High-flying fun meets high praise during a week of events to celebrate UMB’s Environmental Services team.
Photo: The “Leave No Doubt” team of Shony Turner (left to right), Casey Turner, Ronald Grant, and Dwight Allen celebrates its scavenger victory. (Photo by Karl Salley)
For most of the almost 7,500 employees who work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), Environmental Services Appreciation Week is a time to show our appreciation for the dedicated Environmental Services (EVS) personnel who keep the University up and running. For the 200-plus employees who work in EVS, it is a time to step back and reflect, accept some well-deserved praise, and spend some quality time at the University without worrying about its upkeep.
EVS Appreciation Week 2025 was held both here and across the country during the week of Sept 15-19. At UMB, the EVS team includes Custodial Services, the Clean Campus Ambassadors, Pest Control and Moving Services, Recycling and Special Events, and the EVS Management and Leadership Team.
This year, each day of the week featured a different event, activity, or presentation dedicated exclusively to the EVS team.
The always popular Fashion Show kicked off the week’s festivities. Similar to Project Runway’s “Unconventional Materials Challenge,” contestants are tasked with outfitting their model using only the materials furnished to them: in this case, a blue cart of nothing but custodial supplies.
To the surprise of nobody, the outfits raised the bar on imagination, execution, and enthusiasm. There was the wedding dress with the plunger bouquet, a “Laverne and Shirley” inspired duo who sang their own theme song, a modern take on the traditional mermaid, a ’90s rap-inspired look complete with oversized phone and jeans, a football-inspired fashion statement, a Gucci Congo-inspired take, a “Jerzy Gal” replete with boombox, and the distinguished Lady of EVS.
Tuesday saw the groups break up into teams and complete a campuswide scavenger hunt. It was a close finish, but team “Leave No Doubt” that included Shony Turner, Casey Turner, Ronald Grant, and Dwight Allen emerged victorious.
Wednesday featured a keynote speaker event hosted by Nicole Palmore, MSW, executive director of the Office of Employee and Organizational Success. Written exclusively for the UMB EVS team, “Cakes and Success” was a 45-minute presentation that paired radically positive thinking with repeated actions to help attendees create their own success.
Demonstrating the power of positive thinking by overcoming several technical challenges in her afternoon presentation, Palmore shared how her own life was shaped by the challenges she faced, how she approached them, and how those challenges became accomplishments.
A complimentary catered lunch that included crab, salmon, and chicken — in addition to a satisfying selection of vegetarian and vegan options — was provided for all who attended.
Dorothy Cole, an EVS manager of the day shift in the School of Medicine, helped plan elements of the week. “My favorite part is building something from the ground up. Participating in events like this [Wednesday’s catered lunch and motivational speaker], I love seeing the smile on everyone’s face, the food being good, and everything working out perfectly.”
Thursday and Friday were made up of team-building and field-day events, culminating in a movie night for the occasionally overlooked evening crew.
Priti Wakefield, administrative manager, EVS, says it’s all about the people. “The individuals who make up this team work tirelessly around the clock, and they do it with compassion and pride. I see the effort, the care, and the heart they put into their work, and this week is a chance to remind them that what they do truly matters.
“They will not always be in the spotlight, but their impact is felt everywhere. I see the effort, the care, and the heart they put into their work, and this week is a chance to remind them that what they do truly matters. This week is about honoring their commitment, showing genuine gratitude, and making sure they know how deeply valued they are.
“So, if you see an EVS team member in the hallway, take a moment to say, ‘Thank you.’ It goes a long way and means more than you might realize.”
It’s great advice for EVS Appreciation Week or any time you see EVS team members doing their part to help keep the campus, the classrooms, the labs, and the common spaces clean, safe, and ready.