The Crow’s Nest — December 8, 2025

The Crow's Nest - December 8, 2025

Parkville Campus Men's Cross Country Team Competes at NAIA Nationals

The Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus men's cross countryteam qualified to compete at the NAIA National Championship meet on Nov. 21 in Tallahassee, Fla. It was the first time since 2013 that the Pirates competed as a team at nationals. Park finished 25th as a teamand were led individually with an 83rd place finish by sophomore Cayden Walker (right), who ran the 8K course in 25:45.4. In addition, freshman Anna Joyce competed in the women's national championship race, finishing the 6K course in 23:19.9, good for 144th place.

The men's team qualified for the national meet by winning the Heart of America Athletic Conference meet on Nov. 8in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Pirates swept the top three individual spots and placed four in the top seven to win the team title. Sophomore Caden Peters was the HAAC champion, winning the race in 24:37.1. A week later, Rikki Hacker (left), Park cross country head coach, was tabbed as the conference Coach of the Year. In addition, Hacker was selected as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South Central Region Men's Coach of the Yearon Nov. 13.

The Parkville Campus women's volleyballteam also qualified for the NAIA National Championship tournament for the 12th time in the last 13 years, but the No. 23 seeded Pirates lost 3-2 to Dakota Wesleyan Universityat Breckon Sports Center on Nov. 22 in the tournament's opening round. Park finished the year with a 19-10 record.

Park University Student-Athletes Recognized by NAIA

A total of 75 Park University student-athletes - 42 from the Parkville (Mo.) Campus and 33 from the Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus - were honored on Nov. 19 as NAIA Fall 2025 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's contingent was the Gilbert men's soccerprogram with 16 honorees, followed by the Parkville women's soccerteam with 14 and the Parkville men's soccerteam with 10. The Parkville women's cross countryteam and the Gilbert women's soccerteam added nine each.

On Nov. 13, 33 Gilbert Campus student-athletes were announced as Great Southwest Athletic Conference Fall 2025 Scholar-Athletes. Sixteen men's soccerand nine women's soccerstudent-athletes led the Buccaneers.

On Nov. 25, two Gilbert student-athletes, senior Havard Brynie, men's soccer, and senior Lauren Runnion, women's soccer, were both named as College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honorees. Both are also finalists to be considered for Academic All-America honors, which will be announced on Dec. 16.

HAAC, GSAC Announce Soccer, Volleyball All-Conference Teams

The Heart of America Athletic Conference, of which the Parkville (Mo.) Campus is a member, and the Great Southwest Athletic Conference, of which the Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus is a member, announced all-conference teams for men's soccer, women's soccer and women's volleyball in November. Those earning first team honors were: senior F Jacksyn McIntyre, HAAC men's soccer; senior F Patrycia Kozak, HAAC women's soccer; junior F Monty Almaliky, GSAC men's soccer; senior F Lauren Runnion, GSAC women's soccer; and sophomore S Silvia Albani, and freshman OH Indi Zetic, HAAC women's volleyball. In addition, Izabella Ceratti (right), in her first season as Parkville Campus women's volleyballassociate head coach, was tabbed as the HAAC Assistant Coach of the Year.

The Navigator Seeks Student Writing Submissions

Park University's undergraduate research journal, The Navigator: Excellent Student Writing Across the Disciplines, is asking undergraduate students to consider submitting academic work - from any discipline completed in a Park course during the 2025 calendar year - for possible publication. The Navigator is designed to highlight the best undergraduate student writing at Park, with an emphasis on the richness and variety of academic research across the University. To have your work considered for publication, undergraduates should submit their work at thenav.orgby Wednesday, Dec. 31. Park faculty also welcome to nominate student work.

International Center for Music Resumes Season with Concert on Jan. 23

The next performance in the International Center for Music's 2025-26 seasonwill feature the ICM husband-and-wife duo of violinist Ben Sayevich(professor of violin) and pianist Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich(director of collaborative piano), as they present a concert on Friday, Jan. 23, 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 icm.park.edu/1900-sayevich-lisovskaya-sayevich-january-2026.

Faculty, Staff, Student News

Merideth Rose, '06, MPA '08, and a member of Park University's Board of Trustees, was announced as one of two winners of a $100,000 Pinnacle Prize through the G. Kenneth Baum and Ann Baum Philanthropic Fund. The award is a celebration of extraordinary people making a significant impact on Kansas City through bold, selfless actions, with a goal to recognize and provide meaningful support to those who don't just talk about change, but actively create it, showing us all what's possible when passion meets perseverance. Rose serves as the president and chief operating officer of Cornerstones of Care, a nonprofit organization dedicated to behavioral and mental health.

Camille Cook, director of library servicesand assistant professor of librarian instruction and outreach, presented a virtual session on "Everyday Superheroes: Collaboration, Support and Purpose in Small to Mid-Size Libraries" for the Florida Virtual Campus/Professional Development Alliance of Library Consortia on Nov. 4. In the session, Cook shared strategies for building meaningful partnerships with faculty, student-services offices and administrators to break barriers and strengthen campus connections.

Greg Plumb, J.D., professor of criminal justice administration, was honored by Scouting America - Heart of America Council as a 2025 recipient of its Silver Beaver Award. This prestigious award, which recognizes dedicated volunteers, is the highest honor a council may present for exceptional service to Scouting. In addition, Plumb was re-elected in late November to serve as vice chair of the Parkville (Mo.) Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council.

Park in the News

Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, provided comments for stories that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Nov. 4related to an election in Jackson County, Mo., asking if the county assessor should be elected or appointed.

Harris was quoted for a story published in the Kansas City Star on Nov. 5related to if local elections in Kansas followed or bucked the trend of Democratic-leaning candidates getting elected.

Harris was interviewed for a story that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Nov. 26related to a text message blast sent to Missourians from the Republican National Committee that warned against signing petitions on Black Friday.

International Center for Musicstudents Tatiana Dorokhova, pursuing a Master of Music degree in music performance/piano(she earned a graduate certificate in music performance/piano in 2024), and Dmitry Yudin, pursuing a graduate certificate in music performance/piano, performed on the "Classical Music in the Morning" program that airs on Kansas Public Radio on Nov. 5. Their appearance was in advance of the ICM piano studio concert on Nov. 13.

John Hamilton, Ph.D., professor emeritus of criminal justice administration, was interviewed for stories that aired on KSHB-TV on Nov. 7-8related to an officer-involved shooting on Nov. 2.

Stories related to the city of Parkville, Mo., holding a ribbon-cutting event on the University's flagship Parkville Campus on Nov. 14 to launch a ride-share program that will help Parkville residents and Park University students, aired on Kansas City area television stations. A story was also published in the Platte County (Mo.) Landmark on Nov. 19.

John Wyatt Greenlee, MPA '11, a medievalist and cartographic historian, appeared in "That Shakespeare Life" podcast on Nov. 17to discuss "The Slippery History of Eels in Shakespeare's England."

A story about Ron Griffin, '95, being named the 2025 Pike County (Ga.) Veteran of the Year by the Pike County American Legion Post 197, appeared in the Pike County Journal-Reporter on Nov. 18.

Merideth Rose, '06, MPA '08, and a member of Park University's Board of Trustees, appeared on KCUR-FM's "Up to Date" program in Kansas City on Nov. 25to talk about the $100,000 Pinnacle Prize she received through the G. Kenneth Baum and Ann Baum Philanthropic Fund earlier in the month (see story above).

The Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus baseball teamwas highlighted on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Nov. 30as the squad volunteered at the Northland Christmas Store in the organization's preparation for the holidays. Cary Lundy, head coach, as well as C Sebastian Guzman and INF AJ Rodriguez were interviewed for the story.

Park University was recognized as a 2025 Top Veteran-Friendly School by U.S. Veterans Magazine in its Winter 2025 edition(starts on page 67).

Park University was ranked No. 72 by Military Times on its "Best for Vets: 2025 Colleges" list on Nov. 17. Park also ranked No. 14 among private, not-for-profit schools and No. 21 among traditional and online schools.

Park University was ranked by Reasearch.com No. 74 on its "Best Colleges in 2026 in America" list, and No. 24 on its "Best Private Colleges in 2026" list.

Upcoming Events

(All events are Central time and on the flagship Parkville [Mo.] Campus unless noted)
• Through Dec. 19 - Bryce Holt Art Exhibit, Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
• December 11-14 - Bell Road Barn Players, "The Very Special Christmas Special that Saved Christmas,"David Theater (Alumni Hall)
• December 24-January 1 - Christmas Holiday / Park University Holiday / New Year's Day Holiday (all Park University offices nationwide closed)
• January 12 - Spring Semester / Spring I Term Begins
• January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday (all Park University offices nationwide closed; Parkville [Mo.] and Gilbert [Ariz.] campuses daytime classes cancelled; Spring I term classes held as scheduled)
• January 23 - International Center for Music Concert: Violinist Ben Sayevich and Pianist Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
• February 6 - International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra with Guest Conductor Filippo Ciabatti, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• February 16 - President's Day Holiday (all Park University offices nationwide closed; Parkville Parkville [Mo.] and Gilbert [Ariz.] campuses daytime classes cancelled; Spring I term classes held as scheduled)
• February 26 - Arrr & Arrr, 5 p.m., Park Place Grille, Parkville, Mo.

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