Park will join McKendree (pictured right), Columbia, Hannibal-LaGrange, Harris-Stowe State, Missouri Baptist, Stephens, William Woods and Williams Baptist in the AMC beginning in 2009-10.

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PARKVILLE, Mo. – Park University President Dr. Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Director of Athletics Claude English and the American Midwest Conference have announced that Park’s athletics programs will begin membership in the AMC in the fall semester of the 2009-10 academic year.

Currently, the American Midwest Conference has nine members, but at the end of the 2008-09 academic year, that number will drop to eight when the University of Illinois at Springfield exits the league to pursue NCAA Division II membership.

Remaining members following the departure of UIS are Columbia College, Hannibal-LaGrange College, Harris-Stowe State University, McKendree University, Missouri Baptist University, Stephens College, William Woods University and Williams Baptist College

"Park University is pleased to align with the institutions that make up the American Midwest Conference," Dr. Byers-Pevitts said. "We look forward to the on- and off-field partnerships with the AMC and all of its members. This is truly an exciting time for Park University and our athletic program."

For the past nine seasons, the Pirates have held membership in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) for men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s golf, baseball and softball, while the Pirate men’s and women’s basketball programs have been NAIA Division I Independent teams since leaving the AMC prior to the 2000-01 season.

Park previously held membership in the AMC from 1993 to 2000, exiting the league following the spring semester in 2000.

“This is a great partnership for Park University and the AMC,” English said. “In the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics, it is important to have strong alliances within a conference for all of our athletic programs. The AMC gives us one unified conference home for our programs, and it also provides a familiarity with our past history in the league.” 

The American Midwest Conference offers fall championships in men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s cross country and men’s cross country, and in the winter, men’s and women’s basketball take center-stage in the AMC. During the spring season, AMC members compete for titles in men’s and women’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s track and field and baseball.

Park University will be immediately eligible for all of the offered championships with the exception of men’s golf, which is not a varsity sport at Park. The AMC is a direct-qualification conference to all championships within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

“The AMC looks forward to Park University rejoining the conference, and we know that Park will bring a lot to our league in the way of sponsored teams and quality conference competition,” Lowell Pitzer, AMC Commissioner, said. “Park’s location and proximity to the NAIA National Headquarters will also provide a boost for our conference. This was a unanimous decision by our executive committee, and we are excited for Park to come in next year.”

AMC MEMBERS
The American Midwest Conference (formerly known as the Show-Me Collegiate Conference sponsors championships in 13 different sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s track and field, and volleyball.

The purpose of the American Midwest Conference is to promote the positive ideals and objectives of athletics, to provide an organization of colleges and universities with similar foundations to engage in athletic contests on an equal basis, to serve as a forum to formulate and solve common problems, to enhance and preserve athletics in their true perspective and to promote athletics in an academic environment.

Columbia College
1001 Rogers Street
Columbia, MO 65216
Founded: 1851
President: Dr. Gerald Brouder
Athletic Director: Bob Burchard
Nickname: Cougars
Colors: Navy / Silver
Enrollment: 12,000
School Web Site: http://www.ccis.edu/
Athletic Web Site: http://www.columbiacougars.com/
AMC Sports: Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Women's Basketball

Hannibal-LaGrange College
2800 Palmyra Road
Hannibal, MO 63401
Founded: 1858
President: Dr. Woodrow Burt
Athletic Director: Jason Nichols
Nickname: Trojans
Colors: Scarlet and Blue
Enrollment: 1,100
School Web Site: http://www.hlg.edu
Athletic Web Site: http://www.hlg.edu/athletics/default.php
AMC Sports: Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer

Harris-Stowe State University
3026 Laclede
St. Louis, MO 63103
Founded: 1857
President: Dr. Henry Givens
Athletic Director: Richard Fanning
Nickname: Hornets
Colors: Brown and Gold
Enrollment: 1,900
School Web Site: http://www.hssu.edu/
Athletic Web Site: http://athletics.hssu.edu/
AMC Sports: Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer

McKendree University
701 College Road
Lebanon, IL 62254
Founded: 1828
President: Dr. James M. Dennis
Athletic Director: Harry Statham
Nickname: Bearcats
Colors: Purple and White
Enrollment: 3,000
School Web Site: http://www.mckendree.edu/
Athletic Web Site: http://athletics.mckendree.edu
AMC Sports: Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer

Missouri Baptist University
One College Park Drive
St. Louis, MO 63141
Founded: 1950
President: Dr. R. Alton Lacey
Athletic Director: Tom Smith
Nickname: Spartans
Colors: Blue and White
Enrollment: 2,800
School Web Site: http://www.mobap.edu/
Athletic Web Site: http://www.mobap.edu/athletics/
AMC Sports: Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer

Stephens College
1200 East Broadway
Columbia, MO 66215
Founded: 1830
President: Dr. Wendy Libby
Athletic Director: Deb Duren
Nickname: Stars
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Enrollment: 826
School Web Site: http://www.stephens.edu/
Athletic Web Site: http://www.stephens.edu/campuslife/athletics/
AMC Sports: Softball, Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country

William Woods University
One University Avenue
Fulton, MO 65251
Founded: 1870
President: Dr. Jahnae H. Barnett
Athletic Director: Larry York
Nickname: Owls
Colors: Burgundy and Forest Green
Enrollment: 2,300
School Web Site: http://www.williamwoods.edu
Athletic Web Site: http://www.williamwoods.edu/athletics/index.asp
AMC Sports: Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer

Williams Baptist College
60 West Fulbright Avenue
Walnut Ridge, AR 72476
Founded: 1941
President: Dr. Jerol Swaim
Athletic Director: Jeff Rider
Nickname: Eagles
Colors: Blue and White
Enrollment: 700
School Web Site: http://www.wbcoll.edu/
Athletic Web Site: http://www.wbcoll.edu/athletics/
AMC Sports: Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Women's Basketball