Mildred Pearson brought her dog Marcus for the Third Annual Faculty Appreciation Day Friday night.

More than 500 faculty members, family and even pets came out for this event on the intramural fields.

The brass ensemble from the music department played while faculty and family ate catered food from Cody’s Road House.

Assorted activities were enjoyed by participants of all ages.

A long line of kids waited for the giant inflatable slide, while others played bags.

The observatory opened when the sky was dark enough.

Foreign language professor Carlos Amaya said he has been to all three Faculty Appreciation Days, and he enjoys meeting other professors at the event.

Jim Painter, chair of the family and consumer sciences department, attended the event for the first time this year. He said he came because he heard good things about the previous year.

“It’s important that the university does things for families,” Painter said.

Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, attended the event with his kids. He said it is a great opportunity to network with colleagues.

He said he was grateful for the weather this year. Last year, festivities were cut short due to storm warnings.

“You’re at the mercy of the weather,” Nadler said.

Pearson, director of faculty development, co-sponsored the event with Kevin Linker and Sara Daugherty, interim co-directors of Campus Recreation.

Pearson created the idea for the annual event.

“I felt like faculty needed to be thanked for the things they do on campus,” Pearson said.

Pearson said it is a year-long process to plan the event.

Next week, a debriefing meeting will be held to see what went well and what needs to be changed. Different aspects are looked at to enhance the event for future years.

This year, disc golf was added to the activities, and the menu for attendees also changed.

More marketing was done this year to promote the event.

Pearson said they advertised the event as they would advertise an external speaker. They posted signs, sent emails, posted on the Web site and advertised in the faculty newsletter.

Pearson said she does this because she values people and their families.

“I do take people to heart,” Pearson said.

She said that individuals should not take others for granted.

“People need to be thanked and told they are appreciated often – before they are gone,” Pearson said.