NC State spent May 17-23 showing its employees how much they mean to the university. There were tours, ice cream giveaways, team outings and much more during Our Extraordinary Employee Appreciation Week. The celebration is one of the most enjoyable times at NC State each year. Here are four things to know about the 2026 celebration:

• 2,000 cups of Howling Cow ice cream were given away: The ice cream socials at The Corner on Centennial Campus, Stafford Commons behind Talley Student Union and the College of Veterinary Medicine were a big hit. Employees socialized, played games and enjoyed about 2,000 cups of Howling Cow ice cream.
• 109 employees stopped by the relaxation stations: Rooms at the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Wellness and Recreation Center and the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center were used as relaxation centers for employees to color, play board games and more.
• 124 people attended tours: Employees took advantage of opportunities to learn about the Belltower, the JC Raulston Arboretum, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Murphy Center.
• 25 pets were showcased at the virtual pet show: University Human Resources hosted a virtual pet show that gave employees a chance to brag about their pets. Twenty employees attended and showed 25 pets.

If you want to relive Employee Appreciation Week, go to the University Human Resources webpage and click through the Employee Appreciation Week photo gallery.