Park University’s Howell Awards Recognize Leadership Achievements During 2021-22 Academic Year
April 14, 2022 — In celebration of the leadership achievements of Park University students, faculty and staff during the 2021-22 academic year, the Office of Student Life and the Park Student Government Association announced recipients of honors as part of the 27th annual Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards. The awards program, held on April 13, 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.
• Abbey Barnett, senior business administration/marketing major, Manchester, Mo. (attended Parkway South High School)
• Raquel Castellano, senior psychology major, St. Joseph, Mo. (attended Benton High School)
• Nathaniel Lane, senior psychology major, Kansas City, Mo. (attended Staley High School)
• Richard Oles, senior business administration/project management major, Kremnica, Slovakia
• Hailey Rawhouser, senior social work major, Springfield, Mo. (attended Willard [Mo.] High School)
• Piper Stevens, junior biology major, Lansing, Kan. (attended Lansing High School)
• Kierra Taylor, senior fine art major, Kansas City, Mo. (attended Park Hill South High School, Riverside, Mo.)
• Adam Wilkins, senior nursing major, Kansas City, Mo.
Outstanding Class Member Awards: This award honors two students from the senior and junior classes (based on credit hours completed) who best represent their class in service to, and participation in, Park University.
• Seniors
o Emily Rawhouser, senior graphic design major, Springfield, Mo. (attended Willard [Mo.] High School
o Michael Willis, senior business administration/human resources major, Independence, Mo. (attended Blue Springs [Mo.] South High School)
• Juniors
o Annastasia Bair, junior biology major, Omaha, Neb. (attended Millard North High School)
o Elias Eichhorn, junior business administration/management major, Haan, Germany
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.
• Emily Sallee, Ph.D., associate provost and professor of English, Platte 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.
• Jeanette Prenger, ’09, member and immediate past chair of Park University’s Board of Trustees, president and founder of ECCO Select, 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.
• Liz Irvin, registrar specialist, Kansas City, 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.
• Megan Townsend, junior accounting and business administration/digital marketing major, Omaha, Neb. (attended Millard North High School)
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.
• Manisha Joshi, freshman nursing major, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Neyamia Powell, sophomore English and psychology major, Kansas City, Mo. (attended Park Hill High School)
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.
• Manika Karki, senior business administration/human resources and criminal justice administration/corrections major, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faculty/Staff Newcomer of the Year Award: Presented to faculty and staff members in their first year of outstanding service to the University.
• Faculty: Danielle Theiss, director of library services, DeSoto, Kan.
• Staff: Damian Gonzalez, digital storytelling coordinator, Independence, 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.
• Yi Li, senior multimedia journalism/public relations major (serves as a work-study in the purchasing office), Guilin, China
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.
• Felipe Chagas, 2021 graduate and pursuing Master of Science degree in information systems and business analytics (serves as a graduate assistant in the Office of Strategic Communications), Goiania, Brazil
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.
• Stacy Yeager-Okosi, Ph.D., assistant professor of business analytics and adviser for the Black Student Union, Independence, Mo.
Student Success and Impact Award: This award recognizes educators who have made an outstanding impact and profound difference on Park students.
• Katie Slaughter, ’14, MHA ’18, 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.
• Sawyer Smith, senior biology and chemistry major, McPherson, Kan. (attended McPherson 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.
• Spectrum, an organization dedicated to increasing awareness and support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Student Organization of the Year Award: This award is given to an outstanding student organization that was formed within the past academic year.
• Crimson Dancers, an organization that allows students to perform at University events.