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On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, families at Woodworth Middle School in Fond du Lac woke up to an email from the school principal informing them that school was canceled for the day due to “a fire and smoke damage in the building.” Over the next few hours, it became clear that the fire was due to a kiln accident and that the school, which sits directly across the street from Marian University, could not be repaired in time for students to return before the end of the school year. 

Shortly thereafter, Fond du Lac School District Superintendent Matthew Steinbarth reached out to Marian University President Aaron Sadoff with an unconventional ask: Could Marian open its doors to middle school students for the remainder of the school year? No one was surprised when Marian said yes.

This story on NBC 26 explores the details of how it all came together.

On Friday morning, Marian University was unofficially rebranded as “Woodworth West University” and opened its doors to 425 middle school students. Social media was filled with students joking about skipping high school and heading straight to college, while parents, teachers, and staff shared love and appreciation for Marian's flexibility and speed. Local organization “Birds of a Feather” partnered with Caribou Coffee and Kwik Trip to bring coffee and donuts for Woodworth and Marian staff. And anyone who knows him won't be surprised to hear that President Aaron Sadoff stood at the drop-off site shaking hands and welcoming students to our great Marian campus.

About Marian University
Marian University was founded in 1936 by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, a group of pioneering sisters, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The university has a rich tradition of dedication to the education of the whole person and offers a variety of undergraduate, master's and adult learning degrees at its main campus and online.  For more info on Marian University, please visit: https://www.marianuniversity.edu/ 

About the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA), founded in 1858 in Barton, has been based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for more than 150 years. Today, CSA has sisters across the United States and Nicaragua who strive to minister with simplicity and hospitality in the fields of education, healthcare, pastoral ministry, and social service. CSA Associates are women and men who choose to have an intentional relationship with the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.