Afternoon tea is a longstanding English tradition that encourages people of all ages to slow down and mindfully enjoy the moment before them.
Guests of all ages did just that during Newman University’s annual High Tea event on Feb. 20 in the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center.
Tables of treats, snacks and ornate tea sets and the sound of soft piano music greeted students, faculty, staff and alumni to the space. Each decorative detail celebrated the English roots of St. John Henry Newman and invited guests to slow down and focus on the present.
Volunteers keep Newman High Tea tradition alive
Since the creation of Newman’s High Tea tradition in the 1980s, the event has relied on volunteers to set up the event space, bake and prepare the recipes and serve the famous Earl Grey tea. Sheryl Stanley plays a major role in the High Tea planning committee each year and provides many of the renowned tea sets on display.
“I think the tea set decor on the tables gives you a visual pull back to a time in the past,” Stanley said. “St. Newman believed we should enhance all of our senses and pour our whole life into being a better and well-rounded person. St. Newman also taught that people should have a good idea of the world around them. The ASC sisters reinforce that at Newman, and that’s one of the reasons I was happy my children went there.”
Stanley is a parent of five Newman alumni and wife of the late Board of Trustees Chair Douglas Stanley. Her favorite aspect about High Tea, she said, is that it is an event purposefully “designed by and for members of the Newman University community.”
She continued, “It’s that generosity of heart — specifically in the form of food and service — that makes Newman University what it is today. It’s about caring for one another, and I think the tea helps us remember to slow down and care for one another.”
Encouraging guests to slow down and connect
Just as High Tea encourages guests to slow down and enjoy the present, members of the Newman community have their own ways of finding peace in everyday life.
2025 marked the fourth consecutive year that Amanda Wills, education program coordinator, and daughter Adelyn made the Downton Abbey bakewell tarts for Newman’s High Tea event.
“Adelyn always looks forward to ‘tart making day’ and now equates it to one of her top three holidays,” Amanda said. “I love coming to High Tea because it’s a fun experience, I get to see board members and former faculty members who used to work here.”
When it comes to enjoying the little things in life, Adelyn, a seventh-grader, said she loves riding her bike and spending time with her little brother. For Amanda, painting landscapes is her favorite activity.
A reminder of peaceful moments
For many, High Tea provides a rare moment to step back and enjoy meaningful conversations.
Joshua Papsdorf, dean of the School of Catholic Studies and director of the Gerber Institute, loves a “hot drink, good book and good conversation.” Because he can enjoy two out of the three activities during High Tea, Papsdorf is excited to return year after year.
“It’s just a nice way to chat with people,” he said.
Video communications specialist James Sanny said his go-to activity is listening to music — specifically orchestra pieces and movie scores he’s saved to his Pandora playlists.
“Music helps calm me down, take my mind off of the busy things that are going on and reboot my creativity,” Sanny said. “It gets me back on track with the things that I’m passionate about and helps fuel other projects that I know I need to get done. It offers me a fresh and rejuvenating perspective.”
Like Sanny, Associate Professor of Nursing Melissa Romaneschi loves relaxing by listening to music.
“And of course a good bubble bath,” Romaneschi said with a smile.
Associate Professor of Nursing Nancy Lugo-Baez also opts for a cozy reset when life gets hectic.
“It’s such a 21st-century thing to say, but I love to put on my pajamas, be in my bed and watch videos,” Lugo-Baez said.
Enjoying the little things
For Marguerite Regan, director of teaching and learning and associate professor of English, dancing is her favorite way to unwind.
“I love going to the dancing center to dance with all my friends,” she said. “Afrobeat, Zumba, hip hop, you name it. I love giving way to the movement and just letting it go.”
Student volunteers Valeria Rodriguez and Fatima Arce were pleasantly surprised by High Tea’s unique atmosphere as they served tea during the event.
“There are people socializing, the free food is great and I just think it’s a good excuse to spend time with people around campus or someone you don’t see as often,” Rodriguez, a sophomore in the Newman respiratory care program, said.
Arce, a sophomore in the radiologic technology program, said her favorite activity to slow down is to spend time with her friends, including Rodriguez.
For Rodriguez, she feels the same way.
“I like to surround myself with the people I care about,” she said. “I’ll walk with the dog or just enjoy nature.”
The impact of High Tea at Newman
Newman University’s High Tea exists to help members of the Newman community connect, reflect and participate in the rich campus traditions passed down from previous decades.
Join the High Tea planning committee
Interested in being part of the 2026 High Tea planning committee? All are welcome! Please contact Sister Therese Wetta, director of mission effectiveness.
