On Thursday, November 14, Indiana University Northwest held its annual fundraising event, An Evening at the Orchard, at County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana.
The evening celebrated campus accomplishments and highlighted IU Northwest students and faculty.
Ed Briscoe, director of development; Amy Diaz, chief of staff and interim vice chancellor of external affairs; and Vicki Román-Lagunas, interim chancellor, officially kicked off the night with welcoming speeches and a reception.
“This event has been reimagined since 2019,” said Diaz. “I joined the university in 2020, and we haven’t held this event since then. This is the first time we’ve brought it back, and we did so with a fresh focus. Previously, it centered on awarding the Chancellor's medallions to community members, but now it’s all about our students. Our strategic plan centers on student success as our anchor, what we live and breathe at IU Northwest. That’s why we’ve included student performances as part of the evening’s entertainment.”
Student performances by the campus Orchestra Club welcomed guests as they entered, and entertained them before the opening remarks. Their music set a welcoming tone for the evening's event.
“This event is a long overdue opportunity for us to truly bring together our community members, supporters, alumni, and current students,” said Briscoe. “We haven’t gathered like this since before the pandemic. Despite a transition in leadership, we felt it was essential to reconnect with our greatest supporters, update them on what’s happening, and share our vision for the future. Putting this event together was a team effort for our University Advancement and External Affairs teams, which worked as one to scout the location, handle logistics, and organize countless meetings and emails to make this evening a success.”
The scenery was beautifully illuminated, with lights lining the building and floral arrangements adorning each table. The atmosphere became even more vibrant when Alumna Faith Smith shared a powerful poem.
“This event accomplishes so much,” said Román-Lagunas. “First, it creates a community of supporters for our students that goes beyond just the campus. It’s a night to recognize those who genuinely care. This is also the first time since before COVID that we’ve held an event like this, and it’s reigniting our community’s passion and commitment to our students.”
Additional remarks were shared by Dr. Dorothy Frink, Ph.D., interim vice chancellor for student affairs & enrollment management, and Ken Iwama, former chancellor and now IU’s vice president for regional campuses and online education, who spoke through a video presentation.
“We know students have their own voice, and it’s important,” said Diaz. “I don’t want to speak for them; I want students to be centered and share what’s important to them — what success looks like and what they need to reach it. This club, for instance, is student-led and unfunded, yet it’s something they’re passionate about. Tonight is an opportunity for donors to recognize that students are interested in the arts and orchestra and consider how they can help give students greater access to these pursuits. One of our hopes for this event is that we can start meeting students’ needs based on what they truly want.”
Another highlight of the evening was a video presentation showcasing the incredible work being done by IU Northwest students and faculty, narrated by Alumna Cicily Porter.
“You’ll see a lot of faculty here tonight because they’re also donors to scholarships,” said Román-Lagunas. “While I can’t say 100%, the vast majority of our faculty actively support our student success and foundation initiatives. Their passion for helping students succeed is remarkable, and I mention this everywhere I go. Having been in higher education for a long time, I can tell you this campus is special as our faculty and staff are deeply committed to student success. Every day, they’re finding new ways to contribute even more.”
Donors had the opportunity to meet the students they’ve helped fund, some for the first time, creating a meaningful connection. It was also inspiring to see IU Northwest’s community dressed in professional attire and excited to engage in conversation.
“Previously, the university’s chancellor would host an event called the Chancellor’s Medallion to honor top donors and community supporters,” said Briscoe. “Now, in this period of leadership transition, we don’t have a permanent chancellor to present that award, so we reimagined the event to focus on broader community engagement. It’s a different approach from what was done in the past, but it allows us to bring our closest supporters together in a meaningful way. When a new chancellor comes on board, they may choose to return to the traditional format, but for now, this gives us a unique way to connect.”
Diaz and Briscoe ended the night with a cheer of celebration for success and community engagement. They encouraged everyone to raise their red pom-poms and cheer in college spirit as the event concluded.
“We have students here who are going to share their own stories about their journeys,” said Diaz. “We want this event to grow bigger and better every year. The more funds we can raise to meet students’ needs, the better. This is our reimagined event since 2019, and we hope to make it an annual tradition."
For more information on the event please visit the website here.