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- 1. For a month, Alan French has been the new Director of Campus Safety at Park University. “Where do I begin?” questioned French when asked about his past. French attended the University of Missouri Kansas City on an athletic scholarship. He majored in health and physical education. While he was in college, he was a reserve officer for the Kansas City Police Department. After receiving his degree, he went full-time with the department doing various assignments including public relations, being a part of an investigation unit, a desk sargent, and security for former governor Kit Bond and former Kansas City mayor Richard L. Berkley. But that is just the beginning of French’s background. “He’s the perfect blend…,” said Kate Hwang, campus safety officer. “He has extensive knowledge, the background of law enforcement, as well as experience as a private sector. It works well with our department and what our team is trying to achieve.” Coming to Park University, he said he knew there were things that needed to be fixed and he has plans that need to be implemented. “My ultimate objective is the safety of the students and the staff here,” said French. He is currently developing an active shooter program for our campus as well as a mediation plan for natural disasters. “I’m a big believer in preventive measures,” said French. “We have 700 acres patrolled by 10 officers. I don’t know if that’s enough, but we have a great relationship with the Parkville Police Department. They are very accommodating to us.” His plan is to “upgrade the operation” and provide the proper training his team needs. “They need to be able to observe the students and point out if something isn’t right,” he said. French is taking measures to meet OSHA’s requirements as well as FEMA’s. He is responsible for making sure all the fire codes are up to date and his people have proper AED and CPR certifications. This tops his assignment list. “He’s juggling a lot but he doesn’t seem to be affected by all of it. He always appears cool, calm, and collected,” said Hwang, “which is exactly what we need. He’s been really great. He and I have a great professional working relationship. We both have worked with the Kansas City Police Department and can understand one another’s lingo. From other officers, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Alan,” continued Hwang. “Everyone has been very supportive of him and what we are trying to accomplish. Take the opportunity to stop by and meet the Officers as well as our new Director. Ask questions, and rest assured knowing we are always here to help.” Across the table, her light wavy hair fell past the shoulders of her dark jacket. A native of upstate New York and college graduate, Beth Pennekamp found herself once again on a university campus, pursuing a dream. When asked about her plans, she tilted her head and took a deep breath. A smile never left her face. Pennekamp grew up in Roches- ter, N.Y., and left home to attend Evangel University in Springfield, Mo. After four years, she graduat- ed with an art degree in 2013. For the next two years, she was part of the imagery department with Bass Pro Shops as a scenic artist. Pen- nekamp utilized her degree to help build exhibits and dioramas the company is so famous for in stores around the country. After two years, her husband’s job led them to Kansas City, where Pennekamp considered returning to school, an inspiration that came from her previous employment. “While working at Bass Pro, I realized I wanted to get into the design part of it, and I didn’t have a design degree,” said Penneka- mp, “which led me to go back to school. I loved looking at freehand drawings of exhibits. So, I started looking around in Kansas City for interior design programs.” Pennekamp said when she dis- covered Park, it was a great fit. The location and hours fit her schedule perfectly. Before she enrolled, she met Kay Boehr, associate profes- sor and interior design program coordinator, who showed her the interior design department and outlined the curriculum. Almost finished with her first full semester at Park University, Pennekamp said so far it has been great. Besides coordinating with her schedule, Pennekamp said she really loves the small class sizes, compared to larger universities. Despite already having a de- gree, Pennekamp said she is con- tinually learning new ways to ap- ply her skills in various ways in the work force. “What’s great with Park is that, as you continue in your classes, you’re always learning new av- enues to take with your degree,” she said. “You realize you’re not limited. I hope to learn more about what else I can do.” A new student to the program, Pennekamp has drawn upon her previously honed abilities and tal- ents and merged them with her in- terior design projects in distinctive ways. “As an art major, you are trained to come up with concepts off the bat and make connections. It helps with rendering, design and composition, what elements work with what, and color theory, but the biggest part I pull from my art degree is how to make concepts connect, how to be a developer. I think about how to work with my client, get to know what my client’s needs are, who my client is, draw from that and create a con- cept out of that. It helps to have four years plus training in concept development.” Pennekamp’s training didn’t just happen in the classroom. She said her work with Bass Pro and summer internship with a theatre company developed her skills and opened the door to great opportunities which led her to pro- duce some of her proudest work. “When I was a scenic artist intern at a theatre company, I was paint- ing some murals and set elements for produc- tion, which was really fun and a great expe- rience,” she explained. “ Y o u ’ r e painting and building and s c u l p t i n g all summer long. I was w o r k i n g a l o n g s i d e costume design interns and car- pentry interns and it was a really creative experience. Our supervisors were all set de- signers or costume designers. You got to see professional creative fields really flourishing. At the end, you step back and say, wow, I painted that whole set. That was a proud moment.” Boehr said Pennekamp has brought several strengths to the in- terior design program and is able to utilize her previous degree and experience. “Beth’s work as a designer is conceptually sophisticated and creative,” she said. “She has excel- lent graphic skills and was able to quickly learn the skills of drafting and rendering.” Boehr also said although Pen- nekamp brings a lot to the table, she is learning new material ev- ery day to merge with her current skills. “Beth quickly caught on to the principles of drafting, a skill I assume that she did not have be- fore,” Boehr said. “She now has mastered that skill. Her art back- ground helped her quickly master the presentation style rendering skills. Her ability to design a space appears to come from years of ex- perience, but I think she developed this ability this fall at Park.” Pennekamp said she is excited to learn the intricacies of interior design, and is looking forward to pursuing that dream. “I always wanted to stay in the creative field,” she said. “I loved the job that I had, but I wanted to find an artistic field. Interior de- sign includes forms, spaces, col- ors, textures, and I just want to stay around that.” November 20, 2015 Page 5 Student draws upon art degree Elizabeth Orosco Features Editor Beth Pennekamp, freshman interior design major, sits at her desk in the design studio on the top floor of Hawley Hall. Pennekamp graduated from Evangel University with an art degree and is bringing her previously honed skills and talents to pursue a degree in interior design at Park University. PHOTO/Max Mohr Park University did not hold classes Nov. 11 to honor the commemoration of Veterans Day. This national holiday is dedicated to those who have served in the military. Park has a reputation for providing educational opportunities to veterans, as well as students working toward involvement in the U.S. military. Today, the Park community is home to many veterans among the student population and faculty alike. Wade Abel, assistant director of Military and Veteran Student Services at Park, is a retired army major who was deployed to Iraq in 2006-2007. “Veterans Day, to me, is a day dedicated to those serving today and in the past,” Abel said. “I have been married for 32 years, and was in the military for 25 of those years. My family’s lives have always been oriented around the military - you don’t know how many anniversaries I have had to miss. Some parts of being involved in the military for all of these years have been good, some bad. Veterans Day is one day out of the year, but I believe it is something that should be thought about every day.” Cole Nichols, a junior and accounting major at Park University, served four years as military police and was a part of the United StatesAir Force, zoned in a classified location. “Being involved in the military was life changing in many ways,” Nichols said. “It made me more disciplined and more organized. Veterans Day is a day that is dedicated to remembrance of all who have served in the military.” Nichols said serving in the military is important because without those who serve, Americans would not have the freedom they do today. Both Abel and Nichols are involved in Park’s Warrior Center, a place which is dedicated to Park’s military community. The Warrior Center is located on the first floor of Thompson Commons. Outside of the Center, veterans can be found in more ambiguous locations within Park’s facilities. Such as Frank P. Hamilton is an adjunct professor who teaches photography and served in the Navy four years. “I graduated from college in 1968, and when I got out the draft board was waiting,” Hamilton said. “When I first received the draft board letter stating that I was being drafted for military service, I considered trying to find a way in which I could abstain, however a part of me felt obligated to do something for my country. I knew that if I was drafted to the Army, I was going to be guaranteed to be sent to Vietnam. Instead, I chose to join the Navy in hopes that going to Vietnam would be avoided.” The ship Hamilton was assigned to, went to Vietnam three times. Hamilton said the first and second times were for six months, and the final time was for seven. According to Hamilton, when he and his troop were not in Vietnam, they were in various other places in the U.S., doing repairs and other “miscellaneous tasks.” “In my time in the military, I found myself feeling lonely,” he said. “I made friends, which was a good part, but I did encounter a lot of loneliness. When I was in college, I majored in theatre, and through that creativity became an important part of my life. The best thing I got out of being in the military was picking up a camera. The camera ultimately became a creative outlet for me. Photography gave me a way to have a life outside of the zoo that the military was. As a photographer, my purpose is to produce photographs, and in doing so, I am faced with a choice. I can make photographs that cause pain, or photographs that are beautiful and cause joy. I chose beauty and joy.” Hamilton said he has kept track of several people he served with. One, recently passed away. “Last year, the high school I graduated from had its 50th reunion,” Hamilton said. “Several veterans from my class got together for Veterans Day. This year some of my colleagues and I were invited to Park Hill’s Veterans Day ceremony….For me, Veterans Day is a nice chance to get together with fellow veteran colleagues.” Beth Pennekamp brings previous art experience to studies in interior design PHOTO/Max Mohr Alan French, the new director of campus safety at Park University, sits in his office on the first floor of Thompson. Only four weeks into his new position, French is implementing mediation plans for student and faculty safety, ensuring his team is provided with the proper training. New Park campus safety director implements vision Kristine Kennedy Staff Reporter Park students, staff remi- nisce on service experience in honor of Veteran’s Day “Some parts of being involved in themilitaryforalloftheseyearshave been good, some bad. Veterans Day is one day out of the year, but I believe itissomethingthatshouldbethought abouteveryday.” -Wade Abel, assistant director of MilitaryandVeteranStudentServices Taylor Miller Staff Reporter