Burgers, Booze and Beats will highlight Cleary University’s third annual Summerfest celebration, Friday, June 6, from 6-10 p.m. at Lake Trust Stadium on Cleary’s campus in Howell.
Cost for Summerfest at the Stadium is $60 a person, or $30 for designated drivers. Ticket price includes an assortment of creative sliders and everything delicious between two buns, sampling an array of boozy delights and signature cocktails (designated drivers can sip on unlimited soft drinks), and dancing to the musical beats of The Killer Flamingos and country singer Kari Holmes.
Summerfest is open to the entire community – 21 years of age and older.
Throughout the evening, guests can sample an assortment of burgers and other creative sliders served from these food trucks: Griff’s Grill, a local and family-owned establishment in downtown Howell; Hickory BBQ & Grill in Brighton, known for its award-winning hickory barbecue; Tim’s Gourmet Sliders, Detroit’s extraordinary savoring sliders that he calls a high-end meal with a gourmet touch in the palm of your hand; and Cleary’s own Clancy’s Café creations.
Along with a variety of succulent sliders, guests can choose from more than a dozen festive and unique cocktails served by the locally owned Whiskey Chicks, Inc, mixologists.
Proceeds from Burgers, Booze and Beats will support Cleary students needing financial assistance. The Gift of Graduation scholarship is used to help juniors and seniors who are close to completing their degree but are short on funds.
Here is the schedule for Summerfest at the Stadium:
• Lake Trust Stadium gates open: 6 p.m.
• Burgers and boozy cocktail tasting: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Beats of Kari Holmes: 6:30-7:15 p.m.
• More beats by headliner, The Killer Flamingos: 8 p.m.
• Fireworks finale by Dueling Dragons: 9:30 p.m.
Kari Holmes, a pop/country singer and songwriter, was named 2021 Entertainer of the Year at the Josie Music Awards. She’s been described as a cross between Shania Twain for her looks, style and attitude; Taylor Swift for her writing abilities; and Carrie Underwood for her ability to belt out a tune.
The Killer Flamingos, Summerfest’s headliners, are considered Detroit’s biggest and best party band, providing unforgettable performances that have kept Detroit on the cutting edge of current music. The group has been performing for more than 30 years all over the Midwest.
They will provide an explosive live show, packed with outstanding musicianship and high-energy.
To purchase tickets for Burgers, Booze and Beats, visit www.cleary.edu/summerfest2025/.
For sponsorship information and VIP tickets, contact Katee Cole at kcole@cleary.edu.
Cleary University is located at 3750 Cleary Drive, off Grand River Avenue and west of Latson Road in Howell.
Gift of Graduation funds pushed President’s Award recipient Mia Rzepka over the finish line.
In May, four years after enrolling at Cleary, Mia Rzepka graduated on time with a BBA in Business Management and an MBA in Strategic Leadership, thanks to a little financial support from the Gift of Graduation. She also received the President’s Award for demonstrating overall excellence in teamwork, scholarship, communication and presentation skills, and integration and application of coursework into the business world. She was co-president of SALT (Student Athlete Leadership Team) and was a leader on and off the field for Cleary’s softball team for four years (she was named Second Team All-WHAC and All-Academic Team for WHAC). She maintained a heavy coursework load of 18 credits every semester and worked 32 hours a week at Delta Dental to “continue growing and developing my career skills while also paying for my college education,” she says.
“It is not easy always knowing that a degree comes with a price tag,” Rzepka points out, “but I always tell myself it will be worth it at the end.” Rzepka was determined to graduate debt free, and she did.
“Overachievers like Mia need our support,” said Tom Egan, director of Develop.m.ent at Cleary University.
That is why the school established the Gift of Graduation, an opportunity to contribute financially to this scholarship, which is used to help students like Mia.
“We are so impressed by her tenacity, perseverance, resilience and positive attitude,” Egan says. “She not only excelled academically and athletically, but she also was a high performer at her job at Delta Dental as a Professional Relations Intern.”
Rzepka was raised by her mother, a single parent, who has worked as a cosmetologist for 33 years. Rzepka grew up learning that nothing in life is directly handed to you. “She has worked hard and with integrity for everything she has achieved,” Egan points out. “She has been determined to be self-sufficient, and to pay for her education on her own. With a little help from generous community supporters through Gift of Graduation, Mia got the extra push to the graduation stage.”
With your donation to Cleary’s Gift of Graduation, you can help students like Mia Rzepka get to where they want to be and deserve to be. The workplace needs more people like her who are game changers in every sense of the word.
For more information on Gift of Graduation, visit www.cleary.edu/gift-of-graduation-scholarship/.
