Corporate Challenge 2013

UT Dallas’ cake, baked by Kimberly Warren, Research Office of Technology Commercialization, with help from Patricia Roffe, Information Resources, followed the T-Shirt design featuring a Seventies pinball machine.

Richard Arduengo and Vanessa Balderrama, from the Office of Administration, stood watch over the cake while awaiting the judges who would come by for a taste.

Richard cuts into the cake as Vanessa prepares to receive slices to present to judges and later the public.

This man was the first of several judges to try UT Dallas’ pinball machine cake.

The judges took their jobs very seriously, jotting down notes after each taste test as Administration Communications Manager Chase York (right) looks on.

From left: UT Dallas’ Vanessa Balderrama, Tysh Coleman, Alison Bratton, Michelle Long and Georgetta Oliver celebrated during the Closing Ceremony for Corporate Challenge.

Another judge enjoys a bit of the cake, half of which was double chocolate fudge and the other an amaretto mango blend.

His face says it all, yes?

From left: Office of Administration’s Haywood McNeill, Vanessa Balderrama and Tysh Coleman enjoy supporting all things UT Dallas.

The last two judges of the evening, chefs from the Renaissance Hotel Dallas in Richardson, take in the sight and smell of UTD’s cake.

Executive Chef David Seacrest samples the chocolate portion.

Executive Sous Chef Baurak Ozed tries a piece.

The duo record their marks.

Thirty minutes later, UT Dallas is announced the winner of the Corporate Challenge cake contest. Tysh Coleman collected our first prize ribbon.

This year’s Corporate Challenge flag football tournament split play time between Huffines Field and the soccer fields at UT Dallas. Division B teams Concentra, TekComms, the North Texas Tollway Authority, Pioneer Natural Resources and UT Dallas, among others, played here Wednesday through Friday with the championship bracket played at Huffines on Saturday.

A player leans forward and stretches to give the football and his team as much forward progress as possible.

A player reaches out and grabs the green flag off a receiver’s waist, putting an end to the play.

A quarterback looks down field for an eligible receiver as a defenseman approaches to pressure him.

UT Dallas was well-represented during the Corporate Challenge 5K Run-Walk, which launched from Galatyn Plaza early Sunday, September 15.

Torye Grant, Georgetta Oliver and Tysh Coleman (left to right) are geared up and ready to run. Ms. Coleman said it was her first attempt at a 5K run. She came through with flying colors.

Runners gather at the starting line of the 5K race. The plaza was full of people who were rarin’ to go.

And they’re off… UT Dallas finished the race in fifth place in its division and scored the third most participation points.

Cyclists prepare for the start of the Corporate Challenge 15K bike race from the UT Dallas campus. Among the particpants, from left, are Blair Flicker, Rafael Martin and Mark Salamasick.

UT Dallas master cyclist Max Miley, shown in time trials, finished first among men ages 50 and over as well as first among all bikers based on times.

The UT Dallas campus made a nice setting for the start and finish of the 15K bike race.

Bringing home the gold, Sustainability Manager Thea Junt and Director of Corporate Relations Jessica Watts are Corporate Challenge women’s tennis champs.

Thea Junt delivers a volley over the net in the gold medal round of play.

Jessica Watts prepares to strike back in the Corporate Challenge women’s tennis final at UT Dallas.

Sustainability Manager Thea Junt is among the first people to play and win on UT Dallas’ newly unveiled courts. She and her partner, Development and Alumni Affairs Director Jessica Watts, took game, set and match Monday night against the North Texas Tollway Authority in the women’s first round of Corporate Challenge’s tennis competition Monday.

Molecular and Cell Biology teaching assistants John Veloria (left) and Stefan Giovan brace themselves after serving to opponent CA Technologies during men’s tennis competition of Corporate Challenge Monday night. The UT Dallas men’s team won the match.

Human Resources Coordinator Allan Saylor and his wife Becky respond to a drop shot during their match against Concentra. The UT Dallas mixed team remains in contention for a medal.