FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elliott Scott
Blue Valley North High School’s Logan Parks Receives 2024 Evelyn Gates Award presented by
Children’s Mercy Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, MO (November 13, 2024) – Logan Parks, a senior from Blue Valley North High School, received the 19th annual Evelyn Gates Award presented by Children’s Mercy Kansas City on Wednesday, November 13. The award, the only one of its kind to commemorate a female official in the states of Missouri and Kansas, honors the top female high school varsity volleyball player in the Kansas City region.
“The Evelyn Gates Award is an enduring testament to a woman who broke barriers and shaped the culture of women’s sports in Kansas City for decades,” says Taylor Obersteadt, Director of WIN for KC. “Her impact continues to this day, and WIN for KC is honored to be a part of her legacy.”
Parks is one of 24 players on the AVCA All-America watch list for National Player of the Year and was selected as an Under Armour Next All-American. The reigning Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year is a four-time all-state selection and was a finalist for the Evelyn Gates Award in 2023. After winning a state championship in basketball as a sophomore and in volleyball her freshman year, Parks powered the Mustangs to a second place finish last year at the state tournament and a third place finish her sophomore year. Additionally, she was a member of the U19 USA volleyball team that won the Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico in 2023 and made the U21 National team roster this year. Parks recently accepted a scholarship to play volleyball in 2025 for Stanford University.
“Logan is one of a kind,” says Blue Valley North head coach Matt Allin. “She leads by example with her hard work, dedication and love of the sport and her teammates. Physically, she is one of the best volleyball players to ever play in the KC area. Her setting accuracy and hitting power is second to none. Her teammates and coaches rely on her to hold the team together and provide a strong foundation of leadership.”
A high resolution headshot of Logan Parks is available here.
Finalists for the 2024 Evelyn Gates Award presented by Children’s Mercy Kansas City included: Alea Goolsby of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Reese Messer of St. James Academy and Abigail Mullen of Liberty High School.
The annual traveling trophy will be displayed at Blue Valley North High School, and the athletic department received a $500 stipend to commemorate Logan Park’s award. For more information about the Evelyn Gates Award and WIN for KC click here.
About Evelyn Gates
Evelyn Gates (1932-2003), a retired histology technician from KU Medical Center, officiated high school and college volleyball, softball and basketball for over 45 years in the Kansas City area and was a staunch supporter of girls’ high school sports. During her officiating career, she touched the lives of tens of thousands of high school athletes, parents and officials. She mentored many women officials in the sports of softball, basketball and volleyball during the infant stages of the Title IX movement and continued that mentoring during her officiating career. Evelyn died of cancer on May 5, 2003 and a memorial fund has been established to support the Evelyn Gates Award.
About WIN for KC
The Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City (WIN for KC), was established in 1994 under the umbrella of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, with the mission to ignite girls and women through advocating and promoting the lifetime value of sports and fitness, while providing opportunities for participation and leadership development. WIN is a volunteer, membership-driven organization that operates as a program of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. For more information, visit WINforKC.org. For the latest on WIN for KC news, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
###