Paying homage to the historic renaissance festivals of the ’80s and ’90s at Newman University, the 2022 Party on the Plaza brought back the revelry to a sold-out crowd of 450 guests.
The annual fundraising event for student scholarships was held Saturday, Sept. 17. Party on the Plaza featured a special Mass in St. John’s Chapel, a greeting by Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple, D.A., a lively night of games like sabrage and trebuchet, a wine pull, silent and live auction items, delicious food and spectacular fireworks.
Alumni Relations welcomed the Golden Anniversary class of 1972 to celebrate 50 years since graduating from their alma mater. These alumni enjoyed a social hour, dinner and games the night before the big Party on the Plaza event.
Every attendee who purchased a ticket, placed bids on auction items and donated out of the kindness of their heart contributed to the grand total of $167,000 raised in just one night.
“I’m so proud that Newman does a great job of supporting almost a hundred percent of its students with institutional aid, and a lot of that comes from this evening,” said Newman President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., MPH.
Donations in action
Sophomore nursing major Isabel Porres, a St. Newman scholarship recipient, spoke to guests of Party on the Plaza about the direct impact their generosity has had on her experience at Newman.
Porres is a nursing student who serves with Campus Ministry, the Honors Program council and Residence Life team, and is president of the Jazzy Jets, a pep band club. She is a senator for the Student Government Association and lives in Metanoia, the Catholic living community on campus.
From the first day she stepped foot on campus more than a year ago, Porres said she felt “seen.” She attributes her time and experiences at Newman for teaching her about the world around her, learning skills as a future nurse as well as “getting to know Christ every single day.”
“I can’t help but think about what a joyful world we live in when Father Adam (Grelinger) holds back a giggle during Mass, when Dr. (Kelly) McFall pushes me to think harder,” Porres said. “I get a little closer to my goal of being quick to understand and slow to judge in Mendel (Folefac)‘s smiling face. In Dr. (Susan) Crane’s empathetic eyes, I know I’m cared for and loved. When Kristi Barton Edwards helped me realize that life is more than what it seems to be, a goal of mine became to be a little more like her. My roommate, Eliana (Gaytan), when she speaks about nearly anything, helps me realize that all people are made in the image and likeness of God.”
She continued, “I just wanted to thank all of you for everything that you’ve given to this university. When I look out on all of you, I also see Christ. Charity is a great gift, but it is one that many are hesitant to give, but you all have been more than generous. Thank you for giving me so much hope for my future and for helping me see Christ.”
Once a student, now a supporter
Party on the Plaza is an avenue for several familiar faces and alumni to return to the heart of campus and celebrate a worthy cause.
“I just love Newman university,” Teresa Hall Bartels said. “I got the opportunity to go to college because of the scholarship that I received way back when, and it made such a difference in my whole life. So it’s my turn to give back and hopefully help the next generation with scholarships.”
Bartels has served in various roles at Newman over the years on the Newman Board of Trustees, multiple committees and even interim university president in 2020. She was also recognized with a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in fall 2010.
“It’s hard for a lot of liberal arts colleges to exist these days,” she said. “I think it’s really important (to give back) because the values that are taught at Newman, you don’t get in a lot of places.”
Greg Lohkamp of the class of 1981 said he loved attending the first Renaissance faires at Kansas Newman College, so he spent the evening reminiscing.
“It definitely brings back the memories,” he said. “Newman is a great institution, and one I’m grateful to have received an education from.”
Lohkamp earned his business administration degree from Newman and worked as the administrator of the ASC Wichita Center for 17 years, just south of campus.
For biology alumnae Jodi Sosa ‘21 and Dania Jumpa ‘21, attending this year’s Party on the Plaza was nostalgic, rewarding and frankly, a no-brainer.
“It means a lot to me because I was a scholarship recipient, and scholarships helped me have one less stress and hesitation about going to graduate school, which is expensive,” Jumpa said. “It’s surreal and rewarding to come back and help support others. It feels good to be back and be where many of our memories were made at Newman.”
Charity is a great gift, but it is one that many are hesitant to give, but you all have been more than generous. Thank you for giving me so much hope for my future and for helping me see Christ.
Isabel Porres
Gratitude all around
From securing sponsorships, silent and live auction items to finding volunteers to help set up at Party on the Plaza, “it truly takes a village to pull off an evening like this,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Bob Beumer.
“We can’t thank our volunteers enough for what they do for Newman, and our sponsors are everything,” Beumer said. “Without the sponsors bringing tables full of people and spreading the good word of what we’re doing here at Newman, we couldn’t do it without them. We certainly appreciate what they do for us.”
The 2022 VIP sponsors for Party on the Plaza: Return to the Renaissance were David ’01, ’11 and Glenna Borho and Dale Withers.
Eldon Ford of Southwest Truck Parts has worked alongside Withers for nearly 20 years. Although neither Ford nor Withers are alumni of Newman, Ford is impressed by Withers’ willingness to support the university.
“I’ve always been impressed by his contribution to different kinds of charitable groups,” Ford said. “This one hits home a little bit with me because I had a granddaughter that went to school here a couple of years ago. She didn’t come from a family with a lot of resources and it means a lot to me that our company sponsors and supports organizations or events like this, where funds are raised for kids to go to college here.”
“We think that’s a wonderful thing,” Ford added.
It’s surreal and rewarding to come back and help support other Newman Unviersity students.
Dania Jumpa, 2021 Newman graduate
Director of Annual Giving Laura Hartley added that Newman was blessed to have a hardworking planning committee, a new events coordinator, an alumni director as well as a university advancement team to divvy up the workload.
This year’s fundraising event marked the final “Return to the Renaissance” theme for the foreseeable future. The 2023 Party on the Plaza will feature a fresh and exciting theme yet to be revealed.
“It’s been so much fun doing the renaissance faire theme because it has such a special connection to Newman, but I’m excited to change it up next year and maybe wear something with less layers,” Hartley said with a laugh.
She added, “If anyone has any suggestions, send a letter to Newman University and maybe we’ll choose your idea.”
View the Flickr gallery with all photos from the 2022 Party on the Plaza: Return to the Renaissance event:
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