Chris Kitchen/University Photography

Henry Granison and Mary Beth Grant serve dinner at the 2016 Winter Employee Celebration.

Chris Kitchen/University Photography

Staffer Jennifer Harris and daughter Katie enjoy women's basketball at the 2016 Winter Employee Celebration.

Chris Kitchen/University Photography

Officer Beverly Van Cleef shares a fun educational moment at the 2016 Winter Employee Celebration.

More than 2,200 Cornell employees, retirees and family members enjoyed the Winter Employee Celebration, Jan. 23, in Bartels Hall.

In addition to the traditional chicken parmesan and pasta dinner, families attended men’s and women’s basketball games against Columbia, women’s ice hockey and the Indoor Track Upstate Challenge at Barton Hall.

Other attractions included giveaways and activities from the Cornell University Police, Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and the United Way of Tompkins County, which is still accepting pledges to its 2015-16 campaign. Canine Officer Chase, Crossroad Clown and Chester the Cheetah drew youngsters, and the Big Red Band set the Ramin Room rocking.

Both men’s and women’s basketball games were simulcast on the Ivy League Digital Network and ESPN3 and produced by Cornell Athletics, a first for the university. Though the Big Red men’s basketball team fell to Columbia, 79-68, the women’s team started the day with a bang, besting Columbia, 84-73.

“The crowd was wonderful today, so we are very excited to get a win for us and for those who came out to support us,” said Dayna Smith, the Rebecca Quinn Morgan ’60 Head Coach of Cornell Women’s Basketball. Women’s ice hockey lost to St. Lawrence, 5-1.

“Thanks go to the students on the women’s lacrosse team and the Pep Band for volunteering for the day, and to the many volunteer employees,” said Cheryl McGraw, manager for employee outreach and connections and coordinator of the event.

McGraw also thanked the Cornell police, EH&S staff and United Way volunteers for their displays and activities, and the Employee Celebration sponsors – Cornell Catering, the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, the Division of Human Resources, and Pepsi.