By Jeff Murphy,
March 16, 2022
欧美视频 students and faculty in the spring 2022 Advanced Events
Marketing course, which has planned the Experience Delirium event at Powell Gardens
March 24, are front row, from left, Rashiya Shakur, Jessica Litschgi, Kaylee Tieman,
Shelby Langhorst, Noah Sweeney; and back row, Assistant Professor Keira Solon, Whitney
Smith, Jake Meeker, and Rachel Schultz.
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 At the same time Powell Gardens hosts the Orchid Delirium this month,
a special evening tailored to young adults will come to fruition thanks to the efforts
of a group of 欧美视频 students in the Harmon College of Business
and Professional Studies. for the Experience Delirium event that takes place from 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday,
March 24, at the Powell Gardens Visitors Center.
Open to individuals age 21 and over, this pop-up, one-night-only, rave-type activity
is created around a jungle theme and will include brief access to the Orchid Delirium,
along with a cash bar, cocktails, music provided by a DJ, and a dance floor. This
fun evening at a popular location within easy driving distance of Kansas City also
offers a food truck and plenty of photo opportunities.
The planning and execution of Experience Delirium is being coordinated in cooperation
with Powell Gardens by UCM students who are enrolled in the 2022 spring semester Advanced
Events Management course taught by Keira Solon, assistant professor in UCM鈥檚 School
of Business Strategy. Solon plays a vital role in the education of students within
the Events Marketing and Management (EMM) major, and also teaches the fall semester
course, Introduction to Events Management, as a way to provide students with a real-life
experience in their selected field of study. Five students who were part of the fall
course laid the initial groundwork for this special evening in western Johnson County,
Missouri. All of them are enrolled in Solon鈥檚 spring class along with three other
students who each have key roles in this program.
Solon鈥檚 fall class met with members of Powell Gardens鈥 Board of Directors and administrative
staff in November 2021 to pitch their proposal for this special event, which they
believe appeals to college-age patrons.
"Ultimately, this is a fundraiser,鈥 Kaylee Tieman, a senior events marketing and management
major, noted after the fall meeting. 鈥淲e are trying to raise funds for Powell Gardens
because they are a non-profit, but even bigger than that, we want to introduce our
age demographic - 21 and up - to Powell Gardens.鈥
鈥淎 lot of us 鈥 our age - have never been to Powell Gardens,鈥 Tieman added. 鈥淲e pass
it on the highway but we never stop in and check it out. But it鈥檚 such a great place.
We want to introduce our peers to this place.鈥
Solon said her students in the spring Advanced Events Management course picked up
where the fall class left off. With approval by Powell Gardens鈥 leadership, the team
began to coordinate logistics and specific details for the event this semester. Their
work marks the first time in the four years in which Solon has taught the course that
students have engaged with a client outside of Warrensburg.
She noted that the group worked with UCM alumna Halie Meiser,鈥17, during the fall
semester while she was serving as events specialist in the development office at Powell
Gardens. This spring, students are working directly with Molly Maddox, who handles
fundraising. This has given students exposure to different types of communication
needs required by their clients, Solon said.
鈥淭hey have been very gracious as far as giving us the support that we needed,鈥 she
said in talking about Powell Gardens and its leadership. 鈥淭here was some navigation
and some learning that we all had to do.鈥
Seven of the students who are participating in this event are seeking degrees in Events
Marketing and Management (EMM). They include students who also participated in the
fall course, Shelby Langhorst, who had the original idea for this program and serves
as on-site coordinator; Whitney Smith, client liaison; Jake Meeker, budget; Kaylee
Tieman, overall coordinator of responsibilities; and Jessica Litschgi, oversees supplies
and ordering. Other participants in the spring semester class are Noah Sweeney, fundraising,
and Rashyia Shakur, volunteer coordinator, both of whom are seeking bachelor鈥檚 degrees
in EMM. Also participating is Rachel Schultz, a senior Public Relations major who
is handling marketing and communication.
Solon said the program is also benefiting from the generosity of UCM students, including
Chris Butler, who has volunteered his services as DJ. Members of Alpha Gamma Delta
sorority also are donating their time to assist with the physical set up for Experience
Delirium, and several members of the UCM football team are offering their services
as event bouncers and security.
Butler, EMM student and the co-founder of High Society Entertainment & Promotions,
said he wanted to get involved as a way to show his appreciation for Solon, whom he
said 鈥済enuinely cares about her students.鈥 As he noted, 鈥淧rofessor Solon has my utmost
respect, and volunteering for this event is a way to tell her, 鈥楾hank you for all
that you do.鈥欌
All students who are part of this effort will be able to add events planning to their
resumes, and will be better prepared for their professional careers.
鈥淭his has shown me and my colleagues what it takes to efficiently plan and execute
a successful event,鈥 said Schultz, who also expects to gain additional experience
using her communication skills. 鈥淚t has been a semester full of valuable experience
both inside and outside the classroom. We are extremely excited to see the fruit of
our labor come to life on March 24th."
To learn more about Experience Delirium, including how to obtain tickets, check out
the event鈥檚 .