University of Saint Mary Inc.
04/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/21/2026 08:29
University of Saint Mary Raises More Than $534,000 for Student Scholarships During the SpireFest Gala
University of Saint Mary Raises More Than $534,000 for Student Scholarships During the SpireFest Gala
Apr 21, 2026
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John Shultz
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(Leavenworth, Kansas) - In its 23rd year, the University of Saint Mary SpireFest Gala set a new benchmark, generating more than $534,000 for student scholarships.
USM held its premier fundraising event on April 18 at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. The evening included live and silent auctions, dinner, dancing, and opportunities to donate to student scholarships.
"Thank you to all who contributed to the success of our 2026 SpireFest," Associate Vice President of Advancement Kylie Adams said. "We are proud to have reached a new event fundraising record in our 23rd year. Gifts made during SpireFest truly make a difference in the lives of USM students, and we are so grateful for the generosity of many alumni, friends, sponsors, and USM employees."
The university also recognized two university leaders during the event. USM President Sister Diane Steele received the Saint Marian of the Year Award, which honors those who demonstrate a strong commitment to service and have contributed to the success of the University of Saint Mary. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michelle Metzinger was presented with the inaugural Sister Diane Steele Leadership Award. Dr. Metzinger has served as the university's academic VP at USM since 2017, and Sister Steele will step down this summer after 25 years as president.
The University of Saint Mary is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of Saint Mary main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan. USM-Johnson County, at 11221 Roe Ave., offers evening accelerated graduate and undergraduate degree-completion programs. The university also offers online programs. Visit stmary.edu for more information.
University of Saint Mary Inc. published this content on April 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 21, 2026 at 14:29 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]