A string quartet played, sparkling cider bubbled, and students chatted at the first UCCS Housing Village Formal Dinner on Sept. 17, at The Lodge. At the final event of more than a month’s worth of new student welcome celebrations , UCCS administrators treated housing village students to a formal dinner. Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak served as the hostess, while various staff members were celebrity waiters and waitress.

Who exactly were the celebrity wait staff?

• Brian Burnett, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance
• Ralph Giese, director of operations, Residence Life
• Susan Szpyrka, chief of staff, Chancellor’s Office
• Rosemary Augustine, senior associate, University Counsel
• Gayanne Scott, executive director, Resource Management
• Barbara Gaddis, director, Student Retention and First Year Experience
• Martin Wood, chief operating officer, University Advancement
• Peg Bacon, provost
• Nina Ellis, assistant director, Freshman Seminar
• Jeff Davis, Director, University Center
• Steve Linhart, executive director, Student Support and Judicial Affairs
• William Whitfield, parking manager, Public Safety
• Jim Spice, chief of police, Public Safety
• Tamara Moore, director, Auxiliary Service Marketing
• Molly Kinne, assistant director, Residence Life
• Matt Gaden, director, Recreation Center
• Anthony Cordova, director, Student Multicultural Affairs and Outreach

This first-time event was such as success, that a second dinner is currently being scheduled for the winter semester, quickly making this a new UCCS tradition.

-- Tom Hutton