Tom and Colleen Dondlinger have a long association with Newman University and have played important roles in the institution’s growth and development.
Tom earned a degree in business administration in 1972 from Sacred Heart College, where he played on the varsity golf and tennis teams. In 1980, he became president of Dondlinger & Sons Construction Co., Inc., when his father, Ray, retired. Over the past 30 years, Dondlinger & Sons has changed the face of Wichita by building such local landmarks as the Epic Center, Century II Expo Hall, Exploration Place, Charles Koch Arena, and the Keeper of the Plains Arkansas River corridor. Currently, the firm is constructing the new Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita. The company also made major contributions to the Newman campus as general contractor for Eck Hall and, most recently, the Dugan Library and Campus Center. In 1991, Tom received the Leon A. McNeill Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have achieved outstanding success in their personal and professional lives. |
2008 Newman Medal Recipients, B. Lee Cooper, Ph.D., and Colleen and Tom Dondlinger. Also pictured are Newman Board of Trustees Chair J.V. Johnston, left, and Newman President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D.
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Both Tom and Colleen are ardent supporters of Newman and Catholic education. Tom served on the Newman Board of Directors from 1982 to 1989, including a term as chair from 1988 to 1989. Over the years he and Colleen have made many generous contributions to Newman through private gifts, company donations, the Dondlinger Foundation, Inc., and the Kansas Independent College Fund. They have been consistent supporters of the Jet Open Golf Tournament since its inception more than 20 years ago and are charter members of the De Mattias Society. They have also made major gifts to various fundraising initiatives and capital campaigns, including Renaissance 2000, Beyond the Renaissance and the I Can See the World From Here campaign for the Dugan Library and Campus Center. In 2007, Colleen served on The Art of Food and Drink planning committee and, together with her husband, hosted a reception to welcome President Noreen Carrocci.
The Dondlingers are also very involved in the Wichita community. Tom has served on the boards of many civic, arts and business organizations, including the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission, Exploration Place, Friends of the Wichita Art Museum, the Wichita Crime Commission, Junior Achievement of Wichita, Quivira Council Boy Scouts, and Commerce Bank. In addition, Colleen has served on the boards of Catholic Charities, Music Theater of Wichita, Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School Council, and A Better Choice, where she also served as a counselor. Both Tom and Colleen are active members of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The Dondlingers have three children, Anne, 21, David, 20, and Peter, 17.
To read the news release written about 2008 Cardinal Newman Banquet honoring the Dondlingers amoung other award reciepients, click here. |