More than 16,000 University employees and their families and friends attended the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day held on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Miami Marlins game.
The evening, hosted by University leadership, was filled with festivities for the entire family as employees and their guests enjoyed a pregame party on the Vista Level at loanDepot park. Crowds gathered to enjoy live music, games, giveaways, face painters, balloon artists, and photo opportunities with Billy the Marlin, Sebastian the Ibis, and The Miami Maniac.
Throughout the game, several employees—who had marked career milestones—participated in unique and exclusive on-field fan experiences. Those who celebrated University service milestones of 25 years and above joined members of the LGBTQ Faculty-Staff Network, Women’s Commission, Women in Academic Medicine, Veterans Unite, and Woodsen-Williams-Marshall Association, and Disability Network Alliance Employee Resource Groups, as well as Daisy Award Honorees, Patient Access Honorees, Sylvester Star Honorees, and UHealth Towers Excellence Awardees to carry the U.S. flag during the national anthem performance. The first pitch was thrown by Laurie Silvers, chair of the University of Miami Board of Trustees, while the second honorary first pitch of the game was thrown by JD Arteaga, University of Miami head baseball coach.
Evening celebrations ended with a win for the Miami Marlins over the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4.
