Harbor Journal - July 5, 2022:
In the vibrant city of Kansas City, several significant accomplishments and appointments have been made recently.
Mallory Jansen, a Park University alumna from the class of '13, and her co-founded company, Flexy, have received recognition on KCUR-FM's website. Flexy is a unique venture that pairs fitness trainers and yoga instructors with apartment complex gyms.
In the realm of music, Ilya Shmukler, a graduate student at Park University's International Center for Music, has made a name for himself on both a local and international stage. Shmukler advanced to the finals of the 16th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where he not only won a cash prize of $10,000 as a finalist but also earned the "Best Performance of a Mozart Concerto" award, adding an additional $5,000 to his prize.
The competition's success didn't stop there. An article about Shmukler was published on KCUR-FM's website on June 13, the day after he was selected as one of six finalists. He also appeared in a nearly one-hour recorded segment on KWJC-FM and was interviewed for a story previewing the competition that aired on KDFW-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth.
In other news, Nathalie Brech, director of Park University's Lenexa (Kan.) Campus, graduated from the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Lenexa program. Meanwhile, Ben Zibers, associate vice president of the Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus, graduated from the Gilbert Chamber Foundation's Gilbert Leadership program.
The Board of Trustees at Park University has also undergone some changes. The new members, effective July 1, 2025, are Brian Mertz, Lewis Nerman, Sam Stahnke, and Levi Young, M.D., each elected to serve a three-year term. Scott Jackman was elected as the new chair of the Board for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Additionally, N. Lynn Craghead was elected Treasurer, Sarah Moe was elected Secretary, and Andrew Shoffner was elected as Vice Chair. Vince Clark and Mara Cohara were re-elected to their positions on the Board.
Lastly, Matt Harris, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, was interviewed for several stories discussing various topics, including the correlation between rising temperatures and rising crime rates, the Northwest Missouri State University Board of Regents not renewing its president's contract, and backlash Missouri Senate candidate Eric Greitens received after posting on social media urging supporters to go "RINO hunting."
These accomplishments and appointments highlight the ongoing success and vibrancy of Park University and the Kansas City community.
In the context of the ongoing success and vibrancy of Park University and the Kansas City community, education and self-development have been evident, as demonstrated by Mallory Jansen's venture, Flexy, receiving recognition on KCUR-FM's general news website. Meanwhile, sports have also been a significant part of this vibrant city, with Ilya Shmukler, a graduate student at Park University's International Center for Music, earning multiple awards and appearances in local and international sports news, following his success at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
