Duke Time Off Photo Campaign Kicks Off with First Winning Memorial Day Moment

Summer-long campaign highlights Duke’s time off benefit with stories of restoration, resilience and well-being

Two people in front of a lake
Duke Raleigh Nurse Erin Banbury, left, and her boyfriend Cody Stephens, right, travels to West Point, New York, over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the graduation of Cody's younger brother, Lowe, from the United States Military Academy. Photo courtesy of Erin Banbury.

As a Registered Nurse at Duke Raleigh Hospital, Erin Banbury has an irregular schedule as she works three shifts each week on varying days. Her boyfriend, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Cody Stephens, who is stationed at Fort Bragg, has an unpredictable schedule of his own, making opportunities for the pair to take time off together rare.

Over this past Memorial Day weekend, they were able to venture to New York, where they visited Banbury’s family in her hometown of Hurley and, on May 24, attended the graduation ceremony of Cody’s younger brother, Lowe, at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

“It was really nice,” said Banbury, who has worked at Duke since November of 2024. “It was so nice to be able to see both of our families. It’s not often that we get to do that in one trip.”

Banbury shared a photo of herself with Cody, who is also a graduate of West Point, as part of the Duke Time Off photo campaign that illustrates the value of using Duke’s paid time off benefit for well-being. The photo, one of roughly 60 submissions from the first week, was selected as the first winner of Working@Duke’s annual summer-long campaign.

Erin Banbury's Duke Time Off photo of her trip to West Point, New York, with her boyfriend Cody Stephens was selected as the first winner in the summer-long Duke Time Off campaign. Photo courtesy of Erin Banbury.

For her photo, Banbury will receive a 24-can cooler, courtesy of Duke University Stores.

With several military veterans in Cody’s family and two of her grandfathers serving in the military, Memorial Day has long held meaning for Banbury. Growing up, she would often visit her extended family over the holiday weekend, a tradition she revived on this latest trip.

“It was nice to spend Memorial Day weekend New York, especially at West Point, which is such a big part of American history,” Banbury said.

One Duke-themed prize, courtesy of Duke University Stores, will be given away roughly once every two weeks throughout the summer.

All eligible pictures taken and shared over the course of the campaign – from May 22, 2025, through Aug. 4, 2025 – will be in the running for the following grand prizes, courtesy of the Duke entities:

  • A “Classic Package for Two” ($425 value) at the Washington Duke Inn. The package includes a king or double/double room for one night and full breakfast for two in the Vista Room or room service. Sunday brunch is not eligible.
  • A lemur tour for two at the Duke Lemur Center.
  • Tickets to Duke Arts Presents performances.

The deadline for photo submissions is 5 p.m., Aug. 4. For additional Duke Time Off guidelines, including how to share your photo on social media or through our easy form, check out this story.

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs through our story idea form or write working@duke.edu.

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