Duke in Pics: 2023 Duke Football Employee Kickoff Celebration

Check out scenes from an annual tradition featuring football, family fun and camaraderie among Duke colleagues

Crowd at a Duke Football Game
Fans cheer on the Blue Devils at Duke's home football game Saturday at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. Photo by Jared Lazarus.

While the latter portions of Saturday night’s Duke home football game against Lafayette unfolded amid a rain shower, Gwen Lloyd, an Administrative and Financial Coordinator with Duke Counseling and Psychological Services, stuck around Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium to see the finish.

“There was no way we were leaving early,” said Lloyd, who celebrated her 40th year as a Duke staff member by serving as the employee captain prior to kickoff. “We always stay until the end.”

Lloyd was one of several Duke staff and faculty members who refused to have their spirit dampened by rain as they cheered the Blue Devils on to a 42-7 win at the 2023 Duke Football Employee Kickoff Celebration.

The annual event is a chance for Duke employees and their families and guests to enjoy an evening out together while watching the Blue Devils. Drawing 17,481 fans, this year’s edition didn’t disappoint as members of the Duke workforce and their guests enjoyed free food, pre-game family fun, and an emphatic Duke victory.

Check out some scenes from the celebration.

Photo by Jared Lazarus.

Prior to the game, on the Duke Football practice field, Duke staff and faculty members and their families got to enjoy kid-friendly games and pick up a free meal. Here, Lu Qi of the Duke Quantum Center, helped his daughter Eden, 3, throw a toy axe in one of the many games.

Photo by Jared Lazarus.

From left to right, Duke affiliate Pabitra Panta, Duke Vice President of Human Resources Antwan Lofton, Duke Radiology Associate in Research Paj Panta, and Duke University President Vincent E. Price, chat during the pre-game event.

“It’s always a joy and a treat to meet with employees and their families,” said Lofton, who noted that he even met a husband and wife who were celebrating their wedding anniversary with a trip to the game.

Photo by Nat LeDonne.

Gwen Lloyd, Saturday’s employee captain and one of many Duke employees celebrating career service milestones, has been a regular attendee of Duke Football game through the years, but Saturday was the first time she’d been this close to the action. With her son, Bobby, and daughter-in-law, Katherine, watching from the stands, Lloyd got to walk out with the Duke team captains for the pre-game coin toss.

“Being a huge sports fan, it was really exciting to be out on the field with the team,” Lloyd said. “Those guys are huge!”

Lloyd’s name was read over the public address system and her photo was shown on the scoreboard.

“It was a really humbling moment,” Lloyd said. “It was very big honor. It was very touching. Very special."

Photo by Jared Lazarus.

In all, 17,481 fans enjoyed the evening at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. While it rained in the second half, much of the first half proved to be pleasant. Early in the evening, Patient Revenue Management Organization Associate Vice President Song Betancur, right, snapped a selfie with her husband, Jorge, and daughter Nylie.

Photo by Reagan Lunn.

Less than a week after defeating Atlantic Coast Conference power Clemson in the season opener, the Blue Devils stayed hot, rolling past visiting Lafayette 42-7. Among the stars of the game were running back Jordan Waters, above, who scored a pair of touchdowns.

Duke coach Mike Elko, whose team welcomes Northwestern to Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, said that he was encouraged by the way his team performed.

“I told the guys we are going to always enjoy wins around here, and we are certainly going to enjoy this one,” Elko said.

Duke Football extended a special offer for employees to enjoy the game against Northwestern on Saturday with tickets beginning at $15.

Submitted photos.

Plenty of Duke staff and faculty members snapped photos of their own from Saturday’s celebration. Some of the colleagues who shared fun moments included, clockwise from top left, Emergency Communications Officer Jason Spriggs, Department of Medicine Clinical Associate Dr. Varnita Tahiliani, Lenox Baker Children’s Hospital Clinical Nurse Jo Ellen Peterson-McKee, Social Worker Linda Bazzy, and Associate Professor of Medicine Sharon Suson Rubin.

“Had a great time at the Duke game!” Rubin said. “Hung out with die-hard fans in the end zone even through the downpour!”

If you attended the game and took some fun photos, share them with us at hr.duke.edu/sendnews

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