Park University’s Howell Awards Recognize Leadership Achievements
April 15, 2021 — In celebration of the leadership achievements of Park University students, faculty and staff during the 2020-21 academic year, the Office of Student Life and the Park Student Government Association announced recipients of honors as part of the 26th annual Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards. The awards program, held virtually on April 14, 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.
Awards presented and the recipients:
(Name, year in school, major, hometown [and high school attended, if known], for students; name, work title and city of residence for faculty/staff):
Dr. Doris Howell Leadership Awards: This award is given to students who distinguish themselves uniquely as leaders regardless of position or title. Recipients represent the spirit of a Park University by: pursuing integrity in every endeavor; inclusiveness as a global citizen; are responsible and respectful in word, work and conduct; are aware of the implications and rewards of their education; truthful in every action; and excellence in modeling the Park University lifestyle.
• Allison Anderson, senior business administration/international business and marketing major, Kansas City, Mo. (attended Olathe [Kan.] Northwest High School)
• Taylor Dumsky, senior communications studies major, Blue Springs, Mo. (attended Blue Springs High School)
• Ryan Eisenbacher, senior graphic design major, Springfield, Mo. (attended Parkview High School)
• Skyler Jensen, sophomore communications studies and multimedia journalism/public relations major, Earlham, Iowa (attended Earlham High School)
• Manika Karki, sophomore criminal justice administration/corrections and economics major, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Rithchamy Polynice, freshman biology major, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
• Haley Schields, senior social psychology major, Sanford, N.C. (attended Overhills High School, Spring Lake, N.C.)
• Pranoj Thapa, senior information and computer science/software development major, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Danielle Whitfield, senior psychology major, Kansas City, Kan. (attended Bishop Ward High School)
• Savanna Wyatt, junior multimedia journalism/public relations major, Olathe, Kan. (attended Olathe East High School)
Outstanding Class Member Awards: This award honors two students from the junior and sophomore classes, as well as non-graduating seniors (based on credit hours completed) who best represent their class in service to, and participation in, Park University.
• Non-Graduating Seniors
o Manoj Khatiwada, senior business administration/management major, Kathmandu, Nepal
o Hailey Rawhouser, senior social work major, Springfield, Mo. (attended Willard [Mo.] High School)
• Juniors
o Demetria Byers, junior criminal justice administration/law enforcement major, Kansas City, Mo.
o Bruno Comin, junior fitness and wellness major, Brasilia, Brazil
• Sophomores
o Macy Masters, sophomore nursing major, Lee’s Summit, Mo. (attended Blue Springs [Mo.] South High School)
o Gabriel Soares, sophomore nursing major, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Dusing-Proudfoot Award: This award is given to honor an outstanding contribution by a Park University faculty or staff member. It is named in honor of two former Park University professors, Albert Dusing and Merrill Proudfoot, who worked at Park for more than 20 years each and are respected for their academic and teaching betterment of students.
• Katherine Renner, director of student success/daytime program, Kansas City, Mo.
Tipton Award: This award is given to honor an outstanding service contribution to Park University by a Park alumnus/alumna. It is named to honor Bill and Mary Lou Tipton, both 1928 Park graduates. Throughout their lives, the Tiptons served Park University through the Park University Alumni Association, Friends of the Park University Library and the Park University Board of Trustees.
• Nathan Marticke, MACL ’10, chief advancement officer, Kansas City, Mo.
Park Family Award: This award recognizes Park staff and/or faculty members who embody the University’s family-like culture in their interaction with students and fellow staff/faculty.
• Tonya Wessel, director of residence life, Parkville, Mo.
Toni Griggs Award: This award is given to honor students who have made an outstanding contribution to Park University through leadership, service or work performance. Griggs, a Park employee and an integral part of the University for three decades, was a friend to Park students, faculty and staff.
• Stefanie Rettenbacher, MBA ’21, Office of Student Life graduate assistant, Parkville, Mo.
C.W. Bailey Award: This award is given in memory of C.W. Bailey, grandfather of John Shelton, a 1976 Park graduate, to students for the purpose of facilitating their education to the end that they may make a contribution to society in the tradition of Bailey. It is presented to one or two students who have distinguished themselves and exhibited the spirit of Park University.
• Kokouvi Alowonou, freshman information and computer science major, Kansas City, Mo.
• Diyorbek Nortojiev, freshman music/strings major, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Park Servant Leader of the Year Award: Awarded to a student who exemplifies the characteristics of a strong servant leader and/or has a service-focused mindset, and has worked effectively with others in the University and/or surrounding community to be a positive change.
• Bayan Salam, senior criminal justice administration/law enforcement major, Kansas City, Mo. (attended Oak Park High School)
Faculty/Staff Newcomer of the Year Award: Presented to faculty and staff members in their first year of outstanding service to the University.
• Faculty: Kristin Whiteley, assistant professor of accounting, Smithville, Mo.; and Camile Abdel-Jawad, visiting assistant professor of library services, Overland Park, Kan. (honorary)
• Staff: Rachael Chapman, copy center specialist, Raytown, Mo.
Student Employee of the Year Award: This award goes to an outstanding work-study student who is chosen on the basis of his/her reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and the uniqueness of his/her contributions to the University.
• Molly Soltis, senior mathematics major (serves as work-study in the Department of Mathematics), Kansas City, Mo. (attended Platte County High School, Platte City, Mo.)
Graduate Assistant of the Year Award: This award goes to an outstanding graduate assistant student who is chosen on the basis of his/her reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and the uniqueness of his/her contributions to the University.
• Vanessa Groves, pursuing Master of Social Work degree, graduate assistant in the Department of Social Work, Laclede, Mo.
Student Organization Adviser of the Year Award: This award recognizes the staff/faculty member who has provided outstanding efforts in guiding and advising student organizations.
• Zac Jarrard, information technology services project manager, adviser of Alexa Club, Kansas City, Mo.
Student Success and Impact Award: This award recognizes educators who have made an outstanding impact and profound difference on Park students.
• Barrett Price, graduate student success coach, Kansas City, Mo.
Park Student Government Association / Cindy Anderson Senator of the Year Award: This award recognizes the senator who made the greatest contribution to PSGA during the year. The award is named for Anderson, a Park freshman soccer player from Grimes, Iowa, who was killed in an accident (along with a teammate and head coach) heading to a NAIA playoff game in 2000.
• Timothy Gibson, senior elementary education major, Liberty, Mo. (attended Liberty High School)
Program of the Year: Awarded to the student club or academic organization that made outstanding contributions to local, national or global communities through an organized service or civic engagement program.
• Grocery Bingo, Residence Hall Council
Student Organization of the Year Award: This award is given to an outstanding student organization that was formed within the past academic year.
• Speech and Debate Team