Employees from across Emory gathered for food and fun on May 15 for Staff Fest, the annual celebration for university employees that marks the conclusion of the academic year.
The Quad was filled with sunshine and smiles as staff danced, played games and simply enjoyed the time to connect.
In honor of Atlanta’s role as a host city for the World Cup, Staff Fest featured several soccer-themed activities and experiences — including the chance to take photos with the official 2018 MLS Cup trophy.
Teams showcased their artistic flair through the Chalk the Walk competition, and the annual volleyball tournament was as spirited — and fiercely competitive — as always.
Congratulations to the 2026 winners, and thanks to the many volunteers who helped make the day possible.
2026 volleyball tournament winners
First Place (and reigning champions): Challenger X (Hedwin Kitdorlang Dkhar [captain], Prashant Bajpai, Alex J. Warr, Benjamin Kittleson, Gisele Umviligihozo, Seoho Oh, Duhee Jeon, Mojahidul Islam and Ganesh Nalam)
Second Place: Glyco-Slammers (Afaq Niyas [captain], Fikri Avci, Eric Ortlund, Abigael Frederick, Jennifer Colucci, Lauren Birshbach and Aidan Keelaghan)
2026 Chalk the Walk winners
Popular Vote: Division of Animal Resources (Katharine Judd, Tyler Judd, Lorna Waldrop and Lane Boyd)
Judge’s Choice: Libraries and Museums (Jenny Townes, Jeff Fisher and Jody Bailey)
Photos by Becky Stein Photography and Matilda Redfern, Emory Communications and Marketing.
