Newman University is well known for its service and community involvement. A great example of that will take place at the end of this month.
The university’s annual Trunk-or-Treat event is scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, from Founders Plaza, located on the south side of De Mattias Hall.
The event invites students and community members to partake in candy consumption, games and fun festivities.
Joseph Shepard, director of multicultural engagement and campus life, provided the specifics concerning the organization of Trunk-or-Treat and what it involves.
“This year, it is again hosted by the Department of Student Life and Newman University Athletics, which comprises several representatives from their area, and of course the Department of Student Life is our staff that’s working in collaboration with our student organizations to get them to try to participate by decorating a trunk,” Shepard explained.
Shepard said that “the Trunk-or-Treat is free, so anyone can come dressed up and trick-or-treat. We’ll give them some candy throughout the various trunks that are decorated.
“Our athletics department is going to be doing a carnival inside of the Fugate Gymnasium where they’ll be selling raffle tickets from $1 to $5, and the proceeds from that will go to Make-A-Wish Foundation.”
Student clubs and organizations are encouraged to contribute to the festivities as the event showcases the service and student involvement that Newman prioritizes.
“It’s an opportunity for our students to give back in a fun way,” said Shepard. “Service is fun, it’s rewarding, and it’s empowering. … It’s always interesting to see what our student organizations come up with and how they allow their innovating creativity to combine with the service aspect to provide this great opportunity for our community.”
The event is hosted annually at Newman because of the positive response it receives each year from the Wichita and Newman communities.
Shepard said, “Last year was an amazing turnout — we actually ran out of candy. We’re confident that we will have at least the same amount of people that we had last year, if not more.”
Shepard stressed the need to provide a secure and pleasant atmosphere for families of the Wichita community to enjoy trick-or-treating and hopes that the community will find Newman to be just that.
“Again this is a free opportunity that many kids might not have the chance to participate in otherwise. A lot of parents are skeptical about sending their children out on Halloween night to go trick-or-treating in neighborhoods that they are not familiar with.
“We as an institution are providing this opportunity again for our young people within the Wichita community to participate in trick-or-treating in a safe, enjoyable and fun way.”
