Parkville, Mo.—August 28, 2024 — The Park University Alumni Association has announced the 2024 honorees of its four annual awards. A ceremony recognizing the recipients, along with the University’s 2024 Athletics Wall of Honor awardees (announced in June), will be held as part of Park’s Homecoming and Parents Weekend festivities on Friday, Sept. 27, starting at 3 p.m. in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University’s flagship Parkville Campus.

Following the awards ceremony, the plaques recognizing the Athletics Wall of Honor recipients will be unveiled at 4:15 p.m. in the hallway adjacent to the 6th Street entrance to the Mabee Learning Center/Academic Underground, followed immediately by a reception. These events are open to the public.

The 2024 Park University Alumni Association awards honorees:

Distinguished Alumnus Award

This award, which recognizes Park alumni who have distinguished themselves through career service or community achievements, will be presented to Ricky Godbolt, Ed.D., 1993 graduate (Bachelor of Science degree in social psychology) and a resident of Aberdeen, Md. Godbolt has been a program analyst with the U.S. Department of Labor since 2022 after having previously served the USDL as an apprenticeship and training representative for seven years. He also spent 14 years in higher education as the director of the Center for Trades and Energy Training at the College of Southern Maryland and as a program director and adjunct instructor at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.

Godbolt also had a 21-year career in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Marine engineering warrant officer. He held military occupational specialties as a track vehicle mechanic, interior electrician, construction supervisor, Marine engineering officer and Marine deck officer. Among his military honors, Godbolt was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, four Army commendation medals, nine Army achievement medals, the National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army sea duty ribbon and two humanitarian service medals.

Torchlighter Award

This award is given to honor individuals who have made significant, long-standing contributions and commitment to Park University, whether alumni, faculty or friend. The recipient of this year’s award is Tom Peterman, Ph.D., a resident of Independence, Mo., who served the University for 21 years as vice president for distance learning and as a library director.

Peterman joined Park in 1990 before retiring in 2011. When he became vice president for distance learning in 1996, Google was still two years away from coming into existence. Peterman was instrumental in the development and implementation of the University’s videotaped courses series, its computer-assisted course offerings over the internet, CD-ROM course work, and interactive television network courses originating in Park’s electronic classroom. In the early 2010s, what was known as Park Distance Learning (which oversaw the University’s military, distance and online programs) named an enrollment growth award after him, the “Tom Peterman Achiever Award.”

Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award

This award is presented to Park University alumni in recognition of volunteer service to community and/or civic organizations. The award is named in honor of Marlowe Sherwood, 1963 graduate, who exemplified the school motto of Fides et Labor (faith and labor). This year’s recipient is Jack Satter, a 1971 Park graduate (Bachelor of Arts degree in business and economics) and a resident of Kearny, N.J.

Satter held a variety of roles over his professional career, including with the Missouri Division of Youth Services and Family Services, Southwestern Bell / AT&T and a construction company. For the past 14 years, Satter has driven a school bus for special needs students in New Jersey, and also volunteers as Santa Claus over the Christmas holiday season.

Park Promising Young Professional Award

This award recognizes a Park University alumnus/a who graduated from Park within the last 10 years, is under the age of 40 and shows exceptional leadership promise in his or her profession and community. This year’s recipient is Master Sgt. Corey Holt, a 2019 and 2022 Park graduate (Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary studies and Master of Public Administration degree) and a resident of Bossier City, La.

Holt is an accessories functional area manager at Air Force Global Strike Command, Logistics and Engineering Directorate, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., where he is responsible for managing maintenance policy and equipment. He is also the point of contact for matters related to aircraft ejection, electrical, fuel and hydraulic systems. Prior to his current role, Holt as a base liaison between the U.S. Air Force and the Ministry of Defense as the egress section chief, 48th Component Maintenance Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, at  Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. In 2008, as an airman, Holt was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in 2011, while assigned to Misawa Air Base in Japan, he participated in Operation Tomodachi following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

About Park University

Founded in 1875 in Parkville, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City, Park University is a nonprofit, private institution that is a national leader in higher education. In 2000, Park achieved university status and currently serves more than 6,600 students at 23 campuses in 16 states and online, including Parkville, Independence and Kansas City, Mo.; Lenexa, Kan.; Gilbert, Ariz.; Barstow, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio; Austin and El Paso, Texas; and 14 military installations across the country. www.park.edu