SUNFLOWERS AT SUNSET
Seat Reservations for Sunflowers at Sunset 2024 are now Full!
Sweeten the Future through a Sunflowers at Sunset Donation today.
Friday, September 13th, 2024
5:30 - 9:00 p.m.
8407 Moore Road
Indianapolis, IN 46278
Join us in a dining experience unlike anything you’ve experienced on Friday, September 13, 2024, at Moore Road Farm. Set amidst the sunflower meadow at the heart of our field, you’ll enjoy Sunflowers at Sunset–an elegant dinner in the field served fully immersed in nature to celebrate The STEM Connection’s 10th Anniversary and sponsored by Allison Transmission, The Heritage Group, and several other amazing community partners.
Start your evening at 5:30 p.m. with a signature cocktail or mocktail created by award-winning mixologist, Matt Gillen, and sponsored by Naptown Bourbon Club. Take advantage of memory-making and social media-worthy photo opportunities around the field of sunflowers.
During dinner, you will hear welcoming remarks by the executive director and founder of The STEM Connection, Vera Vander Kooy. Enjoy appetizers, drinks, and conversation with friends old and new, all while performer and songwriter Sarah Scharbrough and her trio become the live soundtrack to your evening. Tickets for this extraordinary experience are $250 per person and must be secured by July 31st. Tickets are fully nonrefundable once purchased.
Continue the festivities by indulging in a dessert flambé by chefs from Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering and take in the beautiful work of local Indy artists in the Art Walk, who will donate a portion of their proceeds from the night back to The STEM Connection. The night concludes at 9 p.m.
What to wear? We recommend “cocktail attire al fresco”–visualize an upscale garden party dress code with sensible shoes for walking through the field throughout the evening.
Rain or shine, the event will proceed, with a designated rain plan to eat under a cozy large tent.
Whether you’re a champion of STEM, a foodie, a sunflower enthusiast, or simply searching for a magical evening, this event promises a unique experience, connection, and a lasting impact on youth in our community. Join us as we celebrate a decade of good work and look to a bright future ahead!
About the Mixologist: Begin your evening with a signature cocktail or mocktail by award-winning mixologist, Matt Gillen, sponsored by Naptown Bourbon Club.
About the Musician: Experience the soothing serenade of World-Class Performer and Songwriter Sarah Scharbrough and her trio throughout the night.
About the Food: Savor an elegantly plated multi-course meal with a complimentary bar and a delightful flambéd dessert station by chefs from Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering.
About the Art Walk: Peruse and shop stunning art from local artists (see below.) A portion of all art sales during the event will be donated to The STEM Connection.
About the Impact: Your contributions support youth in STEM programs at The STEM Connection!
Event Sponsors:
Gold Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors:
Tracy Haddad
Anniversary Sponsors:
The Sleppy Family Foundation
Champion Sponsors:
In-Kind Supporters:
Naptown Bourbon Club
Hoosier Portables
Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering
World-Class Performer and Songwriter:
Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin
Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin’s soulful, eclectic sound combines a rich tapestry of influences, including her classical and jazz training, and a broad spectrum of experiences in gospel, pop, and country. An Indiana native and Anderson University graduate, Sarah has released six original studio albums that have taken her around the globe. She lends her voice to local and national commercials for brands like New Balance and the Indianapolis Colts and has been featured on Emmy Award-winning TV shows "Artrageous with Nate" and "Cook and Belle’s Playhouse." Sarah has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning artists and regularly performs in Greater Indianapolis. A respected worship leader at Grace Church in Noblesville, she also co-hosts the Momnesia Podcast, sharing the multifaceted stories of motherhood. Sarah resides in Noblesville with her husband Jeff, a music educator and performer, and their five children.
Award-Winning Mixologist:
Matt Gillen
With nearly 20 years of service experience, including over 15 years at St. Elmo Steak House, Matt Gillen is a distinguished professional at Huse Culinary, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality & Restaurant Management & Business from Indiana State University and a Level One Distinction from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Matt created the "Bermuda Triangle" cocktail, now a staple on all Huse Culinary restaurant menus, and has won the Devour Downtown Indy Cocktail Contest and placed as runner-up in the Regional Cocktail Contest for After Hours Bourbon.
Artists:
Darya Bowskill
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Darya Bowskill works in oil paint watercolor and colored pencils creating images inspired by wildlife and the natural world. She is particularly fond on painting and drawing birds and animals. She enjoys the challenge of capturing both the likeness and character of her subjects and strives to bring a sense of life and animation to her paintings.
Susie Ardelean
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Susie Ardelean is an abstract mixed media artist specializing in alcohol inks and resin on Yupo. Growing up as the fourth of six daughters in a creative household, Susie was influenced by her crafty mom, her dad's woodworking, and art lessons from her watercolorist grandmother and master watercolorist J. Anna Roberts. A 2009 Marian University graduate with a degree in Graphic Design, she currently works as the Marketing & Community Relations Manager at the Avon-Washington Township Public Library. Susie began exploring alcohol inks in 2018 to combat perfectionism and embrace the joy of the creative process. Her art, which she calls "color therapy," has helped her navigate personal challenges, including battling cancer and dealing with grief. Susie's art has not only been a personal outlet but has also connected her with many amazing people, for which she is deeply grateful.
Jacob Hernandez
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Jacob Hernandez has had a passion for art since he was young. He started experimenting with different media while in college at Ball State University. Ink has become his medium of choice through his journey and has helped him to explore the endless possibilities that can be found using only black and white. Jacob tends to keep things on a smaller scale, with practically every one of his original illustrations measuring under 6 Inches. Aside from working on his art, he enjoys connecting with other artists as he is an active member of the Fishers Arts Council and the Kokomo Art Association, engaging in multiple exhibitions and booth fairs.
Frankie Viglietta
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Frankie Viglietta is an Indianapolis-based artist who works primarily with glass and metal. She received her B.A. with a glass concentration, from Ball State University. Frankie’s artistic practice revolves around the captivating interplay of glass and metal, two mediums that fuel her passion for creativity and transformation. Through her pieces, she endeavors to channel the essence of self-expression and the allure of metamorphosis, showcasing the boundless potential of glass in innovative and captivating ways.
Linda Westfall
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Linda Westfall always wanted to be an artist. She was inspired by her father who was a physician by profession and an artist at heart. His doodles were mini works of art. Notepads and napkins were his canvas. These, too, were Linda’s means of expression until in her early 50s, when her husband gave her a set of oils as a gift. Linda signed us up for an encaustic workshop and was hooked. Many years later, she attended a workshop on cold wax and oils and was hooked again. Different tools and techniques can be used with both mediums to produce a variety of results. In the process of adding layers, scraping, and manipulating the medium, a painting often ends up with very different results from the first idea in mind–she hopes you enjoy the results.
Kenny Sprinkle & Michael Burt
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Kenny Sprinkle graduated from Ball State University in 2013, with a BFA in ceramics and a BS in Visual Arts Education. He has taught ceramics at the Indianapolis Art Center, the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Fountain Square Clay Center. Most recently, Kenny began working part-time as a studio tech for the American Art and Clay Company’s Marketing Department. Kenny’s personal aesthetics, when it comes to his ceramics, derives mostly from forms, textures, and colors found in nature. While he does enjoy throwing on the pottery wheel, many of his pieces are constructed using a variety of hand-building techniques. Over the past few years, his partner Michael Burt started dabbling in clay and has begun collaborating on pieces with him and soon was researching and experimenting with a wide variety of glazes and how they interact through the layering process. Michael’s love of color and his patience for brushing on glazes has resulted in much more colorful works of art.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Gold $10,000 –
Recognition on the event page
Recognition on event signage
8 Guests
Logo on TSC’s website
Recognition on social media
Recognition in TSC’s email newsletter
Verbal recognition at the event
Silver $5,000 –
Recognition on the event page
Recognition on event signage
4 Guests
Name on the Supporter page of TSC’s website
Recognition in TSC’s email newsletter
Bronze $2,500 –
Recognition on the event page
Recognition on event signage
2 Guests
Name on the Supporter page of TSC’s website
Anniversary $1,000 –
Recognition on the event page
Recognition on event signage
Champion $500 –
Recognition on event signage
For assistance with a sponsorship, email: sponsorships@thestemconnection.org