UHR Announces Passionate Pack Winners

July 18, 2023 Thyrie Bland 6-min. read

Janice Sitzes and Passionate Pack — Janice Sitzes (left), director of Continuing and Professional Education in the College of Natural Resources, participated in the Passionate Pack challenge by going cycling, hiking and running. Her boyfriend accompanied her.

University Human Resources is pleased to announce the winners of its Passionate Pack challenge.

Kelly Vance, the wellness, child care and perks coordinator in University Human Resources, announced the challenge in May. She asked staff and faculty to spend three cumulative hours in June pursuing a personal passion or purpose. The goal was for participants to learn how pursuing a passion or purpose can contribute to their overall well-being.

The participants who completed the challenge took part in a wide array of activities, from competing in a triathlon to spending time painting.

Thanks to all those who participated in the challenge, and congratulations to the seven winners, who are listed below along with descriptions of the activities they pursued and why they enjoyed them.

Elisabeth Brown
Teaching Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematics

A picture of Elisabeth Brown, a teaching assistant professor, looking at the wheelchair accessibility she held her father and other volunteers build. — Elisabeth Brown, a teaching assistant professor, looks at the wheelchair accessibility ramp she helped her father and other volunteers build.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

My dad volunteers with Habitat for Humanity by building wheelchair accessibility ramps. I flew to Michigan to help him build his 900th ramp. Thanks to my dad and his fellow retirees who volunteer on his Habitat ramp crew, 900 people can get into their homes. He started his crew 29 years ago, and I’m proud to help when I visit him. One of the crew members told my dad when referring to me, “She swings a hammer like her dad is a carpenter.” That is such a compliment to both me and my dad.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

1,200

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

Celebrating my dad’s accomplishment. He is awesome, and he is 81 years old. The average age of his ramp crew is 77 years old. With me and my husband on the crew, the average age was 66 years old.

Annika Fairbanks
University Program Associate
Air Force ROTC

A picture of Annika Fairbanks, university program associate for Air Force ROTC, showing off her muscles. — Annika Fairbanks, university program associate for the Air Force ROTC, shows off her muscles.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

I spent about 1.5 hours a day, six days a week bodybuilding. A Passionate Pack inspired me to compete in my fourth bodybuilding competition.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

2,340

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

Setting my own personal goal, exceeding my own expectations, pushing myself beyond my imagination and striving to be the best. My daily goal is to beat my goal from the day before.

David Herpy
Extension Organizational Development Coordinator
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

A picture of David Herpy. — David Herpy, an extension organizational development coordinator, participated in the Chick-Fil-A 3 Little Pigs Triathlon in Smithfield on June 17.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

For my passion, I chose the sport of triathlon. I have been training for and racing in triathlons for the past six years. Participating in triathlons has had a huge positive impact on my life. Triathlons keep me well, both mentally and physically. I really enjoy setting goals and training hard to achieve them. On June 17, I completed the 10th triathlon of my racing career at the Chick-Fil-A 3 Little Pigs Triathlon in Smithfield. I earned my first podium finish, a third-place finish for my age group (40 to 44), and I finished 21st overall out of 200 athletes. I hit all three of my race discipline goals (one each for the swimming, biking and running portions of the race). I had one racing goal for this year: a podium finish. Achieving this goal makes me feel like I can do anything now.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

548

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

I really enjoyed the camaraderie at the 3 Little Pigs Triathlon. I met several other triathletes who were so friendly and inspiring. I was also really inspired by the range of abilities and ages of triathletes who raced. The youngest was only 11 years old, and the oldest was an 86-year-old woman. There was a great mix of triathletes, from those who have competed for national championships to beginners. Everyone had their own personal reason for completing the triathlon.

Zakiya Leggett
Associate Professor
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

A picture of faculty member Zakiya Leggett's children roasting s'mores. — Faculty member Zakiya Leggett’s children roast s’mores. For the Passionate Pack challenge, Leggett focused on spending more intentional time with her children.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

I focused on spending more intentional time with my kids.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

360

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

Being intentional and following through.

Melissa Merrill
Associate Department Head and Director of Undergraduate Programs
Department of Animal Science

The Passionate Pack challenge motivated Melissa Merrill, an associate department head and director of undergraduate programs in the Department of Animal Science, to start piecing together a quilt.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

I took a class in March to learn how to cut fabric to create a kaleidoscope quilt. I decided to embrace this challenge and began the process of piecing together a quilt.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

300 minutes

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

I played my music and just enjoyed doing something I like that relaxes me and helps me decompress from a busy week at work. This is something just for me and nobody else.

Janice Sitzes
Director, Continuing and Professional Education
College of Natural Resources

Janice Sitzes, director of Continuing and Professional Education in the College of Natural Resources, and her boyfriend smile for a picture as they paddle kayak adventure down a river trail.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

2023 is the Year of the Trail in North Carolina, so I combined my love of the outdoors with cycling, hiking and running and took advantage of organized events across the state. The first weekend in June took me to NC Trail Days in Elkin. I participated in the downtown Elkin mural art walk and a hike in Stone Mountain State Park to Wolf Rock, where we practiced yoga for an hour. I also participated in the Yadkin River Run 10K and a paddle kayaking adventure down a river trail. The weekend culminated with the Carter Falls and Powerhouse hike and learning more about Elkin history while enjoying nature. During the second weekend in June, I was among the runners who participated in the Big Run 5K at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary and was among the bicyclists who rode their bikes on the American Tobacco Trail for the Great Trail Day. I also hiked at White Pines Nature Preserve in Sanford, part of the Triangle Land Conservancy. On the third Saturday in June, I did the Tour de Blueberry, a 67-mile bike ride in Burgaw.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

1,300

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

Getting outdoors and enjoying nature.

Jennifer Sasser
Technology Support Technician
Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center