fall I Term Ends
• October 6-12 — Fall Recess (all University offices open regular business hours; no classes held nationwide)
• October 6 — Park University Golf Scramble, 10 a.m., The National Golf Club of Kansas City
• October 13 — Fall II Term Classes Begin
• October 17 — International Festival, 5 p.m., University Front Lawn and Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• October 23 — International Center for Music Concert: Side-by-Side with Principals of the Kansas City Symphony, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
• October 24 — Austin (Texas) Campus Commencement Ceremony, 7:30 p.m., Austin Stone Community Church Northwest Campus Auditorium
• October 30 — Fright Night, 6-8 p.m., Copley Quad
To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics and student life, visit park.edu/calendars/park-events-calendar.