3:33 p.m., June 8, 2009----University of Delaware senior administrators hosted a year-end UDid It Employee Appreciation Celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, June 8, under the Forum & Reunion Weekend tent on The Green.

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A large number of employees turned out as the senior administrators served up lunch in an atmosphere of good food, good company, great music and much fun. An estimated 2,900 guests were served, according to Sue Bogan, director of UD Dining Services.

UD President Patrick Harker invited the campus community to the event, saying it was well deserved as “everyone has worked hard all year.”

Employees were encouraged to bring canned goods, which were donated to the Food Bank of Delaware. A food bank spokesperson said UD had provided 948 pounds of non-perishable food items and 72 pounds of dessert food items as a result of the event.

Also during the event, there were drawings for special prizes. Winning $10 UD Bookstore/Barnes and Noble gift cards were Jeanine Radice of Intercollegiate Athletics, Jane Sharf of the University Writing Center, Becky Panichelli of Student Health Services, Kathleen Schmidt of Occupational Health and Safety and Marcia Scott of the Institute for Public Administration.

Shirley Becker of Student Centers won a free public skating session for a family of four at the UD Ice Arena and Jan Broske of University Museums won two tickets to a Bob Carpenter Center event. Barry Miller of Recreation Services won a weekend or any two-night stay at the Virden Center and Anita Schwartz of IT User Services won one overnight stay, breakfast for two and a $50 credit toward dinner at Marriott's Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware hotel on campus.

During Monday's celebration, Dave Brond, vice president of communications and marketing, read a poem summing up the work of the past year and looking ahead to the next:

Starting a new tradition, much like UD's Dela-bration,
I humbly offer what will be this year's rendition.

This poem summarizes 12 months that were very fine.
The year almost in the books, fiscal '09.

As the master of brand I am going out on a limb.
And declaring this ... the year of the acronym.

Our road started with P.2.P.
And I.G.S. is an example of a global strategy.

We shook hands with E.C.N. and S.J.T.U.
And became members of HACU.

We learned that blue plus gold equals green, and no we did not stress.
As we initiated single stream recycling and saved the planet by going trayless.

Being first so all could see.
Our carbon footprint study resulted in a C.A.P. of 20 by 2020.

The year started with H.O.K. and ended with the inaugural Blue Hen 5k.
Heck, we even hired a J.J.

With bravado and pride we began to boast.
To the University community and more than 140,000 alums coast to coast.

From our first celebration of scholarship,
To a Chrysler property we still wish would flip.

We made Great Decisions with the F.P.A.
And by Governor proclamation celebrated College Colors Day.

With a Baltimore Q.B. and a Hen in the House.
We no longer were quiet like a mouse.

Named the epicenter of politics, man could we crow.
UD firmly established more than one famous Joe.

There was a George and a new Dawn in Student Life.
With Spike and Anderson and Gwen and Thomas the Hen was no longer caged.
We were engaged!

Volleyball took the CAA for the second straight year by wiping the court.
And on the home front, everyone in the state got UD's Diamond Report.

From the opening of Crystal Sports Pro Shop.
We enhanced campus security with Skip as our new top cop.

We witnessed the third Blue Hen in NFL history,
as he played for a different bird in Super Bowl forty-three.

With Exelon we rang the closing bell.
And IGERT provided graduate education gel.

We found Second Life, E.R.M., V.D.C. and R.B.B.
And topped it off by expanding C.2.D. and O.E.I.P.

We emphasized that we should be all we can be ...
with a renewed focus on diversity.

UDTV2 got a new look.
And the UD Library is now on Facebook.

U.D.A.F., UDrupal, UDairy, UDon't Need It,
UDaily Tweets, U.D.R.F., U.D.E.I. ....UDid It!

I am UD, Are You UD?

From HealthyU to Heathy Hens,
even our building and grounds were in tip top shape,
kept that way by facilities crews working like super heroes in a cape.

And boy did we have some fun,
with H1N1.

Oh, in 2009 how well we did fare.
Publishing the first Southern UDelaware.

In academics the Princeton Review did call us out.
While in Athletics we created a Yell'Out.

In spreading our world of research we found a teaching cure,
by sharing a Deep Sea Extreme Adventure.

And today under this tent we realize we have little spare time to spend,
in planning next year's Forum & Reunion Weekend.

From DVICTS to D.H.S.A. to D.A.C. to D.S.S.,
Don't you wish I was D-done?

As we join our colleagues in this employee celebration,
I gotta recognize Edgar who Athletics & Recreation will miss a ton.

Next year we will Feel the Rush.

CHEP will be C.E.P.P. and C.M.E.S. will be C.E.O.E.
But it all comes back to P.2.P.

The class of 2013 will be one of our largest thanks to our Commitment to Delawareans.
As well as Lou and the stars in Admissions.

Now I will end with a gem.
Straight from my home in OCM.

While 2010 may be a little less Rich.
An Apple a day will no longer keep the Provost away.

By now you know that I am not much of a poet.
Its teamwork and sticktoitiveness that makes UD a hit.

For none of our success would be possible without superb faculty and staff - all of you.
To quote Pat Harker, “consistently achieving excellence in everything you do.”

Here's hoping the wind will be at your back on your long run,
Always keep an eye on the horizon.

2010 will be the year of the Blue Hen!

Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson