St. John Henry Newman left a lasting mark on England during his lifetime (1801–1890), and his legacy continues today at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.
One of the university’s most cherished traditions, the St. Newman High Tea, was held Thursday, Feb. 19, following the annual St. Newman Mass. The beloved event has been a staple since the mid-1980s, honoring both Newman’s birthday and his distinctly English heritage.
Once again, Sheryl Stanley served as the coordinator for High Tea. She is mother to five Newman graduates, including current board of trustee member Diana Stanley, who joined in on the fun.
Sheryl worked with Sr. Therese Wetta, ASC, and a planning committee to coordinate dozens of student, staff, faculty and alumni volunteers. The volunteers baked and made the traditional foods, served guests, set up the Dugan Gorges Conference Center for the tea and also cleaned the entire center when it was over.
In addition to current employees and students who attended, the popular event brought back alumni, retired faculty, families and friends of the university. Some tea attendees shared their “conversations” for this year’s official video.
Reviewing the fun: 2026 High Tea pictures
