Park University’s Howell Awards Recognize Leadership Achievements from 2025-26 Academic Year
April 22, 2026 — In celebration of the leadership achievements of Park University students, faculty and staff during the 2025-26 academic year, the Office of Student Life and the Park Student Government Association announced recipients of honors as part of the 31st annual Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards. The awards program, held on April 15, is named for Howell, a 1944 Park graduate who was an internationally renowned leader in pediatrics and hospice care before passing away in November 2018.
Awards presented and the recipients:
(Name, year in school, major, hometown [and high school attended, if known], for students; name, work title and city of residence for faculty/staff):
Outstanding Class Member Awards: This award honors two students from the junior and sophomore classes (based on credit hours completed) who best represent their class in service to, and participation in, Park University.
• Juniors
o Isadora Dias, junior psychology major, Natal, Brazil
o Lilli Porsch, junior psychology major, Cologne, Germany
• Sophomores
o Mikiyah Howard, sophomore interdisciplinary studies major, Kansas City, Kan. (attended Wyandotte High School)
o Maxine Toney, sophomore corporate financial management major, Jonesboro, Ark. (attended Jonesboro High School)
Dusing-Proudfoot Award: This award is given to honor an outstanding contribution by a Park University faculty or staff member. It is named in honor of two former Park University professors, Albert Dusing and Merrill Proudfoot, who worked at Park for more than 20 years each and are respected for their academic and teaching betterment of students.
• Jenna Pirok, Ph.D., adjunct instructor of sociology, Kansas City, Mo.
Park Family Award: This award recognizes Park staff and/or faculty members who embody the University’s family-like culture in their interaction with students and fellow staff/faculty.
• Camille Cook, director of library services, Lawrence, Kan.
C.W. Bailey Award: This award is given in memory of C.W. Bailey, grandfather of John Shelton, a 1976 Park graduate, to students for the purpose of facilitating their education to the end that they may make a contribution to society in the tradition of Bailey. It is presented to one or two students who have distinguished themselves and exhibited the spirit of Park University.
• Jolie Conner, freshman criminal justice administration/corrections major, Holt, Mo. (attended Kearney [Mo.] High School)
• Weston Flook, freshman chemistry major, Liberty, Mo. (attended Liberty High School)
Park Servant Leader of the Year Award: Awarded to a student who exemplifies the characteristics of a strong servant leader and/or has a service-focused mindset, and has worked effectively with others in the University and/or surrounding community to be a positive change.
• Rylee Reece, senior biology major, Lee’s Summit, Mo. (attended Blue Springs [Mo.] South High School)
Faculty/Staff Newcomer of the Year Awards: Presented to faculty and staff in their first year of outstanding service to the University.
• Faculty: Claire Reinert, teaching and learning librarian, Merriam, Kan.
• Staff: Bradford Peace, director of residence life, Kansas City, Mo.
Student Employee / Graduate Assistant of the Year Awards: These awards go to an outstanding work-study student and graduate assistant student who are chosen on the basis of reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and the uniqueness of contributions to the University.
• Student Employee: Nicholas Mattivi, December 2025 graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration/accounting, Kansas City, Mo. (attended Park Hill High School)
• Graduate Assistant: Patience Dadzie, pursuing Master of Business Administration degree in quality management, Accra, Ghana
Student Organization Adviser of the Year Award: This award recognizes the staff/faculty member who has provided outstanding efforts in guiding and advising student organizations.
• Janine Wilkins, adjunct instructor of communication arts, adviser to Intervarsity, Kansas City, Mo.
Student Success and Impact Award: This award recognizes educators who have made an outstanding impact and profound difference on Park students.
• Catherine Geehan, associate director of international education, Gladstone, Mo.
Park Student Government Association / Cindy Anderson Senator of the Year Award: This award recognizes the senator who made the greatest contribution to PSGA during the year. The award is named for Anderson, a Park freshman soccer player from Grimes, Iowa, who was killed in an accident (along with a teammate and head coach) heading to a NAIA playoff game in 2000.
• Jessica Roush, sophomore communication and political science major, Belton, Mo. (attended Belton High School)
New Student Organization of the Year Award: This award is given to an outstanding student organization that was formed within the past academic year.
• Gardening Club