And the 2024 Duke Time Off Photo Winners Are…

GRAND PRIZE: Tyler Felgenhauer

On the two days Tyler Felgenhauer spent in the Cappadocia region of Türkiye in June, he woke at dawn to head to the rooftop of his hotel.

From there he watched in awe as hot air balloons began to fill the sky around him. He counted at least 50 of the balloons on the June morning he snapped this picture at around 5:30 a.m. The shot was selected as one of our grand prize winners, which earned Felgenhauer a one-night stay with breakfast for two at the Washington Duke Inn.

“I’m not the first one to take that picture,” Felgenhauer said. “But it’s amazing.”

In Göreme, Türkiye, in Central Anatolia, it has become a bit of a tourist pilgrimage to either take a hot air balloon ride or take photos of them as they dot the horizon in a place where the calm weather is “amenable to flying the balloons,” Felgenhauer said.

“You go outside and on the hotel roof is this amazing view of all these balloons all over the place, and then everybody else is on their hotels, as well,” Felgenhauer said. “So, there's the crowd below looking up, and then there must be hundreds of people up in the air.”

His two-day stop in Cappadocia came as part of a weeklong vacation touring Türkiye after the Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Scientist attended a workshop on climate intervention research in Istanbul. He toured cave homes and underground cities carved into the local, soft stone, but he’ll forever remember the sight of the balloons surrounding him above.

“It was so peaceful, quiet and beautiful,” he said.

GRAND PRIZE: Lamercie Saint-Hilaire

On a late May visit to the Museum of Life and Science’s butterfly house with her husband, Raymond, and their 2-year-old daughter, Riley, Dr. Lamercie Saint-Hilaire, a Family Physician at the Duke Primary Care Riverview, saw a museum staff member release a set of recently hatched butterflies.

The colorful creatures fluttered around Saint-Hilaire and her daughter with one eventually perching on Riley’s hand. Another one landed on the bill of Saint-Hilaire’s visor and lingered long enough for her to snap a giddy selfie.

“Riley frequently sees butterflies in our flower garden, but they’re usually quick to get away,” Saint-Hilaire said. “But this was the closest they’ve gotten to her. And to me. It was exhilarating, it was really sweet.”

Saint-Hilaire’s photo was selected as one of our two grand prize winners for the Duke Time Off campaign. The photo earned her a guided tour of the Duke Lemur Center and the Duke Lemur Center’s Museum of Natural History.

“I think working as a health care worker is very fulfilling, but it does take a lot of energy,” Saint-Hilaire said. “Being in nature is healing and how I rest and rejuvenate. It's important to make sure my well is always full so that I can provide the best care for my patients. So, taking time off is an essential part of being a health care worker.”

EMPLOYEE SHUTTERBUG: Rhiannon See

Rhiannon See, a Communications Assistant with the John Hope Franklin Center, spent her summer bouncing around the state of North Carolina, sharing fun Duke Time Off photos while seeking out fun sights and experiences such as Fourth of July fireworks in Wilmington and the “World’s Largest Adirondack Chair” in the small town of Rose Hill.

“It’s important to go see new things that are outside of your daily life,” See said. “It helps you appreciate the world around you and gives you something to look forward to.”

Her most stunning submission came from a late-May trip to New Orleans when she captured the golden light of a post-rainstorm sunset.

“I walked down Canal Street and stopped into a store, and when I came out, that’s what the sky looked like,” See said. “It was one of the prettiest sunsets I’ve ever seen. Normally, when you take a picture of a sunset with your phone, it doesn’t compare to what you’re seeing in person, but this one I felt like was pretty comparable.”

In recognition of her fun submissions, See earned a 24-can Duke cooler courtesy of Duke University Stores.

Abigail Probert

Abigail Probert almost didn’t get this breathtaking photo of the Stokksnes Peninsula in Iceland. It was taken on July 2 during a delayed 30^th birthday trip that had been intended for 2020.

The tide was out when Probert, a Senior Program Coordinator for Longitudinal Courses in the Office of Curricular Affairs at the Duke School of Medicine, arrived at the beach and it was windy. So, Probert and her parents opted to hike around the dunes and lighthouse. On the way back, though, Probert’s mom insisted they hike to the water’s edge “just to take a look.”

“I’m so glad she did because as you can see, the reflection of the mountain in the retreating tide was breathtaking,” Probert said. “The wind made it harder to see clearly, but it stopped for about a minute – allowing me to snap this.”

Probert said she was astounded to see stunning landscapes along with puffins, seals, artic foxes and reindeer during her “dream trip,” but that this shot “is easily one of the best I’ve ever taken.”

Erin Roth

Last year, Erin Roth used her Duke Time off to prepare to have her first child.

This year, Roth spent her time away from Duke embracing motherhood to daughter Eden.

“Coming back to work after maternity leave was an adjustment so time off with my little one is precious to me,” said Roth, a Senior Media Relations Strategist in Duke Health. “What I love about raising Eden is seeing the world through her eyes. She finds joy and wonder in the smallest things.” Roth said she’s focused on finding joy in the simplest things, too – like these flowers in her grandfather’s backyard garden.

Anita Punj

Anita Punj and her husband were both born in India and the two make it a point to visit each year with their children to explore new places. In 2024, the Strategic Service Associate in Duke Health Access Services checked a new experience off their list: Leh Ladakh in the northernmost part of India, nestled within the Himalayas.

“Its beauty is unparalleled, offering a mesmerizing blend of rugged landscapes, serene monasteries, pristine lakes and vibrant culture,” Punj said.

The area is renowned for its towering mountains “that seem to touch the sky,” Punj said.

Punj and her family conquered two of the highest motorable passes, Changla and Khardung La, at an altitude of close to 18,000 feet, and basked in the serenity of Pangong Tso Lake at 13,000 feet – one of the world’s highest saltwater lakes.

“This place is a true gem,” Punj said, “and we feel blessed to have experienced its magic.”

Next on Punj’s checklist for her family in 2025: Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

Nicole McCartney

Nicole McCartney’s trip to Fort Chiswell Animal Park in Max Meadows, Virginia, was educational.

Did you know, for instance, that deer can bark? McCartney, a Radiologic Technologist at Knightdale, learned that first-hand when she heard it while visiting the park with her 11-year-old son, Benjamin.

The best part of the visit was watching Benjamin feed a zebra from a school bus safari ride tour that also took them past llamas, pigs, a camel, water buffalo and more.

“It was so much fun and he had the time of his life,” McCartney said of the visit with her son.

Eliza Stewart

Everyone loves a good fishing story, and Eliza Stewart has a whopper.

Stewart, an Admissions Recruiter for Duke Divinity School, was visiting her mom in the Florida Panhandle with her wife, Jayne, in July when the crew went kayak fishing in Choctawhatchee Bay. Stewart was eight months pregnant and fishing with two rods when she got a bite on one.

The rod went sailing right out of the kayak, and Stewart – unaccustomed to the “being a little top-heavy” with her pregnancy – went toppling right after it into the water.

The water was only about 4 feet deep, and Stewart managed to not only reel in the fish, but also save all her belongings from sinking and being carried away to parts unknown.

“Long story short, I got the fish and it was a 24-inch redfish, and I was able to get all of my stuff back in the kayak,” Stewart said. “I can't believe I tipped over, but we were fine.”

Stewart’s baby was born on Aug. 21, and she still has lots of leftover fish in her freezer to feast on when she needs it.

Lorie Hines Robertson

The way Lorie Robertson’s 7-year-old granddaughter, Maddie, came to offer her arm as a perch for a young owl named Screech involves a backstory.

It goes like this: Four owl babies were found abandoned this spring near Robertson’s Sanford home. They were taken to Holly’s Nest Animal Rescue close to the home of Robertson, a Marketing Physician Liaison in Neurosciences & Spine. In June, the four owls were released into Robertson’s neighborhood.

Shortly after they were released, Screech found his way to her cul-de-sac and became ill. A veterinarian neighbor nursed him back to health, and he has now become the neighborhood mascot – friendly and loud and constantly searching for snacks like chicken and steak.

Robertson met Screech for the first time when he landed on her car as she was unloading groceries. At a family barbeque days later, he appeared – presumably smelling the chicken on the grill.

“He was the star of the party,” Robertson said. “He will eat out of your hand, loves physical touch. He will sit on your arm and talk with the loud screech.”

As evidenced by this photo resting on Maddie’s arm. “She loves animals and has no fear,” Robertson said.

Screech continues to be social, Robertson added, and said he usually visits once a week.

Matt Foster

Matt Foster had planned on a big vacation in 2020 to celebrate his parents 50^th anniversary. Needless to say, it was canceled. It was nixed again in 2021.

This year, Foster’s sister organized a family vacation to Glacier National Park in Montana to make up for those lost trips.

It was their first vacation together since the canceled celebration four years ago.

“It was such a beautiful setting to spend time with our parents,” said Foster, an Associate Professor in Medicine since 2000. His wife, Jill, who is a Student Services Officer in Biology since 2000, also made the trip.

Foster and his family also hiked to the glacial lake in the background of his photo – the one behind the mountain goat.

Gabby De La Cruz

Gabby De La Cruz had reason to celebrate in May: She completed her Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Education at UNC Charlotte.

The Clinical Nurse III at Duke decided to pursue the advanced degree after working with nursing students during their clinical rotation, and used the Duke Employee Tuition Assistance Program to pay for a portion of the program.

The reward was a trip to Japan. This photo of snorkeling in the Blue Cave in Okinawa is from a week spent there. She then spent another week in Tokyo, where she experienced a kimono tea ceremony and relaxing at an onsen, a Japanese hot springs and bathing facility.

“It was wonderful taking in the sights and eating amazing food,” De La Cruz said, adding she took a day trip to Mt. Fuji and Hakone “which were absolutely breathtaking.”

Tam Huynh

Tam Huynh’s trip to the Paris Olympics was years in the making. Originally the Student Health Physician Assistant planned to go to Japan in 2020 with a group of friends who also graduated from Duke. When those Olympic Games were delayed, the crew reorganized for Paris in 2024.

Huynh said they enjoyed the history and culture of Paris – and a chance to see in person the U.S. women top Australia in rugby sevens with a stunning last-minute play to take home the bronze medal. And, of course, beach volleyball with the most picturesque view of the Eiffel Tower shown in her submitted photo.

“The Olympics is a special event – the athleticism, camaraderie and energy – it's a beautiful thing to experience,” Huynh said. 

It was even more special to make the trip with 2008 Duke PA school classmates, Elizabeth Downes and Adelynn Gerstenberger.

“It’s pretty special that we have kept up with each other after all these years,” Huynh said. “We made lifelong friendships at Duke.”

Brian Lee

Taking trips together wasn’t part of Brian Lee’s family routine for the past several years. But after his mother, Diane, died at the age of 61 last year from breast cancer, Lee, his wife, his father and two brothers decided it was time to team up for an adventure.

“We wanted to do something where we could all be together and celebrate our family as it stands now,” said Lee, Duke Health’s Assistant Director of Government Relations. “We’re honoring her memory but were looking forward and trying to reclaim some of the joy that we could have as a family.”

During their trip to Wyoming, the family visited Grand Tetons National Park and Yellowstone National Park and braved the rapids of the Snake River in a raft. Lee shared a photo of some of the gnarlier moments of the rafting trip, something he said his mother would likely have wanted no part of.

“She would have thought we were all crazy and wondering why we decided to do that,” Lee said. “She would have loved hearing the story and seeing the pictures, but she would have been a nervous wreck while we were out there.”

Alysha Cieniewicz

In the week after Memorial Day, Alysha Cieniewicz visited Oak Island with her cousin Damian and his wife's family – 17 people in one beach house. Cieniewicz, a Training Coordinator with the Office of Research Administration & Finance, spent the week relaxing on the beach, exploring nearby Wilmington, and enjoying home-cooked meals. She said she also got a whirlwind education in the family’s card game of choice, canasta.

“It was so nice to just be present with the family, to laugh and to unwind,” Cieniewicz said. “It is vital to have that time away to rejuvenate, restore and reconnect with those who are important to you. In my last positions, I never took time off and it was to my detriment of missing small moments and big moments. I’m grateful that Duke has its time off policies, for a supervisor that encourages taking time off, and that there are options so you can refocus on what really matters.”

Gregory Samanez-Larkin

Gregory Samanez-Larkin, the Jerry G. and Patricia Crawford Hubbard Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, has been wakeboarding since he was a kid. But in the past few years, he’s fallen in love with wakesurfing, which is using a specialized surfboard to ride the waves created by the wake of a boat.

“It’s almost like a form of mindfulness,” Samanez-Larkin said about the allure of activities like wakesurfing. “It really makes you focus on your physiology and get out of your head for a minute. You can concentrate on something else and have a different set of goals. It’s nice to just completely turn everything else off.”

As seen in the photo he shared from a June wakesurfing expedition to Hyco Lake, the relaxation found from catching man-made waves does get broken up by the occasional wipeout.

Danette Pachtner

On a trip to Phoenix, Arizona to visit family, Lilly Library’s Librarian for Cinematic Arts; Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies; and Theater Studies Danette Pachtner, her husband Jeff and their 16-year old daughter Cora, took a side trip to the town of Sedona.

While Pachtner admitted that she’s not much of a hiker, she joined Cora and Jeff for a scramble up Sedona’s Cathedral Rock, savoring the views and the time together, which is something she said isn’t always easy to get back home.

“When we’re here, Cora’s in high school, so there’s not a lot of time we can spend together,” Pachtner said. “I just think it’s really important to get away to somewhere else so we can get that quality time.”

Taylor Duganne

Duke Cancer Center Patient Services Associate Taylor Duganne joined the Duke workforce earlier this year. His five-day trip to Lisbon, Portugal to celebrate the birthday of his partner, Brad, in late July was his first major trip as a Duke employee.

Duganne said exploring the city and its historic sites and museums – his favorite was one devoted to the craft of making decorative tiles – was a fun and nourishing break.

“It’s incredibly important, it revitalizes and recharges me,” said Duganne, who shared a photo with Brad in the Praça do Comércio. “Even though I’ve only been here a short time, having the opportunity to have collected enough time to do that already is really great. It’s great that we have the opportunity to dedicate time to our lives outside of work with the support of our employer.”

Shakthi Unnithan

Shakthi Unnithan, a Biostatistician II in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, took a few days in early July to visit and friend in Seattle.

“Of course we went hiking,” Unnithan said about the itinerary of the visit. “Out there everybody is either hiking, or kayaking, or doing something outdoors, especially with the weather being so nice.”

One memorable day, which Unnithan captured in her submitted photo, saw Unnithan and her friend hike on some of the trails in Mount Rainier National Park. She said the scenery was breath-taking. And with her cell-phone reception lost well before she entered the park, she had no choice but to enjoy the moment.

“Having a full day of walking and chatting or just being quiet, it was so peaceful,” Unnithan said. “My mind needed that peace.”

Matthew Eggleston

For Matthew Eggleston, Assistant to Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Economics, his trip to Pennsylvania in early August was both a trip to a different state and a different time. For the third time, Eggleston took part in the Pennsic War, the 16-day signature event for the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization celebrating life in the Middle Ages.

In addition to simulated warfare, the Pennsic War features craft classes, music, dance and camaraderie among the thousands who come and camp out while living and dressing in the style of the Middle Ages.

“It’s really special to go up to Pennsic and have that immersive experience,” said Eggleston, who shared a photo alongside another participant. “It is really cool to go up there and get away from it all, and do something so completely different and yet approachable at the same time.”

Kayleigh Sandhu-Bajaj

For Durham’s Kayleigh Sandhu-Bajaj, the annual beach trip to Seaside, Florida is where she nourishes her connections to her Florida-based family. The weeks spent with her three siblings, parents and grandmother is a can’t-miss time filled with movie nights, sunshine and quirky family traditions such as playing video games based on Nancy Drew mystery novels.

“It’s the annual family touchpoint,” said Sandhu-Bajaj, a Duke University Hospital Infection Prevention Specialist. “Some families have holidays like Christmas or Easter, for us it’s the week at the beach. It’s our annual family-bonding event.”

Sandhu-Bajaj shared a fun photo from a joyful beach moment with her younger sister, Mia, who is 13 years younger.

“We always reconnect at our family beach trip,” Kayleigh said. “There’s endless inside jokes. For having such an age gap, we’re very close.”

Shauntil Gray

In late June, Shauntil Gray, a Program Coordinator for the Pratt School of Engineering’s Mechanical Engineering & Materials Sciences master’s program, found herself in Anaheim, California for a conference. On the trip she took some time to visit Disneyland, where she explored the park wearing mouse ears and a pin that read “4 Years Cancer Free.”

In June 2020, Gray had surgery to remove endometrial cancer. In four years, the cancer hasn’t returned, giving her plenty of reason to savor happy moments.

“I consider myself a Disney-adult, anything Disney, I love,” Gray said. “So it was only fitting that I celebrate there.”

Gray said she had plenty of fellow park guests and Disney characters read her pin and offer congratulations. But when a Disney staff member – during the daily parade down the park’s main street – noticed her reason for celebrating, he drew her into the parade and shouted to onlookers her reason for celebrating. It was a thrill Gray won’t soon forget.

“People were clapping and cheering for me,” Gray said. “Even after the parade and the next day, people recognized me and congratulated me. It was an awesome moment.”