Final Details in Place for UK Appreciation Day

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2013) — The University of Kentucky Appreciation Day Commission invites the campus community to attend UK Appreciation Day (UKAD) to demonstrate the university’s gratitude for the hard work and dedication of the staff, faculty and their families.

“In celebration of UK’s vibrant community, the commission has combined the former Staff Appreciation Day and Fun Night into UKAD to reflect the unity of our institution that we all hold so dear,” said commission Chair Jann Burks.    

This year’s event will be held Thursday, May 16, at Commonwealth Stadium.  Festivities will run from 1 to 4 p.m. on the stadium’s concourse and from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Blue Lot.  Activities will include a UK T-shirt giveaway; a performance by the Dance program in the  Department of Theatre; vendor and department prize drawings; special guest appearances, including Miss UK and Miss Kentucky; tours of the stadium suites; a carnival; live music; food and more as University Sound and Lights cranks 96.9 KISS FM.  Plus, UK’s own Carl Nathe — voice of the Wildcats — will emcee the event.

Supervisors are encouraged to adjust schedules accordingly without requiring leave to be utilized. UK HealthCare employees should notify their supervisor in advance if they would like to attend so schedules can be adjusted accordingly to not impact patient care.

For those who enjoy the traditional exhibit fair, it will be offered again featuring displays from vendors and university departments from 1 to 4 p.m. on the concourse.  Food will be served by Dining Services during that time at concession windows. 

At 3 p.m., the carnival, magic acts and other activities will be held in the Blue Lot.  Dining Services will grill burgers, including a veggie option, and offer their famous BBQ pulled pork with trimmings and sides.  At 4 p.m., live music will be performed by The Twiggenburys, a band that includes UK faculty.  Finally, the day will close with a concert by Superfecta from 5 to 7 p.m.

This year the commission will bring back the opportunity for people to contribute to God’s Pantry for local families in need.  Blue bins will be available for non-perishable food items to be donated in three locations from 1 to 6 p.m.at Gate 4 and Gate 9 of the concourse and the area adjacent to Appreciation Day Commission HQ in the Blue Lot. 

Parking will be available in the Blue Lot and Red Lot at no charge all day.  Bus information is listed below with an attached map for those who choose to use PTS services.  For UK Appreciation Day, two no-fare buses will run the following route every 15 minutes from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Signs with the Appreciation Day logo and balloons (weather permitting) will mark the stops and the special buses.

·        In front of Chandler Hospital under the clinic-hospital walkway

·        Huguelet at flashing stop sign, near clinic parking structure

·        Administration Drive at Patterson Drive intersection

·        Limestone at Good Samaritan Hospital parking structure

·        Rose Street at Avenue of Champions, bus shelter

·        Rose Street at Chemistry-Physics Building, bus shelter

·        Huguelet at University Drive

·        University Drive at Complex Drive

·        Chandler Hospital at bus shelter between Emergency Department entrance and College of Agriculture Building

·        Commonwealth Stadium, Gate 4

A third bus — an express bus — will run between the Chandler Hospital Emergency Department bus shelter and the stadium only, between 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Appreciation Day Activities at a Glance

Welcome by President Capilouto      1 p.m.                          Stadium Gate 9

Dance Program Performance            1-2 p.m.                      Stadium Gate 9

Exhibit Fair                                        1-4 p.m.                       Stadium Concourse

Lunch & Snacks                                1-4 p.m.                       Concourse

T-shirt Giveaway                               1-4 p.m.                       Concourse

Tours of Stadium Suites                    1-4 p.m.                       Concourse, Room 147 

Special Guest Appearances              1:30-7 p.m.                  Concourse & Blue Lot

Live Music: The Twiggenburys          3:45-4:45 p.m.             Stage in Blue Lot

Dinner                                                3-7 p.m.                       Blue Lot

Magic Show                                       3-7 p.m.                       Blue Lot

Carnival, Inflatables                           3-7 p.m.                       Blue Lot

Live Music - Superfecta                     5-7 p.m.                       Stage in Blue Lot

The UKAD Commission extends a special expression of thanks to all department and vendor exhibitors, the Office of the President, and the following UK entities, whose support makes UKAD possible: UK Athletics, Carl Nathe, College of Fine Arts, Dining Services, Ken Wiley, Office of Sustainability, Parking and Transportation Services, Physical Plant Division, UK Police, Public Relations and Marketing, Student Services, UK Bookstore, and University Sound and Lights.

The commission also thanked the following participants and vendors, including AAA Corporate Travel Services, AT&T, UK Athletics, BB&T Bank, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Central Screen Printing Inc., Circle of Light Massage, College of Fine Arts, Community Trust Bank, Crowne Plaza-Campbell House, Dad’s Favorite Cheese Spreads, UK Environmental Health and Safety, Fortune Collision Center, GOFF/Southeast Tents, Hepcats Swing Dance Club, HR Training and Development, Hyundai of Nicholasville, J&R Construction Services Inc., Lexington Farmers Market @ UK, Lexington Legends Professional Baseball Club, Massage Envy Spa, MetLife, Morrison Management/Food and Nutrition Services Department, NAMI Lexington Inc., Organo Gold, Panera Bread, PNC Bank, Scott-Gross Company Inc., Simpson Optical, Staff Senate, The Art Museum at UK, The Club at Spindletop Hall and the Hilary J. Boone Center, The MPM Group, LLC, TIAA-Cref, Tobacco-free Take Action/College of Nursing/Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, UK Environmental Management Department, UK Federal Credit Union, UK Health and Wellness Program, UK HealthCare Central, UK HealthCare Marketing, UK Information Technology, UK Palliative Care and Hospice, UK Staff Senate Election Committee, UK Transplant Center, UK-HMO, United Way of the Bluegrass, UK College of Dentistry, Verizon Wireless, UK VIP Center and UK Work-Life.

“Finally, my vice chair Holly Jones Clark and I wish to thank the members of the Appreciation Day Commission who have worked tirelessly to make this event successful,” Burks said. “We look forward to seeing you May 16!”

UK Appreciation Day is sponsored by the Office of the President, coordinated by the Staff Senate and brought to you by the Appreciation Day Commission. UKAD Commission members/leaders are: entertainment, Mike Bratcher; exhibits, Natalie Pendleton; facilities, Mike Adams; PR/marketing, Mike Booth; signage, Kim Toomey; transportation, Glenn Jones; T-shirts, Misty Dotson; and volunteers, Judy Duncan.  Other members include Jeremy Colbert, Ken Goodpaster, Alice Ledford, Shirley Greene and Glen White.