San Diego State will be hosting the 38th Annual Staff Awards at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 at Viejas Arena. The ceremony is held every year by the university to celebrate the longevity of service of staff members at SDSU, and this year the awards range from 10-35 years of service. Last year, about 800 people attended the event and this year it is expected to have as many as 800 attendees and will give out more than 200 awards.

Tickets are complimentary for awardees and they must RSVP by Monday, Nov. 7. Tickets for the ceremony are on sale now for the general public at the Viejas Arena Ticket Office and can be purchased for $12 through Nov. 8, but ticket prices increase to $15 from Nov. 9-16. Suggested attire is red and black to show Aztec pride.

Recommended parking for the event is in Parking Structure 4 or 5 and entrance to the event is at Viejas Arena through the lower level of Lot L, which is located between Viejas Arena and PS 4.

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude around 1:30 p.m. The event will be emceed by Executive Director of the Alumni Association Jim Herrick and Director of the Educational Opportunity Program and Ethnic Affairs Reggie Blaylock after introductory speeches by SDSU President Elliot Hirshman and Associated Students President Cody Barbo.

“People make the biggest difference in one’s experience,” Blaylock said. “I truly believe that we have wonderful people throughout our campus community.”

Elvira McCalip, the director of the Center for Human Resources at SDSU and chairperson of the event, is also in charge of the 12-person committee planning the ceremony. She said the Center for Human Resources is in charge of planning the awards ceremony every year but the entire university and all of its auxiliaries help.

“It is a university effort,” McCalip said. “The entire school contributes to the making of the event.”

Assistant Director at the Center for Human Resources, Lisa Winters is also on the planning committee. She is in charge of the giveaways and said this year there will be 40 to 50 giveaway prizes that range from a beach cruiser to an iPad to SDSU athletic event tickets and free admission to an event held by Sam the Cooking Guy later this year.

No additional raffle tickets need to be purchased by attendees. All of their tickets have a number which may be called during the drawing for prizes.

Noelle Krueger is the administrative assistant to McCalip and is heavily involved with the event. She works with every aspect of it to make sure it will run smoothly and everyone has a memorable experience while recognizing the years of service, dedication and loyalty the long time staff members have provided to SDSU.

The theme of the ceremony is “SDSU Through the Years.”

To RSVP for the event, contact Krueger at 619-594-8323 or nkrueger@mail.sdsu.edu. For a

complete list of those being

honored at the ceremony, visit hr.sdsu.edu/chr/staffawards.htm.