George Washington University Celebrates Its Faculty and Staff


June 6, 2012

Proud to Be GW Festival: An Employee Get Together banner close up

GW is honoring its employees with music, games, food and raffle prizes in June.

“The festivals are an important opportunity to thank faculty and staff members for their contributions to GW and to foster a sense of community,” said Brenda Jones, Colonial Community project coordinator in University Human Resources.
This is the third year the university has held the employee appreciation festivals, which are open to all GW faculty and staff.

The first Proud to be GW Festival was held for night shift employees on June 8 and included a performance from local comedian Simply Shirley.

On Tuesday, a festival will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus where George Washington President Steven Knapp will provide opening remarks. The final festival will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Foggy Bottom Campus’ University Yard where Provost Steven Lerman will welcome faculty and staff.

Employees will be encouraged to join the university’s senior leadership in singing GW’s Fight Song with the GW Spirit Team. New employees, who started after June 2011, will have the opportunity to take a picture with Big George.

“Recognizing our faculty and staff is a critical part of being a great place to work,” said Erica Hayton, director of benefits and wellness for University Human Resources. “Events like the Proud to be GW Festival, along with the holiday party, Service Excellence Celebration and Career Milestones Awards, are an essential component of our overall strategy to build a culture of recognition at GW.”

GW’s values – learning, communication, community, diversity, excellence, respect, service, sustainability and teamwork – will also be highlighted as part of the celebrations.

The Proud to be GW Festivals are sponsored by Colonial Community, a department within GW’s Human Resources Division.