Park University Recognizes 2018-19 Academic Achievements at Honors Convocation

April 25, 2019 — Park University students, faculty and staff were recognized for their exceptional scholarly efforts from the 2018-19 academic year at the University’s annual Honors Convocation on April 24, held in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University’s Parkville Campus. In addition to a number of departmental academic honors, the University acknowledged outstanding students and faculty with a variety of special awards.

The most prestigious honor bestowed on any student at Park University — the Outstanding Parkite Award — went to seniors Eric Haas and Iroda Narzullaeva. The Outstanding Parkite Award is given to one senior male and one senior female student on the University’s Parkville Campus who best exemplify the ideals of the University in their character, conduct, scholarship and student activity participation. The awards are endowed by Dr. Elliot F. Parker in memory of his parents, Albert and Jessie Parker.

Haas, a senior criminal justice administration/corrections major from Parkville (attended Del Campo High School, Fair Oaks, Calif.), has excelled in the classroom with a 3.91 cumulative grade point average, while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves the past three years. He was named a Presidential Scholar for 2018-19.

During his time at Park, Haas has been a peer mentor in the Park Global Warrior Center for three years and has served as president of the Park ROTC Student Organization. He also serves as a platoon leader for the Pony Express ROTC Battalion. During his time in the Army, Haas was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and received four Amy Achievement Medals. Last year, Haas received the Toni Griggs Award, given to honor students who make an outstanding contribution to Park University through leadership, service or work performance as part of Park’s Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards.

Narzullaeva, a senior information and computer science/software engineering major from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, has also shined in the classroom with a 3.97 GPA. She was named a Presidential Scholar in both 2018-19 and 2017-18.

At last year’s Howell Awards, she received the Park Servant Leader of the Year award, which recognizes a student who exemplifies the characteristics of a strong servant leader and/or has a service-focused mindset. In 2017 as a sophomore, Narzullaeva was recognized with an Outstanding Class Member Award, which goes to students who best represent their class in service to, and participation in, Park University. She was inducted into the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society in 2018 and received Department of Information and Computer Science honors as a junior. Narzullaeva has served as the Park Student Government Association vice president and as a resident assistant.

Additional Presidential Awards and Faculty/Staff Awards presented:

Louisa Davidson Hinde / Carolyn Hinde Zarkaryan Memorial Award — This award is given to students, faculty, staff and/or alumni who best represent the spirit of Park University by promoting in others that quality of excellence that has always been associated with a Park education.
          •  Aaliyah Brown, December 2018 graduate and currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership degree, St. Louis, Mo.
          •  Colin McMahon, senior graphic design major, Kansas City, Mo.

Distinguished Humanities Faculty Award — Manuchair Ebadi, Ph.D., a 1960 Park graduate who passed away in January 2015, established the award to celebrate the work, life and thoughts of Woodbridge O. Johnson, Ph.D., professor emeritus and chair of religion and Biblical literature at Park from 1946 to 1966. The award is presented to a University faculty member who exhibits extraordinary accomplishments in research or creative scholarship through teaching, discovery, scholarly or creative work, and service.
          •  Andrea Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor of art, chair of the Department of Art and Design, and director of the Campanella Gallery, Liberty, Mo.

J.L. Zwingle Award — This award pays tribute to an outstanding faculty member as voted by the student body.
          •  Jeff Kimmons, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, Kansas City, Mo.

Teaching Excellence Awards — These awards recognize the full-time and adjunct faculty members who exemplify excellence in teaching, as nominated by peers, students and staff.
        •  President’s Award for Teaching Excellence (for full-time faculty): Jeff Smith, associate professor of graphic design, Kansas City, Mo.
          •  Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence (for adjunct faculty): Erica Jansen, adjunct instructor of English, Del Rio, Texas

Excellence in Academic Advising Award — This award is given to recognize faculty/staff who have achieved excellence in providing Park University students academic advising and mentoring, and recognizes outstanding contributions in helping students define and achieve their academic goals.
          •  Amy Mecklenburg-Faenger, Ph.D., associate professor of English, Kansas City, Mo.

View a complete list of the awards presented during the Honors Convocation.

Park University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Park University is a private, non-profit, institution of higher learning since 1875.