More than 500 employees gathered in the Charles B. Wang Center for the annual Stony Brook University Employee Appreciation Day, a campuswide event celebrating the dedication and contributions of staff across the university.

Vice President for Human ResourcesJane Savage said the event highlights the people whose work keeps the university running smoothly.

"The real purpose of the day is to show appreciation for the people who keep Stony Brook moving forward every day," Savage said. "It provides a chance to step away from the usual routine and celebrate the sense of community we share while highlighting the many groups, people and resources that support employees in a myriad of ways."

Held on March 6, the celebration included breakfast, giveaways, information tables, wellness activities and raffle drawings. Employees connected with colleagues, learned about campus resources and participated in activities such as the Gratitude Gramsstation, where attendees wrote messages of appreciation to coworkers, and the Healthier Uwellness and rejuvenation space, where participants created their own essential oil relaxation room sprays.

Employees also visited more than 20 vendor and information tables representing campus partners and services, including the Seawolf Resource Groups, the Office of Equity and Access and the Stony Brook University Police Department, which shared information about programs and resources available to employees. Representatives from Wolfpack Learning spoke with staff about professional development opportunities, while financial advisors from Corebridge Financial, Fidelity Investments and Voya Financial offered guidance on retirement planning and financial wellness.

Staff members said the event offered a welcome opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from across East and West Campuses.

"This year was even bigger and better than last year's celebration," said Laura Stevenson, a staff member in the College of Arts and Sciences dean's office. "There were so many giveaways, and I enjoyed seeing friends from around the campus."

Employee Appreciation Day is observed nationally on the first Friday in March. The celebration was created in 1995 by Bob Nelson, an authority on employee engagement, in conjunction with the publication of his book 1,001 Ways to Reward Employees. The day recognizes the contributions of employees and encourages organizations to celebrate the people who support their mission.