Lindsay France/University Photography

Employees gather in Schoellkopf Stadium to cheer on the Big Red football team in a game against Princeton during Employee Celebration, Nov. 1.

Lindsay France/University Photography

Volunteers Pawan Angara '16, left, and Joe D'Abbracci, director of human resources, serve food in Barton Hall.

Lindsay France/University Photography

Staff volunteers Beth Kunz, Karen Brown and Gary Stewart.

Lindsay France/University Photography

MacGruff high-fives an attendee as staff volunteer Melissa Hull looks on.

It might have been the coldest day of fall so far, and Cornell Big Red football might have come up short against Princeton (27-38), but inside Barton Hall Nov. 1, Employee Celebration was in full swing.

More than 50 students from five student groups, in addition to Cornell senior administrators and other employees, volunteered to collect tickets, serve food, work at display tables, and set up and clean up the barbecue chicken and pasta dinner served to about 3,200 Cornell employees, retirees and their families. Donning custom black T-shirts emblazoned with the “150” sesquicentennial logo, students were from Rotaract, the Cornell ChemE Car Team, the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, the wrestling team and Naturalist Outreach.

Also at Barton, children learned to use a fire extinguisher to put out an artificial fire at the Environmental Health and Safety table, held cockroaches at the entomology table and petted golden retrievers from the Cornell Companions pet visitation program and the Golden Retriever Rescue of Central New York. Fifteen additional tables provided giveaways and information on their services, showcasing the work of such offices as the Cornell University Police, the Dilmun Hill Student Farm, the Cornell Wellness Program and the United Way. MacGruff, Chester the Cheetos mascot and Crossroad Clown entertained.

“Thanks to everyone who volunteered for the fall Employee Celebration,” said Cheryl McGraw, employee outreach and events manager, Division of Human Resources and Safety Services.“We appreciate all the efforts of our volunteer staff and students who helped set up, serve or clean up on the day of the event, as well as the perseverance of the employees and families who braved the weather to attend. Special thanks also to the planning committee, crews and the departments who provided exhibitions of interest to participants of all ages.”

Employee Celebration is sponsored by the Division of Human Resources and Safety Services, Cornell Catering, Facilities Management, and the Department of Athletics and Physical Education.