Waynesburg University’s Orange Week is an annual crowdfunding initiative sponsored by the Office of Institutional Advancement and Office of Donor Relations and Annual Giving. This year, more than $57,000 was raised through 460 donations for 18 departments, teams, programs and organizations, according to Donna Nypaver, director of donor relations and annual giving. 

Nypaver wrote that compared to previous years, the 2026 Orange Week “was very successful, both in terms of participation and funds raised.” 

A new addition to the event included letting clubs and projects join in on raising funds through Orange Week celebrations, one of which being the Beekeeping Club. 

The club was initially trying to raise $300 for a honey extractor, said Riley Grecco, Beekeeping Club president and junior forensic investigation major. 

Previously, the club would have to transport the frames of honey to Bedillion Farms in Washington, PA, to be extracted, according to Grecco. 

They received a total of $445, which is $145 more than they expected, according to the Orange Week page on Waynesburg University’s website.

Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Engagement, Pat Bristor, wrote that as an incentive for participating the club who raised the most amount of money past their goal would receive a $250 bonus. 

The club recently bought a new hive after the loss of one during the winter, Grecco also said. They plan to use the bonus to buy new beekeeping suits and jackets to keep up with the increasing popularity of the club amongst students. 

The Orange Week event with the most attendance was the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in collaboration with the Student Activities Board

“Students had the opportunity to play games, win prizes, listen to music and choose between hand-made orange floats and shamrock shakes,” Nypaver wrote. 

Throughout the week, numerous events were held to facilitate involvement and build student connections. 

The Polar Plunge was another successful event that took place during Orange Week. Angelica Good, resident director of SWEP (South-West-East-Pollock) Halls, assistant director of the center for service leadership and residence life and cheerleading coach, wrote about the event in an email exchange. 

“The event was absolutely awesome and better than I envisioned,” Good wrote. “About 30 students plunged. We had a lot more students join during the event than those who registered in advance.”

Good wrote that this event was so well attended it will be repeated in the future with a tentative date already on the calendar for 2027. 

This event was also open for club participation, having five clubs and organizations join in at the event.

We hope to continue to grow this collaboration in the future,” Good wrote.

“This year’s Orange Week was truly a community effort,” Nypaver wrote. “The generosity and enthusiasm shown by alumni and friends highlight the strong connection people have to Waynesburg University. The Office of Institutional Advancement is incredibly grateful for the support that made this year’s event so memorable and impactful.”