Fun and Games at RnR 2016

Partying with a purpose – to raise funds for the Wichita State University Alumni Association and its programming in support of WSU – was the name of the game Saturday night. The Oct. 1 fundraiser in Charles Koch Arena took on the theme and colors of this election year, with a Shocker twist, of course: Red White and Wu.

In addition to Rockin’ the Roundhouse’s traditional awesome arrays of food offerings and silent and live auction items, the event sported appearances by Wichita Olympians and the debut of well-known Shockers Bob Hull and Cindy Klose as live auction emcees. John Rupp, of JP Weigand Auctions, was the auctioneer. 

The WSUAA thanks every event sponsor and contributor – and everyone who came out to party with a purpose.

Thank you, sponsors:

Shocker GOLD: Anonymous; Shocker SILVER: Cox Communications, McCormick Armstrong; Shocker BRONZE: Clark Investment Group/ Stephen Clark, Commerce Bank, Delta Dental of Kansas, St. Lasom Enterprises, Foulston Siefkin LLP, Jack & Sandi McInteer, Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita State University/Office of the President; Shocker HOST: Arthur Glass, Craig Ablah, House of Schwan, PepsiCo, Steven Rospond DDS, Rebecca Carter, Reuben Saunders.

Thank you, restaurant sponsors:

Beautiful Day Café • Blarney Stone Pub • Blue River Mexican Grill • Butler Community College: Bakery Arts • Candle Club • Deano’s Grill & Tapworks • Dunkin’ Donuts • Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers • Granite City Food & Brewery • Greystone Steak and Seafood • Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza • Kernel’s Popcorn Express • Molino’s Mexican Cuisine • Nitro Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee • Nothing Bundt Cakes • Premier Catering • Redrock Canyon Grill • Rita’s Italian Ice • Smallcakes: A Cupcakery • Sodexo • Songbird Juice Co. • Sweet Allie B’s

Thank you, live auction contributors:

Chester’s Chophouse & Wine Bar, Chris Lamb and Shocker Volleyball, Flint Oak, Futo Wines, Gregg Marshall and Shocker Men’s Basketball, Missouri Valley Conference, Jody Adams and Shocker Women’s Basketball, Kice Industries, Rudd Vineyard and Winery, Shocker Baseball, Stoneworx, Summers Estate Wines, Twelve Restaurant & Bar, Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell, WSU Athletics, WSU President John and Deborah Bardo, WSU VP John and Katie Tomblin

Thank you, silent auction contributors:

Alayne Marker, Albero Café, All Things BBQ, Ambassador Hotel, Ann’s Fashions, Artworks, Ashby Street Outdoor Advertising, Aspen Boutique, Bob Long, Botanica, Bowtique Nation, Bradley Fair, Brown Box Bakery, Candle Club, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Cathy Carrier, Central Standard Brewing Co., Cheryl McGuire, Christopher Clark Photo-graphy, Cindy Claycomb, Cocoa Dolce, Dana Fleming Media, Dandurand Drugstore, Delano BBQ, Dock 410, Frou Frou LLC, Frozen Drinks R Us, Genesis, Gentry Ltd., Greater Wichita YMCA, Hilton Garden Inn, Holly Dyer, Hopping Gnome Brewing Company, Hotel at Old Town, I Heart Media, INTRUST Bank Arena, Judy Stanley, Karg Art Glass, Kelley DeGraffenreid, Kim Hartwell, Knork Flatware, Lamzy Divey, Marilyn Pauly, Michael Meacham, Monarch, Music Theatre of Wichita, Pinot’s Palette, Progressions Day Spa, Rayer’s Bearden Stained Glass Class and Gift Galleries, Rodan + Fields, Ron Baker, Saint by Sarah Jane, Sakana Japanese Grill & Sushi, Shamrock Car Wash, Sheryl Wohlford, Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes, Spirit AeroSystems, Sodexo, Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Tanya’s Soup Kitchen, The Chocolate Fountain, The Plaid Giraffe, The Wichita Eagle, Theater League, Traditions, Tree Top Nursey & Landscape, Trio’s in Bradley Fair, Two Brothers BBQ, Village Tours & Travel, Walnut River Brewing Co., Watermark Books & Café, Wichita Marriott Hotel, Wichita Thunder, Wright Focus Photography, WSU Alumni Association, WSU Shocker Baseball, WSU Campus Recreation, WSU University Bookstore, Wyldwood Cellars, Ziggy’s Pizza 

In keeping with Rockin’ the Roundhouse’s patriotic theme, three Wichita Olympians were recognized during the live auction segment of the fundraiser. Honored were Nico Hernandez, who brought home to Wichita the Bronze Medal in light flyweight boxing from the Summer Olympic Games in Rio; Nick Taylor, who captured the Silver Medal in wheelchair quad doubles tennis at the Paralympic Games in Rio; and Deja Young, who took Gold in two sprints, the T47 100-meter and the T47 200-meter races, at the Paralympic Games this summer. Taylor was unable to be in attendance; he was at a tennis competition. Hernandez and Young were on hand to accept congratulations and a framed certificate of achievement from Courtney M. Marshall, WSUAA president and CEO, and Chris Purdum, WSUAA board chair.

Party-goers fully enjoyed the varied food offerings from some of Wichita’s best-loved restaurants and then cast their ballots for the best of the best: the Candle Club was voted “Best Rockin’ the Roundhouse Restaurant.” 

Thanks, again, to everyone who played a role in this year’s WSUAA party with a purpose!