Newman University brought together generations of alumni, donors and future leaders for its 2026 Legacy Awards Banquet on Tuesday, April 21.
The annual event invited friends and family to honor the four alumni award recipients — Alaina Garrett ‘14, David Borho ‘01, ‘11, Jae Hedrick ‘13 and Sister Janet Rowley ‘64, ‘69 — as well as the St. Newman Medal honoree, Sister Vicki Bergkamp ‘67, ‘72, honorary alumna Sheryl Stanley and dedicated donors who make a Newman education possible.
Vice President of Institutional Advancement Bob Beumer described the alumni honorees as “shining examples of Newman.” He also highlighted tangible impacts of donor dollars invested in the 2025-26 academic year: providing financial assistance to 99% of students, supporting programs like learning assistants in STEM courses and even expanding counseling services to graduate students.
“And to our Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) sisters … we’d like to thank you for prayers, inspiration and support throughout the years,” Beumer said. “Your belief in providing educational opportunities to those who may not have them led you to start this university and continues to be our guiding light.”
Jump to links:
- Inviting the next generation of leaders
- Honorary alumna: Sheryl Stanley
- Alaina Garrett ’14: Leon A. McNeill Achievement Award
- David Borho ’01, ’11: St. Maria De Mattias Award
- Jae Hedrick ’13: Spirit of Acuto Award
- Sister Janet Rowley ’64, ’69: Beata Netemeyer Service Award
- Sister Vicki Bergkamp ’67, ’72: St. Newman Medal
- Donors and giving societies
Inviting the next generation of leaders
Newman introduced the 2026 Ablah Award nominees for their potential to make a promising contribution to society. Female nominees are Eliana Gaytán, Alysha Keck, Valeria Rodriguez, Travia Smith, Hayley Stewart and Ariana “AJ” Sweitzer. Male nominees are Ethan Albers, Shaurya Datta, Matthew Fowler, Nathan Galicia, Jonathan Garcia Vega, Joseph Luebbe, Thomas Munn and Gabriel Trevino. Newman will announce the male and female winners at commencement on May 16.
Newman President Kathleen Jagger, Ph.D., MPH, emphasized the importance of bringing students, alumni and donors together in one celebratory space.
“For the students to see that whole spectrum … from being students to impressive alumni to meeting some of the donors … it all ties it up in a nice, complete package,” Jagger said. “All of these alumni awardees demonstrated that they took the most they could from their college education.”
Stewart, who will graduate with her biochemistry degree and will attend the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas, said the Legacy Banquet was “incredibly inspiring.”
“It wasn’t their individual accomplishment, but it was an entire community supporting them,” Stewart said. “I want to emulate that … to be in this room inspiring the next generation.”
Honorary alumna: Sheryl Stanley
Before the evening’s alumni awards, Newman recognized Sheryl Stanley as an honorary alumna for her extraordinary service and dedication to the university.
A longtime volunteer, Stanley has played a central role in Newman’s High Tea during Heritage Month — leading the committee, providing tea sets from her personal collection and assisting with every detail of the event. She is also a consistent presence at university events and fundraisers, often bringing others into the Newman community.
While Stanley herself may not have earned a degree from Newman, President of the National Alumni Association Michael Eck ‘03 described her as “a true example of what alumni at Newman look like.” Stanley is intricately connected to the university through her late husband, Doug, who served on the Board of Trustees, and through all five of her children, who are Newman graduates.
“I am excited to be fully integrated into the Newman family,” Stanley said. “I appreciate Newman University for the education and blessings it has provided to my family in good and hard times.”
Alaina Garrett ’14: Leon A. McNeill Achievement Award
Garrett, a 2014 graduate and former Ablah Award recipient, was honored with the Leon A. McNeill Achievement Award for her professional success and service to society.
After studying abroad in Shanghai and traveling through Europe as a Newman student, Garrett earned a master’s degree in international relations from Texas A&M and entered federal service through the Presidential Management Fellowship. She now works in national security for the U.S. Department of War in Washington, D.C.
“I find this work really fulfilling,” Garrett said. “I really enjoy feeling like I am contributing to national security … helping leadership make the most informed decision.”
Her ultimate goal is to be impactful — to find and create the best support possible to those who serve our country. Garrett finds motivation in her colleagues and said she is surrounded by teammates who continue to strive for the same outcome.
“The more the pressure increases, the more I feel the need to rise to the occasion to help our own citizens, whether it’s broader safety or soldiers, making sure they have what they need to be successful,” Garrett said.
David Borho ’01, ’11: St. Maria De Mattias Award
Borho received the St. Maria De Mattias Award, recognizing his deep loyalty to Newman and its mission.
President and owner of Kincheloe’s Inc., a farm equipment supplier, Borho returned to Newman as a nontraditional student, earning both his bachelor’s and eventually his master’s in pastoral ministry. He served on his parish’s stewardship council for 20 years and for nine years on the Newman Board of Trustees.
He credited his Catholic faith for being his constant, guiding force and his wife, Glenna, for always “being a teammate and big part of the equation.”
“One thing I have learned is to surrender to God,” Borho said. “It’s hard to do, but it’ll be worth it in the end.”
Borho’s journey resonated with student and Ablah nominee Datta, who will graduate as a biology major with a concentration in pre-medicine. He was particularly inspired to witness that “none of these awardees did all of this by themselves,” he said.
“The fact that David was able to take over a company and also come back to Newman really shows that Newman is a place that’s welcoming and supportive of all types of people,” Datta said. “At Newman I was treated like a person with ambitions, goals and received support through my faculty and programs. Regardless of who wins the Ablah Award, I think all the nominees and even beyond in our graduating class are destined to do a lot of great things for our community.”
Jae Hedrick ’13: Spirit of Acuto Award
Hedrick, who earned her Master of Social Work in 2013, received the Spirit of Acuto Award for her work serving vulnerable children and families.
After beginning her career in foster care, Hedrick now leads the nonprofit Gathered Strong Sedgwick County, which focuses on collaboration and support for those involved in the foster system.
“None of us do meaningful work alone,” she said. “When you work a job like social services or caring for vulnerable children and families, you can’t talk about it. It’s people’s lives. And so it’s very easy to become invisible, doing invisible work.”
Hedrick credited her Newman professors for leaving a big impression, especially when it came to encouraging students to “veer from the norms” and use critical thinking to find ways to serve a purpose.
“It’s a gift to be seen,” she said. “I don’t want to be like anybody else; I want to think about things differently. I think Newman gave me the space to be myself, and I want other people to have the same.”
Sister Janet Rowley ’64, ’69: Beata Netemeyer Service Award
Rowley received the Beata Netemeyer Service Award, honoring a lifetime of service across education, ministry and community life.
A nominator described her as someone who “has endeavored throughout her life to serve children, families, young adults, the homeless, the aged and all those who have a chance to meet her.”
She attended Sacred Heart Academy High School and earned her degree in elementary education from Newman. She professed her final vows as an ASC two years later and has been diligently serving the ASC community ever since.
“The ordinary life can be extraordinary,” Rowley said. “And in the words of St. Newman, ‘God has created all of us for a specific purpose.’”
Above all, she hopes students of Newman University will bravely “respond to God’s call,” she said.
“I want them to have hope in a world that is sometimes pretty chaotic, and to know we have a God who loves us, created all this and to believe that there’s good in the end,” Rowley added.
Sister Vicki Bergkamp ’67, ’72: St. Newman Medal
Bergkamp, a longtime educator, leader and member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, received the St. Newman Medal — the university’s highest honor. As the St. Newman Medal recipient, Bergkamp will also deliver the university’s commencement address on May 16.
For more than six decades, Bergkamp has served Newman as a faculty member, trustee, administrator and community leader, even stepping in as acting president in 1988. In 2018 she was elected as the leader of the Adorers’ U.S. Region, making her the first member of the former Wichita province to hold the role since the consolidation of the three American provinces in 2000.
“It takes a village to do anything right,” Bergkamp said. “Newman creates a community that they can tap into for a lifetime.”
Her impact is deeply felt across generations, including within her own family.
“We were really excited to hear Vicki was going to be honored,” said her niece, Jill Garcia ‘01. “It’s a close-knit school and there’s a lot of really good people going out in the world and just making a difference.”
For current students, Bergkamp’s story brought Newman’s lifelong connection into focus.
“I think it was just so beautiful how, even though she left for a while, Newman was still in her heart, and it brought her back,” Ablah nominee Sweitzer, a biology major with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine, said. “The community doesn’t stop once you graduate — it continues throughout your entire life.”
Donors and giving societies
The banquet also recognized donors whose generosity continues to influence Newman University students’ present and future.
The De Mattias Society honors annual gifts of $1,000 to $9,999 in a year. The 2026 inductees are:
- Jessie and Patrick Harms
- Kathleen Meyer
- ComfortCare Homes
- Gentry Private Wealth
- Kay Arnold
- Austin and Chantel Boulds
- Daniel Diepenbrock
- Eldon Ford
- Steven Karlin
- Max Landgraf
- Christopher Lintecum
- Mark Nicholas
- Tom Peters
- Marlene Rethman
- Barbara Shea
- Norton Wetta
- Eaton Roofing and Exteriors
The Monsignor McNeill Society recognizes gifts between $10,000 and $24,999. The 2026 inductees are:
- Mark and Barbara Wetta
- Cyle and Jodi Barnwell and Keystone Solid Surfaces
- Louis and Karen Campisani
- Matthew Jagger
- Seth and Jamie Page
The evening reflected the full circle of Newman’s mission to empower graduates to transform society through alumni who lead, donors who sustain and students preparing to follow in their footsteps.
As attendee and alumna Emily Larkin-Valdez ‘20 said, “it’s a gift to be here, to come back to Newman and see generations and generations of Newman supporters making a difference.”
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