December is crunch time for a lot of people around UNMC. With the end of the semester approaching and finals looming and the holidays coming and so many things to do before the end of the year, it's all enough to push stress to a boiling point.
So for its end-of-semester tradition, UNMC offered a week to let the campus de-stress. Here is a look at UNMC's De-Stress Week, 2025.
UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, cut the ribbon on the Chancellor's Holiday Tea, an annual tradition at UNMC held in December and in the middle of De-Stress Week. Off to the left are UNMC's events team with UNMC Strategic Communications: Kacie Baum, senior manager for events and community engagement, and Candace Peteler, campus events center coordinator. (UNMC's chief photographer, Kiley Cruse, also in UNMC Strategic Communications, took all these photos throughout De-Stress Week.)
Below, Dr. Davies, in his UNMC Labs hat, greeted students and staff visiting the holiday tea. Stay tuned in this article for a video about De-Stress Week that shows Dr. Davies asking students stopping for cookies if they're stressed out.
"Very," one student replies, before adding that the cookies were a nice break.
"The good news is that you're going to get through it," Dr. Davies says.
Oh, the cookies. Cookies upon cookies, in fact: 3,100 in all.
Yeah, sometimes this kind of reaction happens with holiday treats, right?
Other times, it's not the sugar that gets you, but warm, fluffy, comfy socks.
On Wednesday of De-Stress Week, the events team offered Cozy Baskets — a chance for students and staff to assemble little snacks and candy, lip balm, sanitizer and, yes, socks into their own care basket.
Supplies were available for the first 100 people, and it was quite popular. A good time was had by all.
Here's the video. UNMC videographer Rich Watson, multimedia manager in UNMC Strategic Communications, shot and produced this video about the week's events. Take a moment to watch.
UNMC De-Stress Week 2025
Thursday featured Crafternoon with CAPS Outreach, Access and Resources and the UNMC Student Senate. People could stop by to make their own cards or collage art — something to spread kindness.
Holiday wishes to you, too.
The end of De-Stress Week ushered in the start of the skating season at the UNMC Ice Rink. Friday, students and staff were welcomed to start the season at UNMC's annual Holiday Skate Day.
A hot chocolate bar helped warm things up. And amid all the stress of the semester and the season, the UNMC family took a break to enjoy the moment with friends and colleagues, smile and laugh.
