Alumni Features
Read about our alumni featured below:
Ferdinand "Jack" Bates Jr. ’57
Tavarus Pennington ’22
Allison Park ’09
Brenden Day ’24
Natalie Nimmer ’00
From The Hill to a Lifetime of Opportunity: Ferdinand "Jack" Bates Jr. ’57
For Ferdinand "Jack" Bates Jr. ’57, the Jewell experience didn't end at graduation. The friendships, mentors and experiences he had on The Hill shaped the course of his life, inspiring a lifelong connection to the College and a desire to help students create their own Jewell stories.
Now 91, Jack looks back on his years at Jewell with deep appreciation. Among his favorite memories are the days he spent playing clarinet in the pep band, traveling with fellow students to basketball games. Those long bus rides, school spirit and lifelong friendships became memories he still treasures today.
Jewell also launched the career that would define much of Jack’s professional life. He credits Dr. Frank Edson, chair of the chemistry department, with introducing him to industrial chemistry and helping him secure his first job. “I had a really wonderful career building on what I learned at Jewell,” Jack shared. That opportunity eventually led Jack to Alcoa, where he worked alongside Jewell alumni on a project many people know well today — helping develop the first aluminum can for Anheuser-Busch.
For Jack, supporting Jewell is about ensuring today’s students have access to the same life-changing foundation he received. “I want to help people have the opportunities I had,” Jack said. “Jewell invests so much in its students. It’s important to keep that going.”
Reflecting on his journey, Jack says the people he encountered at Jewell shaped so much of what followed. “The professors and my friends at Jewell made all the difference. They helped me get jobs and were the foundation of my professional network. And wow, did we also have some fun.” In fact, Jack says he would never have met his wife, Mary Kay, of 60 years without the path Jewell set him on.
After a lifetime of friendships, career success and opportunities made possible through his Jewell experience, Jack continues to give back so today's students can build stories of their own on The Hill.
Photo: Jack holding one of the early Anheuser-Busch cans he worked on.
From Student to Strategist: Tavarus Pennington ’22
Within a few years of graduating from William Jewell College, Tavarus Pennington ’22 is already making an impressive mark in the communications industry. Graduating with degrees in communication and English, Tavarus began his professional journey at Parris Communications in Kansas City as an intern. Through hard work and dedication, he quickly advanced within the organization and, in September 2025, earned a promotion to senior account executive.
Tavarus credits much of his early success to the experiences and opportunities he found at Jewell. During his time on The Hill, he was drawn to the freedom to fully explore his interests. As a member of the debate team and an engaged student leader, he found opportunities that prepared him well for life after graduation. Today, his rapid career growth is a testament to how a Jewell education helps graduates lead with purpose and confidence.
Tavarus isn’t all work. Outside of Parris Communications, he enjoys spending time with his fiancé, Claire, and their two cats, Noodle and Slinky. You might find them on the slopes in Colorado, and they’re big fans of going to the movies—often catching a film once or twice a week.
Reflecting on his experience at Jewell, Tavarus shares: “Jewell offers all the benefits of a community-first experience. Knowing your neighbor isn't the exception on the Hill; it's the fulcrum of a Jewell degree. The lessons I learned navigating and directing my student experience are something I've always valued, shaping how I engage with every community I've been part of since.”
Photo from left to right, Roshann Parris (Founder & CEO), Tavarus, Kelly Cooper (President), and Laurie Roberts (Senior Advisor and retired President).
Creating Spaces to Thrive: Allison Park ’09
For Allison Park ’09, creating spaces where people can thrive isn’t just a career—it’s a calling rooted in curiosity, collaboration and growth.
As vice president of sales for a commercial furniture and interiors dealership, Allison helps organizations design environments where employees spend much of their day. From offices to collaborative workspaces, her work focuses on shaping places that help people feel inspired and supported. She also gives her time and leadership back to her alma mater as a member of William Jewell’s Alumni Board of Governors.
“I love getting to shape spaces where individuals can feel well, find purpose and reach their goals,” Allison says. “Knowing the environments we create can make someone’s workday more inspiring or supportive is incredibly meaningful.”
Just as impactful as the work itself is the team she collaborates with every day. “We trust and respect each other, and we genuinely enjoy building something together. That partnership is a big part of why I love what I do.”
Allison’s leadership style was shaped long before her professional career began. Growing up with a sister and no brothers, her parents instilled a clear message: she could do anything boys could do—and excel at it. Her grandmother offered a complementary perspective that continues to guide her today.
“She taught me to move through the world with poise, treat people with compassion and stay ambitious without losing kindness,” Allison says. “Real strength isn’t about stepping on others to get ahead—it’s about lifting people up and helping them reach their goals.”
Allison credits William Jewell’s Critical Thought curriculum with helping her develop the mindset that launched her professional success. Learning to think deeply, ask hard questions and approach problems creatively opened doors early in her career to opportunities far beyond what was expected.
“Jewell pushed me to think bigger and develop a problem-solving mindset that became the foundation of my career,” she says. “It taught me that asking what’s next is just as important as finding the answer in front of you.”
While her career continues to flourish, Allison says her proudest accomplishment is personal.
From the Fairway to the Future: Brenden Day ’24
For Brenden Day ’24, choosing William Jewell College came down to two things: engineering and golf. While he always knew engineering was the career path he wanted to pursue, he wasn’t convinced he would attend college unless he could continue playing the sport he loved.
That changed just weeks before classes began.
After hearing about Jewell from a high school friend, Brenden confirmed the College offered engineering and reached out to head golf coach Craig Sager. “He responded that night,” Brenden recalls. “A phone call and a campus visit later I knew Jewell was the place I wanted to be.” In fact, he decided to enroll just two weeks before classes started.
Once on campus, Brenden found more than a place to compete academically and athletically—he found community.
“Narrowing down a best memory from Jewell is basically impossible,” he says, “but one memory I will smile at is watching baseball games from the left field hill.” He remembers spring sunshine, big crowds, the smell of parents’ BBQ, tossing a baseball with friends and cheering alongside his Kappa Alpha Order brothers. “That combination…is hard to beat.”
At Jewell, Brenden immersed himself in academics, athletics and Greek Life—each shaping him differently. The College’s Critical Thought and Inquiry curriculum gave him confidence to approach complex problems with clarity. “The core of Critical Thought and Inquiry is what has given me confidence in approaching problems in all aspects of life,” he says.
As a member and former captain of the men’s golf team, he developed mental toughness and learned to balance individual performance with team goals. As a member, and later President of Kappa Alpha, he strengthened leadership skills and deepened his faith, an influence he describes as foundational beyond college.
Brenden’s Jewell experience was more than earning a degree. He discovered a community that challenged, supported and prepared him for life beyond the classroom. T Today, he’s an engineer with the Nashville Department of Transportation serving the Traffic Team as the head of the Street Lighting Program.