Skip To Top Navigation Skip To Content Skip To Footer
post

2023 Gala

Celebrating Major Milestones

At the 2023 Marian University Gala, we welcomed 2,000 of our closest friends, alumni, and donors to celebrate our continued strategic effort — Journey to 2030: Always Forward. The Mary McNulty Young ’47 Opportunities for Excellence Scholarship Dinner, continues our long-standing, 31-year tradition of sharing our successes and recognizing our milestones. Marian University has a bold vision for investments providing much-needed scholarships, programs, and facilities improvements allowing us to attract and retain a diverse student population. Our graduates integrate faith in their profession and are taught the value of lifelong service to their communities.

Check out all the photos on our Marian University Flickr page!

The 2023 Marian University Gala also celebrates 10 Years of educating medical doctors in Indiana. Marian University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine became Indiana’s second medical school in 2013. Since that time, more than 1,000 students have graduated entering the healthcare field focusing on treating the “whole body” — mind, body, and spirit.

  • 100% Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2023 placement
  • 45% matched into Indiana residencies (70% in primary care)
  • 79% of all Indiana residency matches are in areas with physician shortages

Since it transitioned from a highly successful education program in 2017, the re-imagined Fred S. Klipsch Educators College has distinguished itself from other programs as an innovative outlier. In 2023, Marian University’s Fred S. Klipsch Educators College became one of only 48 institutions in the United States to earn an A+ rating, the highest distinction, from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), and is the only school in Indiana to receive the honor.

The 2023 Marian University Gala is also celebrating the expansion of Marian’s STEHM offerings with the new E.S. Witchger School of Engineering, enabling Marian to provide students with top-ranked engineering education in a state-of-the-art facility. Students can earn degrees in six engineering disciplines: biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, mechanical, and engineering physics.

This year, we continued the tradition of honoring and recognizing deserving honorees that have made, and continue to make our community better. Read more and check out the honoree videos, below.

Emcee

Rafael SanchezWRTV Anchor / Investigator, Rafael Sánchez returned an unprecedented fifth time for the 2023 Marian University Gala.

A multiple Emmy award winning anchor and investigative reporter at WRTV-ABC in Indianapolis, Mr. Sánchez co-anchors Good Morning Indiana and also leads on breaking news and political coverage. Rafael participates in about 40-50 fundraisers focused on raising thousands of dollars for charitable causes. As the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, he’s focused on charities that champion education, promote self-empowerment & compassion, and encourage leadership and civic responsibility.

Musical Entertainment

The ImpalasThe Impalas are entertaining, talented and energetic—a perfect fit for the annual Marian University Gala! Performing a style including soul, R & B, rock, and swing, they got our Gala crowd up and dancing the night away!

 

The Sisters of St. Francis

Sisters of St FrancisWe celebrated the long-standing tradition as members from the Marian University Sacred Choir join the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg for the Benediction and Blessing of St. Clare.

 

Honorees

Al Leighton '62 and Kathy Fox '75
2023 Dillon Family Distinguished Alumni Award

Leighton and FoxThe Dillon Family Distinguished Alumni Awardis given to alumni who have: attained significant achievements in their careers; exhibited a spirit of mentoring by providing guidance, support, encouragement and leadership to Marian University students, faculty, staff, or to individuals in the broader community and contribute through personal leadership, to the development and growth of the individuals mentored; demonstrated outstanding contributions to the growth, development, and visibility of Marian University through gifts of energy, time, and talents; demonstrated a commitment to achieving peace and social justice through significant contributions in a professional or volunteer role; contributed significantly to the welfare of others through volunteering in direct service endeavors; or made outstanding contributions to the improvement of the civic, national, global, or religious community through professional or volunteer leadership. See a special video message from Al Leighton '62: Divine Interventions.

 

Ted Gary
2023 Franciscan Values Award

Ted GaryMarian University traces its roots to 1851, when the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana founded a teacher training school to serve the needs of the Catholic community in southeastern Indiana. The Sisters established Marian College in Indianapolis in 1937; today Marian University offers students an excellent education that emphasizes a Franciscan understanding of the sponsorship values of dignity of the individual, peace and justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship. These values represent the legacy of our founders and the foundation of our personal approach to educating the whole person. In honor of this legacy, each year Marian University presents the Franciscan Values Award in recognition of contributions to our community.

 

Teresa Lubbers
2023 John A. Purdie Innovator and Mentor of the Year Award

Teresa LubbersThe John A. Purdie Innovator and Mentor of the Year Awardis named for Marian University Trustee John A. Purdie, a certified public accountant and graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Herman C. Krannert School of Business at Purdue University. Purdie served as president of Regency Windsor Capital, Inc., a family-owned real estate investment holding company in Florida.

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors

Reception Sponsor

Bowen Family Foundation Logo

Dessert Sponsor

  • Al Leighton '62 and Kathy Fox '75

Event Technology Sponsor

Markeys Logo

Printed Program Sponsor

Physician Wealth Resource

Skywalk Sponsor

Ascension Logo

Giveaway Sponsor

Wood Mizer Logo

Platinum Table Sponsor

  • Recognition in printed event program and on digital signage at event
  • One table of 10
  • $10,000

Gold Table Sponsor

  • Recognition in printed event program and on digital signage at event
  • One table of 10
  • $5,000

Reservation Pricing

  • Individuals: $500
  • Marian staff and faculty: $250
  • Marian alumni: $250

Of note:

  • Pledges for sponsorships can be fulfilled over three to five years. 
  • All sponsorships at $50,000 or more are eligible to endow a scholarship in the donor/company’s name.
  • To secure your sponsorship contact John Finke at: 317.955.6202 or email jfinke@marian.edu