Newman University honored two employees from more than 40 nominations during its 2026 Staff and Teaching Excellence Awards ceremony May 21.
James Sanny ’15, video communications specialist, received the Staff Excellence Award, and Patrick Nance, associate professor of accounting, received the Teaching Excellence Award.
“Our task as committee members for each of these awards was certainly difficult,” said Sister Therese Wetta, ASC, director of mission integration.
Wetta said the committees were grateful for the number of nominators and nominees, calling Newman “an amazing community of dedicated employees” who work alongside the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
Staff Excellence Award: James Sanny
Nominators described Sanny as someone who goes “above and beyond” to capture Newman’s mission through compelling storytelling as the campus videographer.
Beyond campus, he leads the Wheat State Ghostbusters, a Kansas-based group of “Ghostbusters” fans that supports charities like the Starlight Children’s Foundation, whose mission is “delivering happiness to seriously ill kids and their families.”
One student nominator shared, “When I see his videography and camerawork, I feel proud of the school that I go to. He truly tries his best, and it shows, to capture the feelings, emotions and spirit that Newman embodies.”
“To capture the spirit of Newman, it takes a vision that looks beyond what’s in front of the lens,” an employee nominator stated. “The amount of work that goes into editing photos and video is incredibly tedious and requires care that goes beyond simple adjustments … James captures the dignity and excellence that Newman students, faculty and staff have been imbued with by God and cultivated by this college.”
When President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., MPH, announced Sanny as the 2026 Staff Excellence Award recipient, Sanny said two questions flooded his mind: “How is this happening?” and “Why is this happening?”
The words of his nominators, followed by a surprise visit from his wife, Abi, and three daughters, also brought tears to his eyes.
“I had a conversation with my oldest daughter (Iris, 9) the night before, and she asked if there were any awards at Newman for people,” Sanny said. “I explained to her that there are, but that it was unlikely I would win because this university is full of incredible people who work so hard to give students more than just an education.”
He added that Newman’s culture of excellence makes it difficult to guess who might win awards when “the passion and drive of your fellow staff members is matched and often even surpassed on a daily basis,” Sanny said.
Meaningful work behind the scenes
Jagger highlighted several examples of Sanny’s hospitality and the difference it makes in students’ lives.
One student wrote, “James will often go on walks around campus and if you see him, he will stop and chat with you, which is meaningful as a student. I know I can always go to his office and ask him for help or for advice.”
After six years as a Newman employee, Sanny said he has learned that “there’s so much more that happens here for those who look beyond the classroom.”
“I’ve met some really incredible people in my short time here and, as cheesy as it always sounds, the community here at Newman really is different,” Sanny said. “I want our students to know that the people who work at Newman want to see people cared for. You’re safe here, you’re important here and you’re wanted here. When the time comes to cross that stage and move forward with your next chapter, I want it to feel bittersweet because you’re leaving a piece of yourself behind that will be cheering for you as you go.”
One of Sanny’s favorite lunch break activities is walking the campus grounds, taking in “how peaceful and beautiful it is thanks to our groundskeepers and ASC sisters,” he said.
“As I walk Newman’s campus, I find myself reminded that the most important thing we can do is care for one another,” Sanny said. “People joke about the meaning of life, and I think we all wonder, ‘What is it?’ Honestly, I think it’s about how we treat people and the relationships we build. Working here has shown me that if you’re willing to invest in those around you, you’d be surprised how much happier and more fulfilled you will feel.”
He added, “Caring about others isn’t always easy, but to me, I think it’s always right. And I want so much for that to be what people know me for — not just ‘the Ghostbuster guy.’”
Teaching Excellence Award: Patrick Nance
Nance’s path to Newman began when he was hiking a 14,000-foot mountain in Colorado and received a job offer in Wichita as a certified public accountant.
“I had gotten laid off during the recession in 2008, so that (job offer) was kind of a crazy story,” Nance said. “But I decided I was ready for something different and new.”
Although he had no prior teaching experience, Nance applied for a position at Butler Community College, where he taught for six years before joining Newman University. Over the past decade at Newman, he said, his love for accounting has only been surpassed by his love for teaching.
“Doing (accounting) is great, but seeing that growth in the students — how they change, grow and learn — is substantially more gratifying than just balancing out a balance sheet,” he said.
One of the biggest challenges of his job, Nance said, is teaching a subject that “not a lot of people love,” he said.
“Conveying the importance of accounting and running an operation or business is one of the biggest things I try to get across,” Nance said. “Knowing the basic knowledge is going to be invaluable for students’ careers, no matter what position they’re in in business.”
Nance said he was surprised to win the 2026 Teaching Excellence Award, but more importantly, he was moved by his nominators’ words.
“It just made me feel good about the fact that I actually make a difference,” he said. “It was a great feeling.”
A calling to teach
Nance’s nominators described him as a “standout teacher,” “knowledgeable,” “highly responsive to student needs” and “the embodiment of transforming students in the classroom.” He was also praised for his ability to stay up to date on current events, administer exams that reflect real-world scenarios and provide a mix of assignment styles.
One student wrote, “He works well with all students and student-athletes, making sure we understand coursework when gone. He also provides us with videos going through everything learned in class so that we don’t skip a beat.”
Another shared, “Professor Nance loves Newman and students, shows how we need to treat each other and shows the core values by his example. He also shows up at Masses and brings God into class discussions.”
A colleague wrote that Nance emphasizes skills like critical thinking rather than rote learning and “fosters an engaging learning environment that supports student growth and academic success.”
The biggest reward, Nance said, is helping students who don’t think they’re capable of understanding accounting to believe in themselves.
“Whenever I see a student come in truly believing they can’t do it and I can help turn the switch and show, ‘You can do this,’ that brings me a lot of joy,” he added.
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