Park University’s Homecoming and Family Weekend Set for Sept. 19-21

Aug. 19, 2019 — Park University alumni, family and friends from across the country will converge on the University’s Parkville Campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend 2019. Events begin on Thursday, Sept. 19 (which is also International Talk Like a Pirate Day), and continue through Saturday, Sept. 21.

While a number of activities during the weekend are reserved for Park alumni and their families, many events are open to the public. These include (events with ticketed admission are noted):

Thursday, Sept. 19
          •  Park University Alumni Association Awards Program, 6 p.m., The Park Place, Parkville, Mo. Tickets are $10 per person. Five Park alumni will be honored:
                 o  Robert, ’04, and Brenda Dandridge, ’07, New Baden, Ill., will receive the Torchlighter Award, given to honor individuals who have made significant longstanding contributions and commitment to Park University, whether alumni, faculty or friend.
                 o  Carolyn McHenry Elwess, ’71, Parkville, Mo., will receive the Distinguished Alumna Award, which recognizes Park alumni who have distinguished themselves through career service or community achievements. Elwess, who has been employed by the University since 1989, currently serves as its archivist.
                 o  Marcus Gladdis, MBA ’11, MHA ’18, Kansas City, Kan., will receive the Park Promising Young Professional Award, which recognizes a Park alumnus/alumna who shows exceptional promise of leadership and contribution to their profession and/or community.
                 o  Lillian Madeje, ’10, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, will receive the Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award, which recognizes Park alumni for volunteer services to community and civic organizations.

Friday, Sept. 20
          •  Park University Emeriti/Retired Faculty and Friends Tea, Park Distance Learning Center Conference Center, 10:30 a.m.
          •  International Center for Music Concert: Stanislav and Friends: An Intimate Evening, 6:30 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City, Mo. Tickets are $75 (plus applicable fees) and can be purchased at tickets.kauffmancenter.org/stanislav.

Saturday, Sept. 21
          •  Athletics Wall of Honor Induction Breakfast, 9 a.m., Park Distance Learning Conference Center. Tickets are $20 per person. Those being honored:
                 o  Pat Fayard, current assistant to the athletic director, for meritorious service. Fayard has been a Park employee since 1985. She has served in her current role since 2000 and held a stint as the cheerleading coach from 1987-2000.
                 o  Jon Meriweather, ’11, MBA ’14, men’s basketball player. Meriweather was a two-time second team NAIA All-American (2008 and 2009). In the 2008-09 season, Meriweather averaged 20.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
                 o  Ben Popoola, men’s soccer head coach from 1983-95, women’s soccer head coach from 1988-95 and director of athletics from 1984-96. Popoola’s soccer teams combined for a 295-103-12 (.734 winning percentage) record during his tenure.
                 o  Wendy Romero, ’17 and currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree in public accounting, women’s volleyball player. Romero helped lead the Pirates to its undefeated (40-0) NAIA national title in 2014 as a first team All-American. She was also the NAIA National Player of the Year in 2016, helping Park advance to the national semifinals.
          •  Family Fun Day Event, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 6th Street entrance
          •  Park House Celebration, 1:30 p.m., Park House (new location adjacent to Hawley Hall)
          •  Women’s soccer and men’s soccer matches vs. Freed-Hardeman University, Julian Field. Admission is free.
                 o  Women’s match, noon
                           Presentation of Athletics Wall of Honor Class of 2019 at halftime
                 o  Men’s match, 2:15 p.m.
                           Crowning of Homecoming Royalty at halftime

Throughout the weekend, food and toiletries for Park University’s Pirate Pantry, which was established last year to help alleviate food insecurity among the University’s students, will be accepted.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the Alumni Association Alumni Awards program, Wall of Honor breakfast and other events, visit www.park.edu/homecoming or contact the University’s Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@park.edu / (816) 584-6209.