Good time:
Employee Appreciation a fun-filled day
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| The Stafford Stompers are ready to rumble! |
Grades were in, commencement was over and the work of the academic year was history. The campus looked its best with grass cut, trees trimmed and sidewalks washed. May 15 was party time at UMW, a breezy spring Employee Appreciation Day 2006.
Great Hall was filled with coworkers chatting around information booths and tables spread with pastries, fruit and more. Visitors could learn about the Mental Health Center and Psychological Services, the Multicultural Center, Campus Recreation, Facilities Services, and Admissions for both campuses.
The morning continued with information sessions:
• Marc Carrion from Information Technologies shared the secrets of sleight of hand in Magic 101.
• Dave Cooper (left) demonstrated a different type of handy work in Wood Carving with Dave. The University Police Lieutenant brought examples of his finely carved and painted bird decoys, showed how to make them, and even passed around wood and tools so participants could (carefully!) whittle away at a piece of soft tupelo gum.
• Bob Liebau of Campus Recreation was on hand to help employees get up and about without injury in Pain-Free Walking.
• Joni Wilson, director of landscape and grounds, got her hands dirty demonstrating the planting techniques she and Robin Jones, lead gardener, use when assembling the lovely campus plantings in UMW Flower Pots, You Gotta Love ’Em!
Across the hall in the Red Room, folks were whooping it up with John Gentile, dancer extraordinaire from Culpeper County Parks and Recreation. He taught Country Line Dancing and in no time UMW employees had learned all the right moves on the floor.
Lunchtime came and the clouds of the morning burned away; Ball Circle was filled with the scents of sizzling burgers and hot dogs. Sodexho offered fried chicken, salads, wraps and fixings while ice cream and all types of toppings waited in the wings. But some people weren’t interested in the food; they were ready for competition in the form of volleyball, bean bag toss, balloon toss, Nerf dodge ball and tug of war.
Teams with names such as the AECers, the Registrar Ringers (teams I and II), the Gatekeepers, the Bean Counters, Sweet and Sassy, Da Playas, and Nobody’s Business took sides across the volleyball net.
In the end, and for the second year in a row, the Admissions Department Gatekeepers – Rachael Deane, Cris Hairston, Rachel Pennington, Cara Stout, Lawrence Webb, Melissa Yakabouski, Amanda Craddock, Charmayne Staloff and Marty Wilder – won the day. Business and Finance Department’s Nobody’s Business – Erma Baker, Ron Byram, Paul Griggs, Patty Land, Kim McManus-Carini, Paula Zero and Rick Pearce – took second place in the single elimination tournament with two semifinal rounds.
In other competitions, the AECers – Amanda Carter, Jan Clarke, Naomi Crown, Susan Harvin, Lebette Hostetler, Becky Kocher, Lee Ann Reaser, Peggy Simpkins, Sara Solomon, Inez Wehrli and Kate Wheeler – won first place. The Stafford Stompers – Meta Braymer, Tracye Crooker, Jeanie Kline, Matt Mejia, Chris Neuberger, Charles Tate, Jan Waltonen and Janet West – took second. Also in competition were the Stafford Storm and the Fin Aid Fems.
While the rest of us played, the Human Resources staff was hard at work. They kept the day going and distributed great prizes, including dinners, massages and everyone’s favorite – cash. The employees of Sodexho also deserve recognition for their efforts.
Thanks to all the people who made the day!
View more photos of Employee Appreciation Day 2006 >>>>