Student Impact Archives - �鶹ӰԺ University

�鶹ӰԺ University to host “Light! More Light! For Menasha” to Support Fox Cities Tornado Relief

Communications — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 20:56:00 +0000

�鶹ӰԺ University will bring together campus and community members for Light! More Light! For Menasha, a community fundraising event supporting local tornado recovery efforts, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, on the �鶹ӰԺ campus. A rain date is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13.

Hosted by �鶹ӰԺ University’s Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership (SEAL) office, the event will feature hundreds of illuminated paper lanterns displayed along campus pathways, each representing a donation to support communities affected by recent tornadoes across the Fox Cities.

All proceeds will benefit the United Way Fox Cities Tornado Relief Community Response Fund, which supports immediate and long-term recovery efforts in Menasha, Neenah, Fox Crossing, Appleton, and other impacted communities.

Video length: 2 minutes, 13 seconds

Community members can sponsor a paper lantern through the event’s online fundraising page. As part of the sponsorship, donors may request a personalized message to be written on their lantern. Messages can honor loved ones, offer encouragement, share words of hope, commemorate special memories, or recognize those affected by the tornadoes.

“One small light can represent hope, remembrance, encouragement, or support,” Dakota McKee, director of student engagement, activities, and leadership, said. “Together, those lights create a powerful symbol of a community coming together to help its neighbors.”

On the evening of the event, attendees will be invited to walk �鶹ӰԺ’s illuminated pathways, view the lantern displays, read messages left by community members, and search for their own sponsored lanterns. Complimentary hot cider and cocoa will be available throughout the evening.

McKee emphasized that community members do not need to sponsor a lantern to attend the event.

The initiative was created in response to the widespread impact of recent tornadoes across the Fox Cities. Beyond fundraising, the event is intended to provide an opportunity for connection, reflection, and community support during the recovery process.

How to Participate
Paper lantern sponsorships can be made online at:

Donors will have the opportunity to submit a personalized message on the donation confirmation page. All messages must be appropriate for public display and may be reviewed before placement on lanterns.

Those wishing to make a cash donation may do so through Nov. 6 at the Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership Office on the fourth floor of the Warch Campus Center, 711 E. Boldt Way, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Event Details

What: Light! More Light! For Menasha
When: Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, 6-8 p.m.
Rain Date: Friday, Nov. 13, 2026
Where: �鶹ӰԺ University campus, Appleton
Cost: Free and open to the public
Beneficiary: United Way Fox Cities Tornado Relief Community Response Fund

About the Event
Each sponsored paper lantern represents an individual act of generosity, remembrance, encouragement, or hope. Together, the lanterns will illuminate the �鶹ӰԺ campus while helping fund recovery and rebuilding efforts for Fox Cities communities affected by the recent tornadoes.

Light a path. Share a message. Support our neighbors.

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New partnership explores community livability through student-led research

Communications — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:47:48 +0000

A new partnership between �鶹ӰԺ University and Appleton Downtown, Inc. (ADI), gives �鶹ӰԺ students the opportunity to apply concepts they are learning in class to real‑world community challenges.

Facilitated by �鶹ӰԺ’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE), the collaboration connects students and faculty with community partners to co‑develop projects that address local priorities while enhancing academic learning. In partnership with ADI, students will contribute research-based insights and creative problem-solving on issues such as safe walkability, downtown experience, and quality-of-life concerns.

“This is a mutually beneficial partnership that illustrates �鶹ӰԺ University’s commitment to community-engaged learning and local collaboration,” said Michelle Buchinger, Coordinator for Experimental Learning & Community Engagement at �鶹ӰԺ University. “We’re excited about this partnership and looking forward to creating many more like it.”

The interdisciplinary course brings together students from the Business and Entrepreneurship and Psychology programs, bringing together their unique skill sets to explore a common challenge. The partnership highlights thevalue of �鶹ӰԺ’s liberal arts model in addressing complex, real‑world challenges. Students provide time, capacity, and fresh perspectives, while ADI gains thoughtful analysis and research support to inform long‑term planning.

“This is a great way to garner information, gain new perspectives, and work side-by-side with residents to gather the data,” said Jennifer Stephany, Executive Director at ADI.

The partnership strengthens students’ connection to the Fox Cities. Because many students live downtown, they can provide firsthand perspectives on community dynamics. The experience can help create a bridge from the student to the community, deepening their local connections and increasing the likelihood they will remain engaged in the region after graduation.

Invitation to Community Partners The Center for Community Engagement encourages other Fox Cities organizations to explore similar partnerships. Projects are developed collaboratively and tailored to organizational needs and course goals, with CCE providing facilitation and support to ensure projects are manageable and impactful.

“Experiential learning projects are a valuable way to integrate real-world impact into our courses,” said Carrie Picardi,J. Thomas Hurvis, professor of organizational psychology and collaboration, and associate professor of psychology at �鶹ӰԺ University. “With creative collaboration, we can design projects that allow students to apply concepts they are currently learning. This course, Organizational Development, is interdisciplinary and weaves together business and psychology topics such as behavioral change, research methods, strategic planning, and innovation. I am thrilled to partner with ADI and provide my students with this opportunity.”

By linking academic learning with community priorities, partnerships of this nature illustrate how universities and local organizations can work together to strengthen the region through sustained, mutually beneficial collaboration.

For more information about partnership opportunities, contact the �鶹ӰԺ University Center for Community Engagement at community.engagement@lawrence.edu.

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