The Crow’s Nest — April 6, 2026

Park University Earns 2026-27 Top 10 Military Friendly® School Designation

Park University has earned a 2026-27 Military Friendly® School designation as a Top 10 school in the “Private, Not Offering Doctorate Degree” category. In addition, Park has also been recognized as a Military Spouse Friendly® School. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 3,200 schools participated in the survey. Final ratings were determined by combining an organization’s survey score, public data and an assessment of the institution’s ability to meet and exceed thresholds for student recruitment, retention, academic progress, graduation rates, career placement and support services for veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses. Read more about the award at park.edu/news/military-friendly-designation-2026.

Hammond Wins NAIA 800-Meter Title; Parkville Campus Men Earn Top 10 Finish

Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus freshman middle-distance runner Cody Hammond won the men’s 800-meter run at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championship meet in Gainesville, Fla., in early March. Hammond was sitting in sixth place halfway through the race and was in eighth place at the 600-meter mark before turning on the jets and racing past the field, running the final 200 meters in 26.45 seconds to win the race with a time of 1:50.95.

Hammond was also a part of the men’s 4×800-meter relay, along with sophomore Caden Peters, senior Alexander Caines and sophomore Palmer O’Connor, that brought home a second place finish with a time of 7:31.24. The quadruplet had set the school, facility and NAIA record in the preliminaries with a time of 7:29.18, but their time was bested by Marian (Ind.) in the final.

Also earning All-America honors for the Pirates was Caines, who placed seventh in the men’s 600-meter run with a time of 1:18.60 (he broke a school record in the preliminary race with a time of 1:18.23); senior Ahmad Evans, who placed seventh in the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.34 meters (24 feet, 1 inch); and Peters, who placed eighth in the men’s mile run with a time of 4:10.97, which set a new school record. On the women’s side, sophomore Rosjai Curtis placed fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 11.99 meters (39 feet, 4 inches).

Park’s men finished the meet with 23 points, good for 10th place, while the women’s squad finished in a tie for 43rd with five points. Read more about the national meet at parkathletics.com/news/2026/3/10/INDOOR030726.aspx.

Parkville Campus Student-Athletes Earn Honors

College Sports Communicators honored four Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes on March 24 on the CSC Academic All-District Team. Those honored were: men’s basketball G Tristan McRoberts, senior sport and exercise science major; and women’s basketball G Jordan Bianco, graduate student pursuing Master of Business Administration degree, F Marina Perdiguero, senior information and computer science/software development major, and F Alexus Woodard, senior psychology major. The program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.

Park University Community Members Honored by Parkville Chamber

Two members of the Park University family were recognized during the Parkville (Mo.) Area Chamber and Economic Development Council’s annual gala on March 14 in Riverside, Mo. Brian Mertz (left), a member of Park’s Board of Trustees, was honored with the PACE-Setter Award, which is presented to a business or individual who sets the tone for the community and the Chamber. The award honors those who lead with energy, initiative and a spark of enthusiasm, going above and beyond through active involvement, forward-thinking practices and meaningful relationships that strengthen the community and PACE. Greg Plumb, J.D. (right), professor of criminal justice administration, was recognized with the Chamber Service Award. The award is presented to a member who exemplifies leadership, service and commitment to PACE. Through involvement in events, committees and fundraising efforts, the awardee demonstrates excellence in supporting the mission and members of PACE. Plumb has been a member of the Chamber board since 2023 and previously served as on the Parkville EDC.

Parkville Campus Men’s Soccer Program Signs 12-Year-Old Through Team IMPACT

The Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s soccer program has signed its newest Pirate, 12-year-old Jaxsen Grinter, through a relationship with Team IMPACT. The organization helped form a connection between the soccer team and Jaxsen, a 6th grader at Congress Middle School in Kansas City, Mo. Jaxsen has semilobar holoprosencephaly, but through a relationship with Team IMPACT, which matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved, Jaxsen is now a part of the team. Read more at parkathletics.com/news/2026/3/5/MSCR030526.aspx.

International Center for Music to Conclude 2025-26 Season with a Trio of Concerts

Over the course of three straight Fridays, Park University’s International Center for Music will host a trio of concerts to conclude its 2025-26 season. On Friday, April 17, the ICM Orchestra will perform its annual spring concert, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University’s flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus. Admission to the concert is free, but attendees are asked to RSVP in advance to guarantee seating. The concert will feature Jason Seber as the guest conductor, leading one work for strings and two works for full orchestra. Read more about the concert at park.edu/news/icm-orchestra-spring-2026-concert.

Next up will be a performance by students from the Park ICM’s string studios — Ben Sayevich’s violin studio, Daniel Veis’ cello studio and Chung-Hoon Peter Chun’s viola studio — on Friday, April 24, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the 1900 Building in Mission Woods, Kan. Tickets for the concert are $30 for the general public and $10 for students (not including fees), and are available to purchase in advance through Eventbrite. For more information, visit park.edu/news/string-studios-concert-2026.

The season will conclude on Friday, May 1, also at the 1900 Building, as world-renowned pianist and ICM Artist-in-Residence Behzod Abduraimov presents a concert at 7:30 p.m. Described by The New York Times as the “master of all he surveys,” Abduraimov’s captivating performances continue to receive international praise. Tickets are on sale now, with more information at park.edu/news/behzod-abduraimov-concert-2026.

Parkville Athletics Collection Drive

Park University’s Parkville (Mo.) Campus Athletics is hosting a collection drive in support of its teams and student-athletes to enhance opportunities for growth and development. Items that are collected are purchased by FUNDrive as an eco-friendly fundraiser for nonprofit organizations. Items being collected include various clothing and accessories, household textiles and small goods, and books/media. Boxes can be dropped off at Breckon Sports Center on the Parkville Campus between Monday, April 13, and Friday, May 8, during regular business hours. For questions or more information, contact Nan Rowe, Parkville Campus athletics administrative assistant, at nanette.rowe@park.edu.

Faculty, Staff, Student News

Dmitry Yudin, graduate student pursuing a graduate certificate in music performance/piano, was announced on March 24 as a recipient of a $25,000 Avery Fisher Career Grant, administered by the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. The grant is designed to give professional assistance and recognition to talented instrumentalists and chamber ensembles who are believed to have great potential for major careers in classical music. Video of Yudin’s acceptance of the award and a short performance can be viewed here (starts at 28:00).

The Great Southwest Athletic Conference honored two Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus student-athletes — Ryan Lea (left), a senior psychology major and a defender on the men’s soccer team, and Lauren Runnion (right), a senior sport and exercise science major and a forward on the women’s soccer team — with a 2026 Cliff Hamlow Champion of Character Award. The award is given to one male and one female student-athlete on each GSAC campus who demonstrates outstanding athletic achievement, campus and community leadership, future ambition and embraces the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character program (respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and servant leadership). Student-athletes must be at least a junior academically and carry a 3.0 overall grade point average.

Jiarui Cheng, sophomore music performance/piano major, was announced as the winner of the 2026 Naftzger Young Artist Award at the 87th annual Naftzger Young Artists Auditions in Wichita, Kan., on March 21. The award came with a $5,000 prize. Cheng is the sixth Park University International Center for Music student since 2005 to win the top prize.

Sarah Meyer, sophomore communication major, was announced as the winner of the podcasting division at the Pi Kappa Delta (national forensics honorary organization) National Tournament in Springfield, Mo., on March 22. Meyer’s winning submission was an audio file of a podcast pitch, which included an introduction, sample interview and explanation of the series. The podcast topic was on “women in sports” and she interviewed Melody Alexander, adjunct instructor of communication and The Stylus advisor, who has a sports data business.

Sophomore Adrian Figueroa, Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s volleyball outside hitter, was named the NAIA Men’s Volleyball Attacker of the Week for the week of March 23. Figueroa totaled 47 kills across eight sets played, hitting .500 for the week as he committed just 10 hitting errors on 74 attacks. Against Missouri Baptist University on March 28, he put down 32 kills.

Brandi Handley, assistant professor of English, authored a short story, “How’s Your Pain?” that was published in March in the literary journal Cutleaf. The story is about a labor and delivery nurse who makes some questionable decisions to correct what she believes is an injustice in the maternity ward.

Jack MacLennan, senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, and special assistant to the president for governance (who also holds the title of associate professor of political science), presented a discussion on the war in Iran, the history of Iran and U.S./Iran relations to the Northland (Kansas City, Mo.) Democratic Club on March 17.

Emily Sallee, Ph.D., acting provost and professor of English, spoke at a webinar for the Council of Independent Colleges on Feb. 27 related to reduced-credit bachelor’s degrees. Sallee stressed the importance of mission alignment, faculty collaboration and backward design in her comments.

Park in the News

Jack MacLennan, senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, and special assistant to the president for governance (who also holds the title of associate professor of political science), co-authored the article “U.S.‑Israeli Strikes Against Iran may Succeed on a Military Basis, but at what Cost?” that appeared on The Conversation website on March 1.

MacLennan also participated in an in-depth interview about the war in Iran and its far-reaching economics effects on KMBC-TV’s (Kansas City) public affairs program, “Heart of the Matter,” that aired on March 15.

A week later, on March 22, MacLennan appeared as a panelist on KCTV’s public affairs program, “Kansas City: On the Record”, to discuss the war in Iran and its impacts in the Kansas City region.

MacLennan co-authored an article, “U.S. Actions in Iran are Politically Motivated, Not the Result of Intelligence Failures” that was published in The Conversation on March 25.

Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, participated in a live, 15-minute interview on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City during the “Midday with Jayme and Wier” program on March 2 (starts at approximately 32:00) as part of a discussion on the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and what may come next.

Harris provided comments for a story published in the Kansas City Star on March 5 related to a Missouri lawmaker’s proposal to repeal the Show Me Sports Investment Act, which offers state funding for up to 50 percent of stadium costs for professional sports teams.

Harris appeared on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on March 18 in an extended interview to discuss the midway point of the Missouri legislature’s general session.

Harris was interviewed for a story that aired on WDAF-TV in Kansas City on March 20 related to Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Quinton Lucas considering a run for Missouri’s 4th Congressional District seat.

Harris provided comments for a Kansas City Star article published on March 25 related to how anti-tax voters could affect the Kansas City, Mo., earnings tax vote in April.

On March 27, Harris was interviewed for stories that aired on KCTV in Kansas City related to Missouri 6th District Congressman Sam Graves announcing his retirement ahead of the upcoming midterm election.

A story about Kansas State Representative John Resman (R-District 121), ’78, appeared in the Kansas City Star on March 3. Resman died at his home in Olathe, Kan., on March 2.

Kay Barnes, retired Park University senior director of university engagement, was featured in the Kansas City Business Journal on March 6. Erik Bergrud, MPA ’94, and former Park chief strategic communications officer, provided comments for the article. Barnes, who served as the mayor of Kansas City, Mo., from 1999-2007, was honored with the KCBJ’s Power Player Award on March 5, as part of its Capstone Real Estate Awards event. The Power Player Award shines a spotlight on people who have had — and continue to have — a lasting positive effect on the commercial real estate industry.

David Bouryi, ’21 (who goes by David Bay), was featured in an article posted on the BroadwayWorld.com website on March 10. Bay, a violinist who studied under Ben Sayevich in the International Center for Music, has approximately 3 million followers across his social media channels – all without a marketing team.

Lucas Sousa, ’16, MBA ’20, a midfielder for the Kansas City Comets in the Major Arena Soccer League, appeared in a taped interviewed at halftime of the Comets game against the San Diego Sockers on March 14.

An opinion article related to Gwen Grant, ’94, who has announced her retirement effective March 2027 as the president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, appeared in the Kansas City Star on March 20.

Scott Hageman, associate professor of geology, appeared on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on March 20 in an extended interview to discuss differences in types of oil, how oil prices are established and what needs to take place to ramp up production of oil.

Kristin Gillette, director of athletics for Park University’s flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus, was featured in a Women’s History Month story related to women in sports leadership roles that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on March 25.

Tim Westcott, Ph.D., professor of history, associate university archivist and director of the George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War, provided comments for a story published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on March 30 (click “Documenting Their Service” at left) about the Sequoyah National Research Center in Little Rock, Ark.

Upcoming Events

(All events are Central time and on the flagship Parkville [Mo.] Campus unless noted)
          •  Through April 10 — Art Exhibit: Faculty Biennial Showcase, Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
          •  April 8-9 — Park University Giving Day
          •  April 8 — International Center for Music Concert: Cellist Diyorbek Nortojiev Graduate Recital, 7 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  April 10 — F.E. Warren Air Force Base (Wyo.) Campus Commencement Ceremony, 2 p.m. (Mountain time), F.E. Warren Base Theater
          •  April 15 — Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards, 6 p.m. David Theater (Alumni Hall)
          •  April 17 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra with Guest Conductor Jason Seber, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  April 22 — Honors Convocation 6 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  April 23 — International Center for Music Concert: Pianist Yangrui Cai Graduate Recital, 7 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  April 24 — International Center for Music Concert: Ben Sayevich Violin Studio Students / Daniel Veis Cello Studio Students / Chung-Hoon Peter Chun Viola Studio Students, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
          •  April 29 — International Center for Music Concert: Violinist David Brill Graduate Recital, 7 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  May 1 — School of Education Cording Ceremony, 7 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall)
          •  May 1 — International Center for Music Concert: Pianist Behzod Abduraimov, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
          •  May 2 — Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus Commencement Ceremony, 10 a.m. (Arizona time), Arizona Athletic Grounds, Mesa, Ariz.
          •  May 4 — Pirates Choice Awards (Parkville [Mo.] Campus Athletics), 6 p.m., Olde Mill Emporium, Parkville, Mo.
          •  May 6 — International Center for Music Concert: Violinist Yiyuan Zhang Graduate Recital, 7 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  May 8 — Ellen Finley Earhart Department of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 2 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  May 8 — Grad Walk, 3:30 p.m., Parkville Campus (begins at Sunderland Promenade, adjacent to Norrington Center)
          •  May 8 — International Sash Ceremony, 5 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  May 9 — Kansas City Area Commencement Ceremony, 10 a.m., Cable Dahmer Arena, Independence, Mo.
          •  May 10 — Spring Semester / Spring II Term Ends
          •  May 11 — Maymester Begins
          •  May 24 — Maymester Ends
          •  May 25 — Memorial Day (all University offices nationwide closed)

To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics and student life, visit park.edu/calendars/park-events-calendar.