Fun Day Slated for May 17 for Employees and Their Families
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 10, 2012) — There’s a slight, but noticeable, shift in the tempo of the campus community on the Monday morning after Commencement, after final exams are graded, after the residence halls are closed, after most of the students have gone away.
It’s not that the university stops working — budgets must still be finalized, lawns must be mowed, summer classes must be taught. It just seems that the university employees take a collective deep breath.
For the past 20 years, sometime between that community-wide deep breath and the launch of vacation plans, the University of Kentucky takes a day in mid-May to celebrate the faculty and staff employees who keep the university moving forward. It used to be called Staff Appreciation Day, but the event has been renamed Fun Day, with an invitation to relax extended to faculty, too.
The University of Kentucky values the work and dedication of both its faculty and staff. It honors the sacrifices they make to provide the best learning experiences possible for students and the most relevant service to the citizens of the Commonwealth. To that end, the Office of the President has sponsored Staff Appreciation Day since 1992. A new event — Fun Night — was added last year. This year, the president’s office continues the celebration of community by offering one magnificent event for everyone — UK Fun Day!
Visit a photo album of last year's event at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/universityofkentucky/sets/72157629678265438/with/7176058082/
President Eli Capilouto invites the entire campus community to bring their families to UK Fun Day Thursday, May 17, for the festivities at Commonwealth Stadium. "I'm emboldened by the spirit of our faculty and staff who work tirelessly in pursuit of our Kentucky Promise," Capilouto said. "UK Fun Day is a special time to express appreciation for the work and dedication of the entire campus family, and celebrate that which makes our institution special."
Once held at the Student Center, the event has grown well beyond those walls. All events have been moved to Commonwealth Stadium. At 2 p.m. May 17, the concourse will open for staff and faculty. Activities will include a UK T-shirt giveaway, prize drawings, special guest appearances, tours of the Johnson and Nutter facilities, refreshments and various exhibits.
The following vendors and departments will sponsor exhibits on the concourse from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Ad-Venture Promotions, AT&T, Central Screen Printing, Chase Bank, College of Dentistry, College of Fine Arts, Community Trust Bank, DanceBlue, Early Childhood Laboratory, Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities Management, FedEx Office and Print Services, Ferguson Enterprises, Gatton MBA Program, Green’s Toyota of Lexington, Hepcats Swing Dance Club, Hilary J. Boone Center, Kentucky Trade Computer Services, Lexington Legends, Lextran, Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, Massage Envy Spa, MetLife, Morrison, PNC Bank/WorkPlace Banking, Republic Bank & Trust Company, Safe Kids – KCH, Scott-Gross Company, Inc., Spindletop, Sprint, Staff Senate, The Campbell House/Crowne Plaza, TIAA-CREF, Toyota on Nicholasville, UK Athletics, UK Bookstore, UK Federal Credit Union, UK Health and Wellness, UK HealthCare Marketing, UK HMO, UK Information Technology, UK Parking and Transportation Services, UK Women’s Forum, United Way of the Bluegrass, Verizon Wireless, Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center, Work+Life Connections & Eldercare, Woodland Early Learning Center, WUKY.
At 4 p.m., UK Catering Services employees fire up the grills to serve plenty of food in the Blue Lot where activities for kids and adults will be held. Activities include carnival rides, magicians, clowns and live musical performances by UK talent, featuring IronWorks, the Hepcats Swing Dance Club and The Famous Deceptors. The day will end with a concert by Superfecta, beginning at 8 p.m. and ending at 9:30 p.m.
There will be something for everyone at this free annual event coordinated by the Staff Senate and brought to you by the volunteers on the Appreciation Day Commission. Co-chair Jann Burks commented, “The Staff Senate and the Appreciation Day Commission are excited for the opportunity to partner with the president’s office on UK Fun Day to make this a university-wide community event for staff and faculty and their families.”
The organizers extend a special expression of thanks to all exhibitors and the following University of Kentucky units whose support makes Fun Day possible: Athletics, Catering, Facilities Management, Ken Wiley, Mike Graves, Parking and Transportation Services, Public Relations, Student Services, University Sound and Lights and WUKY.
Free all-day parking will be available in the Blue Lot and Red Lot. Shuttle bus information is listed below for further convenience.
Shuttle bus pick-ups and drop-offs are slated from the following locations between 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on the day of the event.
· Administration Drive (next to Buell Armory)
· UK HealthCare Good Samaritan Hospital (main entrance)
· Wildcat Plaza (Avenue of Champions)
· UK College of Agriculture/Hospital (Emergency Department entrance)
· Johnson Center (Seaton) (metered area)
· Nutter Center (corner of Complex Drive)
· Commonwealth Stadium, Gate 9
Shuttle pick-ups and drop-offs are slated from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. One bus will run between the UK College of Agriculture/Hospital Emergency Department entrance and the stadium (student shelter, between the Red & Blue Lots).
For questions about the day, please contact Appreciation Day co-chairs Jann Burks and Bryan Back or Holly Clark in the Office of the Staff Senate.
Appreciation Day Commission members include Michael Adams, Bryan Back, Jennifer Beard, Michael Bratcher, Jann Burks, Jerry Chaney, Holly Clark, Jeremy Colbert, Terri Crocker, Misty Dotson, Judy Duncan, Ken Goodpaster, Shirley Greene, Bob Holley, David Lautzenheiser, Brian Martin, Alice Ledford, Brian Martin, Robynn Pease, Natalie Pendleton, Sean Scott, Kim Toomey and Glen White.