Staff Day is back, and Danforth Campus employees are invited to relax, have fun and celebrate with co-workers Monday, May 24.
Drawings, golf and tours are just a few of the many activities offered at Staff Day, a daylong celebration organized by the Office of Human Resources to recognize Danforth Campus staff members and show the university’s appreciation for their work throughout the year.
“We are especially pleased that we are able to have Staff Day this year,” says Ann B. Prenatt, vice chancellor for human resources. “It is a special day of well-deserved recognition for staff members who make many and varied contributions to the success of the university.”
Staff Day kicks off with a Service Awards ceremony, hosted by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton, at Edison Theatre at 10 a.m. The ceremony will honor those with 10, 15, 20, 26 and 30-plus years of service to the university.
Wrighton also will present the 13th annual Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes a Danforth Campus nonacademic staff member for his or her exceptional effort and contribution to the university.
Next on the schedule is lunch, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at Bowles Plaza. If there is inclement weather, lunch will be held in the Mallinckrodt Center. Tickets, which are required for the lunch, are free and can be requested at staffday.wustl.edu.
After lunch, those preferring to take it easy can play bingo (1:30-3 p.m. at Holmes Lounge), take a tour of the Danforth Campus (1 p.m. at Brookings Archway), or learn about tobacco-cessation services at an information table in Mallinckrodt Center (12:30-3 p.m.).
For employees wanting a bit more action in their afternoons, Staff Day offers:
- Golf at Forest Park Golf Course. Those who sign up for golf must be at the clubhouse by 11:30 a.m. for lunch, and tee times start at 12:15 p.m. Tee times are limited to the first 60 players. There is a greens fee of $26. To sign up, e-mail Beverly Owens at owensb@wulaw.wustl.edu or Rita Stanley at stanley@wustl.edu.
- Softball at the Women’s Softball Field. The opening pitch is 1 p.m. Either sign up with a team or by yourself and you will be assigned a team. E-mail Tom Lauman at tomlauman@wustl.edu.
- Volleyball at the Athletic Complex. The first game starts at 1:30 p.m. To sign up, e-mail Jeff Herman at jeff_herman@wustl.edu or Donna Hall at dhall22@wustl.edu.
- Washers at Mudd Field. The first toss is at 1 p.m. To sign up a two-person team, e-mail Karen Rose at karen.t.rose@wustl.edu.
- Bike ride through Forest Park. This ride begins at 1:30 p.m. at the bottom of the steps at Brookings Hall. Please bring your own bike. For more information, e-mail Bobbe Winters at bobbe@wustl.edu.
- WU Walks through the Danforth Campus. The walk starts at 1 p.m. in front of Graham Chapel. For more information, e-mail Betsy Foy at betsy_foy@wustl.edu.
Also, from 1-3 p.m., the Athletic Complex and Tao Tennis Center will be open for swimming, racquetball, walleyball, tennis and other activities.
The day culminates with a presentation of trophies and drawings for prizes at 3:30 p.m. at Bowles Plaza. Among the prizes offered are Cardinals baseball tickets, restaurant gift cards and a night’s stay at the Moonrise Hotel, Hilton St. Louis Frontenac and others.
Free Ted Drewes frozen custard will be offered during the presentation.
“A great deal of time and effort is put into the organizing and implementing of this event by the Staff Day Committee and the Office of Human Resources,” Prenatt says. “All of that work is worth it when we see the smiles of those receiving service awards, colleagues enjoying the competitions and staff members just out having a fun afternoon.”
While WUSTL employees celebrate and relax on Staff Day, the university also asks staff members to remember those less fortunate and drop off a canned food item outside of Edison Theatre. All donations will go to the St. Louis Area Food Bank. Last year, WUSTL employees donated 385 pounds of canned food.
For more information about the Staff Day event schedule and locations, contests and prizes, visit staffday.wustl.edu or e-mail staffday@wustl.edu.