More than 2,800 Vanderbilt faculty and staff members stopped by E. Bronson Ingram College on Dec. 20 for the annual “Turkey Toss” Employee Appreciation event.
A longstanding Vanderbilt tradition, Turkey Toss is a way to thank university employees for their service. Employees were able to choose a gift of a free turkey, tofurkey, coffee mug set, bamboo utensils or tote bag.
Watch a video from the 2019 Turkey Toss here. >>
Other highlights from this year’s event included a visit from Santa, carolers in Victorian costume, ornament and cookie decorating, games and selfie stations.
More than 50 volunteers made this year’s Turkey Toss possible, including help distributing turkeys and other gifts by Vice Chancellor for Investments Anders Hall, Vice Chancellor of Information Technology John Lutz and Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain. Special thanks to other university leaders, including Alfred Degrafinreid, Daniel Culbreath, Linda Norman, Becky Keck, Sally Parker, Laura Nairon and Mark Wallace, for their assistance.
2019 Turkey Toss by the numbers
- 1,272 turkeys
- 84 tofurkeys
- 1,600 Vanderbilt gift items
Employee engagement – faculty and staff
- 473 played Turkey Toss
- 370 play Elf on the Shelf
- 684 decorated ornaments
- 450 decorated cookies
- 162 jumped in the snow globe
Congratulations to Emily Pendergrass for winning the Turkey Toss game and to Capt. Leshaun Oliver for winning the Elf of the Shelf game.
Turkey Toss is sponsored by Vanderbilt University Human Resources with assistance from the following partners: Vanderbilt Athletics, Health Plus, the David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center, the University Staff Advisory Council, Vanderbilt Credit Union, Vanderbilt University Information Technology, the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Vanderbilt University Public Safety and the Vanderbilt University Police Department.
A special thank you to Campus Dining for use of the E. Bronson Ingram dining hall, and Vanderbilt University Public Safety for providing shuttle service.
Learn more about Employee Appreciation at Vanderbilt. >>
