Park University Recognizes 2025-26 Academic Achievements at Annual Honors Convocation

April 23, 2026 — Park University students, faculty and staff were recognized for their exceptional scholarly efforts from the 2025-26 academic year as part of the University’s annual Honors Convocation held on April 22 on the flagship Parkville Campus. The University acknowledged outstanding students, faculty and staff with a variety of special awards, in addition to a number of departmental academic honors.

The most prestigious honor bestowed on any student at Park University — the Outstanding Parkite Award — went to Ognjen Petrovic and Mallory Sole. The Outstanding Parkite Award is given to two students on the 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.

Petrovic, a senior logistics major from Cacak, Serbia, has excelled in the classroom, earning a 4.0 grade point average and has been named a University presidential scholar three times (2024-26) and twice (2024-25) was selected as an NAIA scholar-athlete participating on the men’s basketball reserve squad. In 2025, Petrovic received an outstanding class member award as a non-graduating senior, as well as the Park University Business Faculty Award for exceptional leadership in the classroom and potential in the field of business. As president of the Park Student Activities Board, he led campus-wide programming for student engagement. In addition, he has served as a resident assistant within the Office of Residence Life and as a tutor for the Academic and Career Success Center. His involvement extends beyond the Parkville Campus through volunteer service with Pantry of Hope in Kansas City, Mo., and active participation in the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Lenexa, Kan.

Sole, a senior psychology major from Trenton, Mo. (attended Trenton High School), has also excelled in the classroom with a 4.10 cumulative GPA as a member of the Honors Academy. Sole serves as a president of Park’s Rotaract Club and vice president of Park’s chapter of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, while also contributing as a student ambassador and a first-year student mentor. Beyond campus, Sole actively contributes to clean-up efforts, tree-planting projects and community-building programs, and her commitment to service includes volunteer work with the Parkville Animal Shelter, Parkville Rotary Club, Harvesters – The Community Food Network and Heart to Heart International.

Additional Presidential Awards and Faculty/Staff Awards presented:
(Name, year in school, major, hometown and high school attended, if known, for students; name, work title and city of residence for faculty/staff):

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.
          •  Suzanne Johnson (left), admissions counselor, Parkville, Mo.
          •  Luna Martins (right), senior psychology major and a member of Park’s women’s volleyball and beach volleyball teams, Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award — This award pays tribute to a faculty member who shows evidence of commitment to high standards of excellence in the area of scholarship: teaching, discovery, integration and/or service. The recipient also shows effective and innovative connections between teaching and research, especially by undergraduate student involvement and participation. Manuchair Ebadi, Ph.D., a 1960 Park graduate who passed away in January 2015, established this award in honor of Delta Gier, Ph.D., a former chair of the Department of Chemistry who served Park from 1948 to 1990.
          •  Joshua Mugg, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy and director of the Honors Academy, 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): Andrew Johnson, Ph.D. (left), professor of psychology, Kearney, Mo.
          •  Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence (for adjunct faculty): Jolayne Gorman (right), adjunct instructor of social work, Parkville, Mo.

J.L. Zwingle Award — This award pays tribute to an outstanding faculty member as voted by the student body.
          •  Tamara Jenkins, Ph.D. (left), assistant professor of criminal justice administration, Blue Springs, Mo.

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.
          •  Kristen Whiteley (above right), associate professor of accounting, Stewartsville, Mo.

View a complete list of awards presented during the 2026 Honors Convocation.