Office celebrates celebrity engagement
Creighton University’s Student Accessibility Services and Student Support Services faculty hosted a celebration for the engagement of the Kansas City Chief’s tight end, Travis Kelce, and an internationally acclaimed American singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift.
“The world was celebrating the engagement, and we felt that it would be an amazing way to build community in our new space on the second floor of [the] Old Gym. Silly and fun,” the assistant director of Student Accessibility Services, Gillian Trost Price, said via email.
Through the joint effort of the two departments on Friday, Aug. 29, the faculty were able to utilize Microsoft Teams to advertise the event while Trost Price created a digital flyer to accompany the party’s announcement.
“It was a last-minute decision. And when I mean last-minute, it was a couple days before we decided we were going to throw it just because it’s a good way for people to get together. It puts people in a good mood” Director of Student Accessibility Services Carrie Brink, Ph.D., said.
The engagement celebration consisted of food and crafts with 40 faculty members from across Creighton’s campus. From the Department of Housing to the Heider College of Business, Creighton staff and faculty members utilized their lunch hour to converse with their colleagues over customized popcorn and colorful friendship bracelets.
“There was a build-your-own popcorn bar with candy toppings, since Travis popped the question. There were also friendship bracelets, Taylor Swift music and Travis Kelce NFL highlights on loop,” Trost Price said via email.
According to Brink, the celebration was inspired by their friends in a school district in Kansas City as their staff hosted a theme day in honor of Kelce’s and Swift’s announcement.
“We actually, as a department, talk[ed] about it because some other friends outside the state were having a theme day at their place of employment. And I thought that was a great idea. So, I was sharing about that and then the idea took off from there,” Brink said.
Though the event was hosted for fans of the two American celebrities to celebrate their engagement announcement together, it also served as a time for Creighton faculty members to interact with one another.
“It was great. I feel it was very kind of warming. It was nice. And I get to see many friends around campus and enjoy the popcorn and make bracelets,” Assistant Director of Student Support Services Naim Jamilzada said.
As another year begins at the university, Brink said, cultivating connections plays a significant role when it comes to engaging with the Bluejay community.
“I think there’s nothing more important than having relationships, especially with your colleagues. … I think it’s important to have that sense of belonging. And that’s where the importance of relationships comes into play,” Brink said.