The annual Winter Employee Celebration drew more than 2,300 employees, retirees and relatives to campus Jan. 25 for dinner, athletics events and family activities.

Lines moved quickly in the Ramin Room in Bartels Hall for the dinner – featuring chicken parmesan and baked ziti – as nearly 100 volunteer staff, retirees and students from the Cornell Tradition and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity helped things run smoothly. And volunteers from the Employee Assembly hosted a serving table.

Credit: Jason Koski/Cornell University

On-campus athletic events were additional draws for attendees. The Upstate Challenge indoor track competition was held throughout the day in Barton Hall; wrestling versus Harvard and women’s basketball against Columbia preceded the dinner and men’s basketball versus Columbia followed.

Family-friendly entertainment included Crossroads the Clown and student-led children’s activities. And information on Cornell University Police, the Cornell Recreation Connection and Cornell Environmental Health and Safety was available at tables in the Ramin Room.

Credit: Jason Koski/Cornell University

“Thanks to the many volunteers, including those from the Employee Assembly and students from The Cornell Tradition and from Alpha Phi Omega,” said Cheryl McGraw, events manager for human resources. “Without them and the staff from Cornell Catering, we could never host an event like this.”

The 2020 Winter Employee Celebration was sponsored by CFCU Community Credit Union, Cornell Catering, the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, the Division of Facilities and Campus Services, the Division of Human Resources, Pepsico and Utz Quality Foods.