CUIMC Holiday Celebration Features Gingerbread Houses and Toy Drive

At this year’s CUIMC Holiday Celebration, CUIMC faculty and staff enjoyed refreshments, viewed a display of competing gingerbread houses, and donated toys for the annual CUIMC Holiday Toy Drive. 

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More than 380 employees participated in the gingerbread house decorating contest. Teams consisted of at least four members, and gingerbread house building kits were provided to teams who requested them. At the holiday event, held Dec. 13, six winning teams were announced in two categories, Classic Gingerbread House category and Best Representation of Your Office or the Work You Perform category.

Classic Gingerbread House Category

1st Place: "All Heart, No Failure"
Team Leader: Kellie Hoehing
All team members: Cathrine Moeller, Ersilia DeFilippis, Kellie Hoehing, Dawn Scotto

2nd Place: "CUIMC Onboarding Station"
Team Leader: Shanaz Pershad
All team members: Neil McClure, Ashley Boyce, Mary Ann Carlese, Tom DeLeon, Sherley Desulme Willis, Allison Garcia, Jennifer Gass, Mary Jo Lynch, Hannah Mason, Cotia Smith, Sony Thornton, Naomi Velazquez, ShaQuanna Williams, Katherine Cedeno, Nyoka Foster, Brenda Arthur, Shanaz Pershad, Daniela Isakov, Patricia Conde

3rd Place: "Psychiatry Elves"
Team Leader: Bibiana Marquez
All team members: Bibiana Marquez, Gwendolyn Mosley, Humberto Benavides, Aram Then, Carmen Fermaintt, Ileana Sanchez, Amy Vargas, Pamela Pena, Deanna Sanchez, Vladimir Abreu, Gordon Zhao, Carmen Jin, Jose Chalas, Edwin Nunez, Ely Fontan, Francina Abreu

Best Representation of Your Office or the Work You Perform Category

1st Place: Adult Reconstructive Hip and Knee Surgery
Team Leader: Rolanda Woodhouse
All team members: H. John Cooper, Travis Weiner, Courtney Loftus, Christina V. Brissette, Rolanda Woodhouse, Elizabeth Diaz, Nancy Preval

2nd Place: Clinical Trials Office
Team Leader: Helen Kim
All team members: Helen Kim, Elnaz Anjom, Ruth Gutierrez, Melanie Sola-Valdez, Rachal Xiao, Kin Tse, Seda Galstian, Yolanda Ruiz, Mathew Kaduvettoor. Ali Capulin, Jonathan Kim, Lourdes Fernandez, Rahel James, Shiney Kunjukutty, Lloyd Abraham, Maritza Martinez-Pardave, Jane Cho, Cindy Han, Connie Eng, Corey Chen, Jennifer Rojas, Myniare Austin, Pajareewan Lucarelli, Luis Garcia

3rd Place: College of Dental Medicine Revenue Cycle and Finance
Team Leader: Natalie Clasp
All team members: Natalie Clasp, Jessica Skiba, Mercedes Olivero, Christian Lopez, Shanki Foy, Ju S. Gu, Cortney Scott, Zakira Donadelle, Dania Acosta, Ana Jacobo, Kim Savan, Liz Lang, Kathertez Pena, Altagracia Aristy, Laura Tejeda, Matilde Gonzalez

Attendees at the event also had the opportunity to drop off unwrapped toys for children ages 3-13 for the CUIMC Annual Holiday Toy Drive. More than 250 toys were donated during the event, adding to the 137 toys donated throughout the toy drive at locations around campus. The donations will be given to three community organizations in the Washington Heights area: Fort George Community Enrichment Center Headstart, the 33rd Precinct Community Council, and the Washington Heights Child Care Center.

More Photos

Dean Katrina Armstrong congratulates Kellie Hoehing and Dawn Scotto, who won first place in the Classic Gingerbread House category.

Dean Katrina Armstrong congratulates Kellie Hoehing and Dawn Scotto, who won first place in the Classic Gingerbread House category.

Attendees at the CUIMC Holiday Celebration donated more than 250 toys for the CUIMC Annual Holiday Toy Drive.

Attendees at the CUIMC Holiday Celebration donated more than 250 toys for the CUIMC Annual Holiday Toy Drive.

Attendees at the CUIMC Holiday Celebration show off some of the donated toys.

Attendees at the CUIMC Holiday Celebration show off some of the donated toys.

At the CUIMC Holiday Celebration, gingerbread cookies and warm beverages were served.

At the CUIMC Holiday Celebration, gingerbread cookies and warm beverages were served.

Teams competed for recognition in the gingerbread house contest at the CUIMC Holiday Celebration.

Teams competed for recognition in the gingerbread house contest at the CUIMC Holiday Celebration.

From left: Ashlee Brown, Destiny Quezada, and Payton Clark from the CUIMC Communications team with their gingerbread house.

From left: Ashlee Brown, Destiny Quezada, and Payton Clark from the CUIMC Communications team with their gingerbread house.