The Crow’s Nest — May 26, 2026

The Crow's Nest - May 26, 2026

Perfection! Parkville Campus Men's Volleyball Team Caps Undefeated Season with NAIA National Title

The No. 1 ranked Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus men's volleyball team fought a bit of adversity in the 2026 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship match on May 2 against No. 3 St. Xavier University (Ill.) as the Pirates dropped the first set. But Park battled back to complete a perfect 35-0 season, defeating the Cougars, 3-1 (24-26, 30-28, 25-22, 25-21) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was just the third time this season that the Pirates found themselves down after the first set. Park has now won the NAIA men's volleyball national title six times (2003, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2025). Twenty-three of Park's victories this season came via three-set sweeps, and only three times were the Pirates forced to a fifth set.

Park advanced to the national championship match by knocking off Heart of America Athletic Conference rival No. 4 Missouri Valley College, 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-17) in the national semifinals on May 1. It was the fourth time this season that the Pirates topped the Vikings - twice in the regular season and in the HAAC championship match. It was the fourth time in six years that Park had been in the national semifinals. The Pirates reached the semifinals by winning its pool, defeating No. 9 Westcliff University (Calif.), 3-0, on April 28 and No. 8 Ottawa University (Ariz.), 3-0, on April 30.

Park sophomore opposite hitter Adrian Figueroa was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. He was joined on the All-Tournament Team by sophomore middle blocker Moises Ortiz and freshman middle blocker Murillo Silva. In addition, senior middle blocker Mihailo Ivanovic was named the Sportsman of the Year. Visit parkathletics.com/sports/mens-volleyball to read recaps of all the matches from the national tournament.

Stories related to the national championship aired on all Kansas City area TV stations, including KMBC-TV, two radio stations and the Kansas City Star. In addition, KMBC-TV and KCTV aired stories the day after the championship related to an impromptu celebration to welcome home the team. Kristin Gillette, director of athletics and acting head coach, and seniors Mihailo Ivanovic, Ignacio Pedemonte and Veljko Stojic were interviewed.

In addition, KMBC-TV and KCTV aired multiple live shots and stories as part of the men's volleyball rally on May 5. Gillette was interviewed by both stations.

Finally, immediately following the rally, Park University was honored by the City of Parkville, Mo., during its Board of Aldermen meeting with a proclamation declaring May 5, 2026, as Park University Sports Recognition Day. Representing the University at the meeting was (from left): Gillette, Park University President Kathrine Swanson, Ed.D., junior setter Jovan Nikolic, and senior middle blocker Mihailo Ivanovic, with Parkville Mayor Dean Katerndahl (far right).

Hammond Earns Gold at NAIA National Track and Field Meet

Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus freshman middle distance runner Cody Hammond came away from the NAIA Outdoor National Championships as a two-time All-American, including being crowned as the men's 1,500-meter champion, May 20-22 in Asheville, N.C.

Hammond found himself in the back of the pack in 11th place at the 700-meter split and in ninth place with just 400-meters to go. But he made his way through the crowd, running a 53.75 final lap to overtake the field, winning in 3:59.19. In addition to his 1,500-meter victory, Hammond also placed eighth in the men's 800-meter run, clocking 1:54.19.

Also earning All-America status at the meet was junior Mya Charles, taking fourth in the women's 100-meter dash with a time of 11.80, and the women's 4×100-meter relay team of junior Hannah Mand, Charles, sophomore Rosjai Curtis and sophomore Alexandria Sherman, which finished seventh with a time of 46.397, edging Marion University (Ind.) by .002.

Academic, Leadership Achievements Recognized as Part of 2026 Honors Convocation and Howell Awards

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 (Mo.) 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 (left), senior logistics major, and Mallory Sole (right), senior psychology major. The Outstanding Parkite Award is given to two students on the University's Parkville Campus who best exemplify the ideals of the University in their character, conduct, scholarship and student activity participation. Read more about the Parkite Award winners and all other awards presented during the Honors Convocation at park.edu/news/honors-convocation-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 on the Parkville Campus, 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. Read about the awards presented at park.edu/news/howell-awards-2026.

Parkville Campus Beach Volleyball Team Takes Second at AVCA Nationals

The Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus women's beach volleyball team, the No. 3 seeded squad in the NAIA division of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Small College Beach Volleyball Championships (April 17-18 in Gulf Shores, Ala.), fought their way to the championship match, but lost to No. 1 Wayland Baptist University (Texas), 3-2, bringing home the runner-up trophy. Park ended the season with a 12-1 record.

The Pirates opened the tournament with a pair of 3-0 sweeps in pool play against No. 9 Truett McConnell University (Ga.) and No. 3 Texas A&M - Texarkana. In the tournament portion of the event, Park opened with a 3-1 win over No. 7 Warner University (Fla.), then defeated No. 5 Texas Wesleyan University, 3-1, in the semifinals to earn a spot in the championship match.

Park's No. 2 pairs team of seniors Aly Anderson and Grecia Ung were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Post-Season Honors for Parkville, Gilbert Athletics

On May 7, just days after the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championships, the NAIA announced its 2026 Men's Volleyball All-America teams. Parkville (Mo.) Campus sophomore opposite hitter Adrian Figueroa (left) and freshman middle blocker Murillo Silva (middle) were named to the first team, while sophomore middle blocker Moises Ortiz (right) earned second team honors.

A few days prior to the national tournament, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced that Figueroa, Ortiz and Silva were named to the AVCA 2026 NAIA Men's Volleyball All-America Team. In addition, Silva was selected as the AVCA NAIA Freshman of the Year, while junior setter Jovan Nikolic was named as an honorable mention selection to the All-America team.

On April 16, the Heart of America Athletic Conference announced its men's volleyball postseason honors. Figueroa was named the HAAC Player of the Year and Attacker of the Year after totaling 403 kills on a .394 hitting percentage during the regular season, and he led the conference with 444.5 total points. Ortiz was tabbed as the Heart's Middle Blocker of the Year after coming up with 207 total blocks (64 solo and 143 assists), and Silva was named the Co-Freshman of the Year after recording 259 kills, 110 digs, 47 total blocks and 23 assists on the season. A week earlier, Figueroa, Ortiz and Silva all earned Heart first team all-conference honors.

On April 30, the HAAC announced its softball postseason awards with sophomore infielder Faith Tessman earning first team all-conference honors.

For the Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus, the Great Southwest Athletic Conference announced postseason honors for softball on April 27. Junior first baseman Noelle Gumm, junior catcher/first baseman Bri Titus and freshman outfielder Ari Fjeldsted earned first team all-conference honors, while graduate student outfielder Anna Chavez was named to the GSAC Gold Glove Team.

In addition, junior Cole Taylor earned GSAC all-conference recognition on April 24 in men's golf.

At the Heart of America Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, May 1-2, the Parkville Campus came away with five conference champions: sophomore Van Forbes Jr, men's 100-meter dash, 10.52; junior Mya Charles, women's 100-meter dash, 11.91; sophomore Caden Peters, men's 1,500-meter run, 3:53.67; sophomore Rosjai Curtis, women's triple jump, 11.98 meters (39 feet, 3.65 inches); and the men's 4 x 800-meter relay (sophomore Caden Peters, senior Jacchaeus Taylor, senior Ian Wash, freshman Cody Hammond), 7:37.65.

Park University Student-Athletes Recognized by NAIA

A total of 46 Park University student-athletes from the Parkville (Mo.) Campus were honored on April 29 as NAIA Spring 2026 Scholar-Athletes. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport and have attended their institution for at least one full year. Leading the Park contingent was the baseball team with 12 honorees, followed by the softball team with 10. Women's track and field added seven, while women's beach volleyball, men's volleyball and men's track and field had four each, women's golf with three and men's golf with two.

Seniors Exhibiting Work in Campanella Gallery Show

A trio of Park University seniors are showcasing their works as part of an exhibit in the University's Campanella Gallery (located inside Norrington Center on the Parkville Campus) through Friday, June 26. Admission to the Campanella Gallery is free and open to the public.

Students whose art will be featured in the show are: Kierstin Beshears, senior K-12 education/art major, Leah Hageman, senior fine art major, and Chloe Schields, senior fine art major. Beshears' art features a collection of black and white mediums with a limited color palette, with hints of gold that signifies change and hope in her life. Hageman is presenting acrylic paintings that invoke a sense of surrealism in colorful depictions of spaces, landscapes and nonobjective abstractions. Schields has created elaborate costume designs inspired by cosplay characters. For more information, visit park.edu/news/senior-exhibit-2026.

Faculty, Staff, Student News

Lynh Nguyen, senior psychology major, will be recognized on June 19 by the American College of Greece with a Global Citizenship Inbound Award. The award is presented to an incoming study abroad student who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting diversity and mutual understanding of cultures, both locally and globally. Specifically, the award is for students who have served as agents of change through international internships, educational programs or volunteer work, advocating for shared civic responsibility. According to the ACG, Nguyen stood out for her eagerness to immerse herself in both the college and global communities. Her leadership, creativity, and positive influence on campus were evident in her contributions. Nguyen also demonstrated academic excellence, particularly through her research in experimental cognitive psychology, where she designed and conducted a study on the impact of color and valence on working memory.

Park University's student newspaper, The Stylus, was recognized with a number of honors during the Missouri College Media Association Conference on April 11 in Springfield. The newspaper, competing in Division 3 (small four-year schools), placed second in the sweepstakes competition in the division, second for best website and third for best overall newspaper. Individually, Park student journalists came away with 12 individual awards, including three first place finishes - Abby Beagle, opinion; Beagle and JoShenna Richardson, editorial/op-ed page (design and writing); and Victoria LaRocca, feature story.

Cornerstones of Care, a nonprofit organization dedicated to behavioral and mental health led by President and Chief Executive Officer Merideth Rose, '06, MPA '08, and a member of the Park University Board of Trustees, was honored by Kansas City's Nonprofit Connect with its Equity in Action Award on April 21. The award honors organizations that exhibit an outstanding commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging; take initiative in addressing societal issues; and fosters an inclusive culture.

Five Park University students presented papers at the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society's annual convention, March 29-April 1 in New Orleans. Kaya Barringer, senior English and professional writing major, presented a creative nonfiction essay, "A Real Tearjerker" and a short story, "The Eighth Day: A Fighting Dog." The short story, won first place and $500 for Barringer in the Common Reader category. According to Stacy Kikendall, Ph.D., professor of English and chair of the Department of English and Disciplinary Studies, it is the fourth year in a row that a Park student won a prize at the convention. Also presenting: Dakota Covington, junior English and secondary education major, presented a poem, "Just the Placeholder;" Grace Cress, senior English major, presented a creative nonfiction essay, "A Shared Room;" Victoria Goering, senior elementary education major, presented a poetry collection, "I Will Leave You Some Words;" and Delaney Lowe, senior English major, presented a creative nonfiction essay, "Swimming in Memories." In addition, Kikendall chaired two sessions, "Creative Nonfiction: Practicing Authenticity," and "Creative Nonfiction: Transformation in Thought and Life."

Andrew Johnson, Ph.D., professor of psychology, was presented with a plaque on April 3 by the Psychology and Addictions Counselor Club, and the Psi Beta Chapter at Kansas City, Kan., Community College in recognition of Johnson's continued support and collaboration with the psychological science program at KCKCC.

Scott Tuttle, Ph.D., adjunct instructor of psychology and sociology, authored the article "The Venezuela Migration Crisis: Institutional Collapse, Hyperinflation and Regional Migration Patterns" that was published on the Suru Institute website on April 29.

Wen-Jung Hsin, Ph.D. (left), professor of computer science, and Pen (Crystal) Peng, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science, presented at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in College Central Plains regional conference, April 10-11 in Springfield, Mo. Hsin was a panelist on the keynote session "Where are We Going? The Future of Computing Education in the Face of AI." Peng presented a nifty assignment on "Building a Linux Device Driver."

Ryan Wagner, Ph.D., adjunct instructor of history, authored "Why Hadimand and Washington Fought Different Intelligence Wars" that was published May 19 in the Journal of the American Revolution.

Park in the News

Adrian James, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Management, was interviewed for stories that aired on WDAF-TV in Kansas City on April 1 related to Oracle laying off more than 500 employees at its Kansas City campus.

Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, provided comments for a story published in the Kansas City Star on April 1 that discussed how the Kansas City area has benefited from influence in Congress, but why that power could diminish.

Harris participated in an extended interview segment that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on April 6 related to the number of media personalities that have announced their intentions of running for Congress in Missouri.

Harris provided comments for a story published in the Kansas City Star on April 7 related to the election ballot question if the earnings tax in Kansas City, Mo., should continue or not.

Harris was interviewed for stories that aired on WDAF-TV in Kansas City on April 8 related to gas prices remaining high despite the drop in the price of a barrel of oil.

On April 10, Harris provided comments for a story published in WyoFile, an independent public-interest news service reporting on the people, places and policy of Wyoming. The article was related to Wyoming's crowded U.S. House primary race and how it could produce a winner without a majority.

Also on April 10, Harris was interviewed for stories that aired on KCTV in Kansas City related to the Platte County (Mo.) county prosecutor race drawing scrutiny over a number of last-minute candidate changes.

Harris provided comments for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on April 23 related to the tax bill in Missouri as well as remaining priorities heading into the end of the legislative session.

Harris was interviewed for a Kansas City Star article published on April 24 related to Rev. Adam Hamilton, the founding pastor of the largest United Methodist Church in the U.S., weighing his options to launch a campaign against Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.

Harris participated in an extended interview that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on May 1 to discuss the Rev. Adam Hamilton's announcement that he was entering the primary race for the Kansas Senate seat.

Harris appeared as a panelist on KCTV's public affairs program, "Kansas City: On the Record" on May 3 to discuss America's heated political climate and rhetoric, and what Americans agree on and how to keep that the focus moving forward.

On May 5, Harris was interviewed by both KCTV and KMBC-TV in Kansas City related to the race for Jackson County (Mo.) executive following a revolving door of entries, exits and reversals.

Harris provided comments for a story published in the Kansas City Star on May 21 related to how Denny Hoskins, Missouri secretary of state, has reshaped the office.

Harris was interviewed for a story that aired on KCTV in Kansas City on May 22 related to Missouri Amendment 5, which would eliminate the state income tax.

On May 26, Harris participated in an interview on KCUR-FM's (in Kansas City) "Up to Date" program to discuss two controversial constitutional amendments and a referendum on gerrymandered congresssional districts in Missouri.

Scott Fergerson, chief financial officer, was named to the Kansas City Business Journal's "20 to Know - Education" series, published on April 17, which introduces readers to people they should get to know in key industries and categories.

The North Kansas City (Mo.) School District published a story and video about Chloe Wilson, a 2nd grade student at Davidson Elementary School, who was a part of a special signing day with the Parkville (Mo.) Campus softball team in October 2025. The story included comments from Lindsey Derry, softball head coach. Chloe, who has been diagnosed with LAMA2 congenital muscular dystrophy, attends Park's softball games and other athletic events as an honorary captain, but the softball team also has opportunities to build a connection with Chloe outside of campus.

A story about Daniel Graves, '07, being appointed as the chief of police at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, was published in the UMKC Today newsletter on April 24.

A story about Barbara Supplee, '04, executive vice president of SAIC's Army Navy Business Group, being selected as a 2026 Wash100 Award winner appeared on the organization's website on April 28. The award recognizes Supplee's leadership in advancing naval mission readiness, undersea warfare technologies innovation and next-generation training technologies supporting the U.S. military.

Sylvia Hoover, '24, was featured on the Local Investment Commission website on April 28. LINC, a nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of children and families across the Kansas City region, provided assistance to Hoover to help her achieve a long-dreamed nursing career.

Sarah Parker, '04, was featured in Coastal Illustrated magazine on April 30. Parker is a realtor in St. Simons Island, Ga.

Katie Montgomery, adjunct instructor of psychology, was featured in the May edition of Johnson County City Lifestyle (page 29) as one of four recognized by the magazine as Johnson County (Kan.) Women of the Year. Montgomery is the owner of Emerald Counseling Services in Overland Park, Kan.

Aaron Eyerly, '21, and his brother, Adam, were highlighted in an article that appeared on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service website on May 4. Both are serving with V Corps in Lithuania for Saber Strike '26. Aaron is the civil affairs team chief with the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, 308th Civil Affairs Brigade, 353rd Civil Affairs Command.

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), participated in a live webcast for KCTV in Kansas City on May 6 to discuss the economic impacts of the war in Iran.

Kristin Gillette, director of athletics for Park University's Parkville (Mo.) Campus, participated in a 30-minute interview on May 8 for DannyClinkscale.com for his "Reasonably Irreverent - Kansas City Profiles" podcast. Gillette talked about her background and the Parkville Campus men's volleyball team's run to the NAIA national championship.

Celeste Lupercio, director of corporate and foundation relations, participated in a live interview from the Parkville (Mo.) Campus that aired on WDAF-TV in Kansas City on May 12 related to the Go North KC World Cup art installation and T-shirt design competition.

Mara Cohara, vice chair of Park University's Board of Trustees, was named to the Missouri Lawyers Media Power List for Business Defense Attorneys for the sixth consecutive year. Cohara, a partner with Lathrop GPM in Kansas City, Mo., concentrates her practice on complex business defense - toxic torts, nuisance, product liability and high-stakes litigation for manufacturers, agribusinesses, and religious and educational institutions.

Twin sisters Annabella and Aryanna Romero, seniors at Gila Ridge High School in Yuma, Ariz., were highlighted on KYMA-TV in Yuma on May 15 as they signed letters-of-intent to play women's soccer at Park University's Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus.

Parkville Campus men's volleyball sophomore middle blocker Moises Ortiz was highlighted in Listin Diario, a newspaper in the Dominican Republic, on May 20. Ortiz is expected to join the Dominican Republic's men's volleyball national team for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games, which will be held in Santo Domingo, D.R., June 23 through July 8.

Susan Keim, Ph.D., associate professor of public administration, was interviewed for a story that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on May 22 related to local wildlife, environmental and health concerns as more data centers are being considered in the region.

Keim was also interviewed by KCTV for a story that aired on "Kansas City: On the Record" on May 24 related to why data centers keep popping up despite public opposition. KCTV also posted an extended interview with Keim the following day.

ECCO Select, an IT talent acquisition and advisory consulting company in Kansas City, Mo., led by Jeanette Prenger, '09, founder/chief executive officer, and a former chair of Park University's Board of Trustees, was ranked No. 2 on Ingram's (a Kansas City business magazine) list of top Kansas City area women-owned businesses, ranked by gross revenues, in the publication's March edit ion. ECCO Select also ranked No. 3 on Ingram's list of top Kansas City area minority-owned business, ranked by gross revenues.

Park University was recognized by Winds of Change, a magazine focusing on advancing indigenous people in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), on its "Top 200 Colleges for Indigenous Students" list which was announced in the publication's 2026 special college issue.

Upcoming Events

(All events are Central time and on the flagship Parkville [Mo.] Campus unless noted)
• June 8 - Summer Session / Junemester Classes Begin
• June 12 - Parkville (Mo.) Campus Admissions Welcome Aboard Day for Transfer Students
• June 12 - Cherry Point (N.C.) Marine Corps Air Station Campus Commencement Ceremony, 10 a.m. (Eastern time), Two Rivers Theater and Event Center
• June 12 - Beaufort (S.C.) Marine Corps Air Station Campus Commencement Ceremony, 10 a.m. (Eastern time), Depot Theater, Paris Island, S.C.
• June 19 - Juneteenth Holiday (All University offices nationwide closed; Summer Session and Junemester classes held as scheduled)
• June 26 - Parkville (Mo.) Campus Admissions Welcome Aboard Day for First-Time Freshmen
• July 3 - Independence Day Holiday Observed (All University offices closed nationwide; Summer Session/Junemester classes held as scheduled)
• July 5 - Junemester Classes End
• July 6 - Julymester Classes Begin
• July 15 - Parkville (Mo.) Campus Admissions Welcome Aboard Day for First-Time Freshmen
• July 25 - Parkville (Mo.) Campus Admissions Welcome Aboard Day for First-Time Freshmen and Transfer Students
• August 2 - Summer Session / Julymester Classes End
• August 6 - Barstow (Calif.) Community College Campus Commencement Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. (Pacific time), BCC Performing Arts Center
• August 17 - Fall Semester / Fall I Term Classes Begin
• August 21 - Opening Convocation, 11 a.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel and Virtual
• August 22 - El Paso (Texas) Campus / Fort Bliss (Texas) Campus Commencement Ceremony, 1 p.m. (Mountain time), Starlight Event Center, El Paso, Texas

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