Holiday Door Decorating Contest Brings Cheer

Carolynne Keenan
Friday, February 13, 2015
A group photo.

Building 310, Virus Isolation and Serology Laboratory, was the Overall winner, with 100 percent participation and a “Holiday Celebrations around the World” theme. 

By Carolynne Keenan, Contributing Writer

Other than the time of year, what do the following have in common: the leg lamp from the movie “A Christmas Story,” a compilation of silly holiday jokes, a gingerbread house, and Santa on a motorcycle?

All four were among the individual door winners for the Holiday Door Decorating Contest, held at NCI at Frederick in December. Employees dressed up their office doors, hallways, and even stairwells to participate. Entries for the contest included individual office doors as well as groups. Some employees even “decked the halls” of whole office buildings to participate.

The R&W Club Frederick sponsored the event, the first contest of its kind since the club’s inception a few years ago.

Marsha Nelson-Duncan, Education Outreach specialist, Office of Scientific Operations (OSO), NCI at Frederick, brought the idea to Melissa Porter, administrative manager and vice chair of the R&W Club Frederick, in November. Nelson-Duncan, who joined NCI at Frederick this past fall, said her former office hosted an annual decorating contest, and the contest was a “great morale booster.”

Nelson-Duncan helped coordinate the contest and select judges, Lisa Hill and Lorie Maith?Sanders from the Army Garrison, Army Community Service. She said the event went very well and that participants had a good time, adding that “all of the decorations brightened up the offices.”

“The decoration contest makes for healthy competiveness, while bringing the joys of the holidays to the office,” said Nathalie Walker, an intern in the OSO and one of the individual winners.

Participants could design individual themes for their own office doors, and they could also work together on a Building or Group entry. More entries were submitted for the Building and Group categories, Nelson-Duncan said, noting that team competitors called the contest a “bonding experience” for their groups. Winners received gift cards to local restaurants.

Nelson-Duncan said that she enjoyed seeing how others view the holiday season and extended special thanks to the R&W Club Frederick for sponsoring the event and providing great prizes for all of the winners.

The R&W Club Frederick plans to host this contest annually, provided there are enough entries. But that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Nelson-Duncan said this year’s participants have already shared ideas for the theme of next year’s contest.

Even the ladies’ room was decorated in Building 427, which won second place, Building category, for “Holiday Fun.” Judges Lisa Hill (background) and Lorie Maith-Sanders, from the Army Garrison, Army Community Service, evaluate decorations. Decorations in Building 428, first place, Building category, for “A Traditional Christmas.” Decorations in Building 428, first place, Building category, for “A Traditional Christmas.” Judges Lisa Hill (background) and Lorie Maith-Sanders, from the Army Garrison, Army Community Service, evaluate decorations. Judges Lisa Hill (background) and Lorie Maith-Sanders, from the Army Garrison, Army Community Service, evaluate decorations in Building 310. Raejean Hermansen (left), and Linda Brubaker, were among the award winners in Building 428, which earned first place, Building category, for “A Traditional Christmas.” Second place, Most Festive Individual Door, was awarded to Scott Keasey and Erin Gagnon, for “Biker Santa.” Participants in Building 427, second place winner, Building category, for “Holiday Fun.” Kneeling in front: Amber Elia; standing, from left: Laura Geil, Julie Hartman, Jim Cherry, Marsha Nelson-Duncan, Melissa Porter, and Paul Lyons. First place, Group category, was awarded to the staff of Occupational Health Services for “Reindeer Games.” From left: Jenna Seiss, Ariana Jones, Rose Saad, Esther Shafer, Margaret Slaughter, and Sarah Hooper. Second place, Group category, was awarded to, from left, Della Reynolds, Michael Sanford, and Rachel Bae, for “Christmas in the Lab.” Decorations in Building 310, Overall winner, for “Holiday Celebrations around the World.” First place, Most Festive Individual Door, was awarded to Victoria Burks for “Gingerbread House.” Decorations in Building 310, Overall winner, for “Holiday Celebrations around the World.” Decorations in Building 310, Overall winner, for “Holiday Celebrations around the World.” Decorations in Building 310, Overall winner, for “Holiday Celebrations around the World.” First place, Goofiest Door, was awarded to Ginny Whipp for “A Christmas Story.” Second place, Goofiest Door, was awarded to Nathalie Walker for her “Silly Christmas Jokes” door. Detail from second place, Goofiest Door, “Silly Christmas Jokes,” by Nathalie Walker.

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