Events and Stories Highlights from Park University in the Year 2023
Park University, located in Parkville, Missouri, has been making headlines globally with its impressive accomplishments and recognitions. Here are some of the key events and achievements that have put the university in the spotlight.
Academic Excellence and Community Impact
In the realm of academics, Park University's nursing program has been a standout. From Spring 2023 to Spring 2025, the Ellen Finley Earhart Department of Nursing reported a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for five consecutive graduating cohorts, totaling 56 graduates. This impressive feat underscores the program's strong curriculum and faculty quality.
The university's commitment to community involvement was evident in 2023 when Park State Bank awarded $2,500 scholarships to qualified high school seniors committed to further education, emphasizing academic achievement and community involvement.
Athletic Success
Park University's men's volleyball team has also been making waves. Junior outside hitter Joao Friedrich was selected as the HAAC Player of the Year and Attacker of the Year, freshman setter Eduardo Faquin was tabbed as the Setter of the Year, while Samuel Essilfie, opposite hitter, was named Freshman of the Year. Mike Talamantes, Park's director of volleyball and men's/women's volleyball head coach, was named Coach of the Year.
Leadership Recognition
Notable leadership recognitions include Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Park University's 14th and first female president (2001-2009), receiving a posthumous 2025 Sustained Achievement Award by the Association for Theatre in Higher Education for academic leadership. She was the founding president of that organization.
Scholarly Achievements
Scholarly achievements were also highlighted in 2023. An article authored by Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was published in The Conversation on July 24, 2023, discussing Taylor Swift as a political influencer. The article garnered attention, with Harris participating in live interviews on KCBS-AM in San Francisco and 630 CHED (Edmonton, Canada) / QR Radio (Calgary, Canada).
Cultural and Historical Recognition
Park University's cultural and historical significance was brought to light with the release of the documentary "More Than A Medal," which explores the work of the Valor Medals Review Project by Park University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War. The documentary was placed on availability on YouTube, CuriosityStream, HistoryHit, and Vimeo.
The university's connection to the Manhattan Project was also highlighted in the summer of 2023, with three Park University alumni featured in the film "Oppenheimer."
Athletic and Esports Achievements
In the world of esports, Zackery Fritz, a sophomore nursing major and a member of Park University's Parkville (Mo.) Campus esports team, was tabbed as the Heart of America Athletic Conference's first-ever Esports League of Legends Player of the Year on Oct. 26.
Institutional Honours
Park University's campus achieved a gold-level honor for a perfect 100 score among NAIA programs nationally in 2025, underscoring ongoing institutional excellence. The university also held its Kansas City Area Commencement at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Mo., for the first time, with the event including 705 students eligible to participate in the ceremony.
In summary, Park University's notable accomplishments in recent years focus on nursing program success, achievements in music, leadership recognitions, and institutional honors, with continued emphasis on academic excellence and community impact.
- Park University's dedication to education-and-self-development is evident in various aspects, such as its nursing program's impressive 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
- The university also supports the development of future leaders, providing scholarships for high school seniors who excel academically and demonstrate community involvement, demonstrating its commitment to both education-and-self-development and community service.
