Rockhurst News

Rockhurst University Companions,

On March 12, 2020, students, faculty and staff alike were notified that campus would be shut down for two weeks, a precautionary measure meant to prevent further spread of coronavirus/COVID-19. They would not be back for the remainder of the spring semester.

That announcement came shortly after the World Health Organization called the crisis a global pandemic and the same day Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas would issue his first state of emergency order related to the virus.

For 2020 senior men’s lacrosse players Jason Zabel (pictured) and Jake Bastien, life in early March 2020 was good. The seniors had helped the team to a No. 8 national ranking and they were two short months away from graduating.

Then the downward spiral began. Bastien tore his ACL in a game against Colorado Mesa, ending his season.

“Just the thought that I couldn’t finish my senior season with the guys that I have been playing with for the past four years was a hard pill to swallow,” Bastien said.

Rockhurst University Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) students were named Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Scholars recently, making them among the first in Missouri to participate in the nationally recognized program.

Rockhurst University leaders announced Monday the Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences and the College of Health and Human Services will be merging and renamed to The Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. 

The process of giving the first building on the Rockhurst University campus another life has already begun, but on Thursday University leaders gave those performing that work a blessing as they proceed in thier labor.

With the midway point of the spring semester in view, Rockhurst University is announcing plans for its summer and fall 2021.

COVID-19 has meant many changes to daily life on campus — since returning to campus in summer 2020, students, faculty and staff have adjusted to following guidelines such as mask-wearing, meetings conducted over Zoom, remote learning, and social distancing.

Rockhurst University awarded 217 degrees at its December commencement ceremony, held virtually Dec. 12, 2020.

The program featured student speaker Marc Kerby, who received a Master of Education, elementary education certification track.

Alad Aguirre

Mara Akers, honors program, magna cum laude

Akeem Akinola

Celeste Allen

Ana Amaya

Kristen Anderson

Anatali Aquino-Rodriguez

Sam Archer

Baylee Arcuri

Charity Arnold

Alexus Atchison

Corey Austen

Matt Baker

Peter Baker, summa cum laude

When Rockhurst University last updated its vision statement, one very specific word was included — “transformative.”

It’s a term University leaders use often, and one that alumni evoke when describing what their education meant to them.

This Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills will face off in the AFC Championship game. And the presidents of the two Jesuit universities in those respective cities have decided to make it interesting.