On Saturday, Sept. 26, Founders Plaza came alive with wide-brimmed hats, colorful fascinators and the electric energy of Newman University’s biggest annual fundraiser: Party on the Plaza: A Day at the Races.
More than 340 supporters gathered in Kentucky Derby-style attire, set bids on silent auction items and raised their paddles for live auction packages that ranged from Chicago Cubs tickets and travel getaways to whole hogs and premium beef.
Presiding over the festivities — as she always has — was a bronze sculpture of St. Maria De Mattias at the heart of the plaza, guiding a young student forward. It is the same gesture that has defined Newman’s identity since the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) sisters founded Sacred Heart Junior College in 1933: meeting people where they are and pointing them toward something greater.
Nearly 200 years after De Mattias established the ASC congregation in Italy to educate young women, that mission is still being fulfilled in Wichita. With 98% of Newman students receiving some form of financial aid, nearly every student — whether in person or online — benefits from Party on the Plaza’s fundraising.
More than $174,700 was raised by the evening’s end.
Carrying forward a saint’s vision
Newman remains the only university in the world sponsored by the Adorers. Former Newman President Noreen Carrocci, Ph.D., who served from 2007 to 2019, said that gathering around the sculpture on Founders Plaza is a testament to the sisters’ mission.
“That St. Maria De Mattias statue … she had the vision to start schools for girls and all over Italy,” Carrocci said. “We are the only university in the world, with all the ministries they have in every habitable continent, sponsored by ASC. And now, we have a university where the seminarians are all getting their undergraduate degrees. Who could have foreseen in 1933 what would become of their two-year college to prepare teachers?”
As a first-generation graduate herself, Carrocci understands how financial aid can alter the trajectory of a student’s life.
“This event absolutely has to happen every year,” she said. “We have been sponsors of this event since it started, and we will always be sponsors of this event as long as we’re around. Scholarships are vitally important to the future of this institution and to all of higher education. We strive to make it as affordable as possible, but some people just still can’t make it happen without the scholarship.”
Opening the door to a dream
For some students, a college degree feels more like a far-off dream. Party on the Plaza helps make it a reality.
Two students addressed the night’s attendees and shared how they are living proof of the impact of scholarships.
Kelly Lotsu-Morgan, a computer science major from Accra, Ghana, spoke to the spiritual growth he has experienced through the Metanoia Catholic living community. He also shared the leadership opportunities he’s had within the Newman Institute for AI and the Common Good and the day-to-day interactions that make a Newman degree more than just an education.
“My scholarship didn’t simply help pay for an education. It opened doors I’d never imagined,” Lotsu-Morgan said. “It brought me to people who have become family, professors who have invested in me and people across Wichita who are now even helping me pursue my goal of building diagnostic healthcare technology for underserved communities.”
He left the audience with a challenge: “To anyone thinking about supporting Newman, I would simply say: Take that step. Because you’re not just helping pay someone’s tuition or housing. You’re making a whole reality possible for a student.”
Two-time Newman graduate Coral Lopez ‘25, ‘26 spoke to the support of Newman’s HERE Program, which addressed what was formerly an education desert in western Kansas and, ultimately, allowed her to earn life-changing degrees.
“Raising a family, building a career, and helping grow a business beside my husband all came before I was able to fully pursue my own educational goals,” Lopez said. “For a long time, I struggled to find a program that could realistically fit into that life. The HERE Program brought that opportunity closer to home. To the donors, I want you to know that your support truly matters. You are creating opportunities for students who may be balancing careers, families, financial responsibilities and so much more while still wanting to better themselves and their communities.”
Finding hope and connection across generations
Sister Mary Catherine Clark, ASC, who has served on the Newman Board of Trustees and been connected to the campus for two decades, said the evening filled her with gratitude.
“For Catholic sisters in the United States, many of them started women’s colleges because there was a great need. It was more and more obvious that the church and society needed women who were well prepared to take their part,” Clark said. “Newman has always responded to help people meet their best potential. And now, we just hope that every student really understands that we’re put here by God for a higher good and greater purpose.”
Looking across the bustling plaza, Clark noted the event provides encouragement “in a world that has many people worried,” she said.
“When you see so many people here to do good, it just gives me great hope,” Clark said. “They’re willing to give of their time, talent and treasures because they realize paying it forward makes a difference.”
Sister Patty Owens, ASC, ‘74 entered the ASC congregation in 1980 after being taught by the sisters in grade school, high school and college. She is always impressed by how much the Newman community comes together for its students, she said.
“The students certainly need our help in this time when the world is very chaotic,” Owens said. “It’s inspiring that a lot of the people who come here, including alumni, have a heart for Newman, and want to support the students and give back to the university that helped form them as a young adult.”
The impact of stewardship
Dr. Diana Crook ‘85 is a physician and dedicated supporter whose connection to Newman includes caring for many ASC sisters as patients. She will always remember her ASC teachers and the “mission-oriented, servant-hearted community” she was a part of.
“The sisters have always been about education. Their mission is to continue the Catholic education, which is one of the reasons why I came to Newman. … My education allowed me to get into med school and be the physician I am today,” Crook said.
She also highlighted the lifelong impact of campus stewardship.
“We all have time that we can give forward, and we all have talents,” Crook said. “My daughter’s an artist; I don’t have that talent. But I’m a physician who loves to take care of people; I have that talent. The ability to pay it forward and see the success of the students who are coming and going, now and in the future, is what it’s all about.”
Gratitude for the Adorers
Even more than 30 years later, the heart of that education remains the same for Newman students.
Beth Fatkin ‘21 worked as an employee from 2017-2021. She not only earned her degree on a scholarship, but also converted to Catholicism.
“Newman University literally changed my life,” Fatkin said. “It changed me in my mind with my education and my spirit.”
She recalled the late Sister Charlotte Rohrbach’s idea to pair up an employee with an ASC sister as a mentor. Fatkin was paired with Sister Fran Schumer, ASC. The two met once a month, ate lunch at the Wichita ASC Center and Schumer even became Fatkin’s confirmation sponsor. Now, they are lifelong friends who continue to meet regularly for Applebee’s dinners.
“What the ASC sisters do for the students just warms my heart,” Fatkin said.
Alumnus Minh Nguyen ‘23 returned to campus alongside fellow classmates of the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita. He recalled how the sisters fostered a strong sense of community through Christmas caroling, campus meals and spiritual support.
“Healthcare is such a grueling profession,” he said. “The liberal arts degree that Newman offers will assist you in that multifaceted field. Through improv and chorale, I utilize a lot of the skills that I learned in interviewing patients and being comfortable in situations that I’ve never been in. Newman gave me a community that allowed me to do that in the first place.”
Service in action on the plaza
Bringing Party on the Plaza to life required a true team effort.
Vice President of Institutional Advancement Bob Beumer praised the dedication of committee members, staff, volunteers and sponsors. Their support, resources and time ultimately made the event a success.
“The first year of a new theme is a lot of extra work, on both the university relations and advancement sides,” Beumer said. “Anything we can do to help our students, that’s why we’re here. I’m so proud and grateful to be part of the team and I can’t say enough great things about them.”
This also marked the first Party on the Plaza for Events Coordinator Meagan Macdonald, who spent weeks coordinating logistics leading up to the celebration. Macdonald worked behind the scenes with various vendors and campus partners to arrange everything from golf carts, seating and audiovisual equipment to coordinating with the auctioneer, troubadours and other volunteers.
“It was really exciting to see everything come together,” Macdonald said. “There were so many details and so much work that happened behind the scenes leading up to Saturday, so seeing the space filled with people enjoying themselves and seeing everything we had worked on actually come to life was really rewarding. It was especially fun to see how all of the different pieces, from the decorations to the auction to the volunteers, came together to create the whole experience for our guests.”
A presidential “thank you“
For President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., MPH, who previously lived and worked in Lexington, Kentucky, the new theme was extra exciting.
“We feel right at home with the Kentucky and racehorse theme,” she said. “We had great attendance and everybody seemed to have a great time. We’re grateful that the sisters prayed away the bad weather that was heading our way.”
Jagger expressed her sincere appreciation for all who contributed to the evening’s success — students, sponsors and alumni alike.
“Thank you to everyone who came, bid, gave donations and helped fund the need,” Jagger said. “Newman is grateful and our students are grateful to all of you.”
Thank you to our sponsors
Party on the Plaza was made possible by VIP sponsors David ‘01, ‘11 and Glenna Borho, Dale Withers and Spencer Fane, LLP. This year also marked the highest sponsorship dollars raised since 2019, with a total of $79,500 secured.
Newman University thanks its sponsors for their support of the 2026 Party on the Plaza: A Day at the Races.
VIP sponsorships
- David ’01 ’11 and Glenna Borho
- Dale Withers
- Spencer Fane LLP
Presenting sponsors
- The Adorers of the Blood of Christ
- Legacy Bank
Event sponsors
- Drs. Kathleen and Jim Jagger
- Dr. Noreen Carrocci and Bob Benson
- Dondlinger Construction
- Forvis Mazars
Table sponsorships
- Simpson Construction Services
- KU School of Medicine – Wichita
- Beth ’21 and Tom Fatkin
- Design Mechanical Wichita
- Konica Minolta
- Butler Community College
- Marilyn ’70 and John Hartley
- June Huie ’89
- Dr. Mike ’78 and Carm ’79 Ludlow
- IMA
- Ascension Via Christi
- Garden City Community College
- Jenifer Stone ’87 ’93
- Eck Auto Group
- Stinson
- Archie ’74 and Jean Macias
- Matthew Schippers
Young alumni table hosts
- ComfortCare Homes
- Fugate Enterprises
- Sunflower Bank
Party sponsor
- Speedtrap Distillery
There’s still time to make a gift
Newman University’s mission focuses on educating all students through Catholic values, academic excellence and a culture of service.
