CUIMC Gingerbread House Decorating Contest, Holiday Celebration, and Toy Drive

All CUIMC employees were invited to participate in a friendly team based gingerbread house decorating contest.

2022 CUIMC Gingerbread house decorating contest winners:

Classic category

1st Place: Team "All Heart, No Failure"
2nd Place: Team "CUIMC Onboarding Station"
3rd Place: Team "Psychiatry Elves"

Best representation of what work you do and/or function at CUIMC

1st Place: Hip and Knee Reconstructive Surgery
2nd Place: Clinical Trials Office
3rd Place: College of Dental Medicine Revenue Cycle and Finance

CUIMC employees were invited to the CUIMC Holiday Celebration, Toy drive and Gingerbread House Display on December 13 from 2-6PM at 50 Haven Avenue, Riverview Lounge and Ballroom. Atendeees enjoyed refreshments, viewed the display of competing gingerbread houses, and/or dropped off a toy for the annual CUIMC Toy Drive.

Interested in joining the contest?

1. Form your team and determine your contest category

Teams must consist of at least four members and must be comprised of CUIMC employees. While we encourage departmental team building, teams are not required to represent or be from the same administrative unit or department.

For other information, see contest FAQs section.

2. Submit team registration form by December 1

Once you've formed a team, submit a team registration form no later than December 1. Only one form per team is required.

Prior to submitting the form, please be prepared to:

designate a primary and secondary contact person to receive contest related communication
select the category your team will compete in: best representation of what work you do and/or function at CUIMC or best classic gingerbread house/structure

Free gingerbread house building kits will be available, while supplies last. Teams will have the opportunity to express interest in the kits via the team registration form.

Team Registration Form

3. Gingerbread House Drop-off on December 13 between 8-10AM

All gingerbread houses must be completed and dropped off between 8-10AM at 50 Haven Avenue Ballroom on Tuesday, December 13.

4. Attend the CUIMC Holiday Celebration, Toy Drive, and Gingerbread House Display event on December 13

All CUIMC employees are invited to view the display of competing houses. Contest winners will be announced at 4:30PM. We ask that at least one or more team member(s) represent your team at this event.

Not interested in joining the contest but still want to participate?

Attend the CUIMC Holiday Celebration, Toy Drive, and Gingerbread House Display event on December 13 between 2-6PM at 50 Haven Avenue Riverview lounge and Ballroom. Competing houses will be on display for all to see and refreshments will be provided. If you'd like to donate to the CUIMC Toy Drive, we will be collecting unwrapped toys for children ages 3-13 at the event. Gingerbread house contest winners will be announced at approximately 4:30PM.

Contest FAQs

What are the contest categories?

best representation of what work you do and/or function at CUIMC
best classic gingerbread house/structure

Will supplies be provided for participating teams?

A limited number of free gingerbread house kits will be made available (while supplies last)

Gingerbread house kits will include:

Walls/parts to construct a house
Instructions from Gingerbread maker on how to assemble
Icing to serve as glue to assemble the house and help with decorating

Not included:

Imagination and creativity
Platform for your house
Items for decoration (don’t have to be purchased)
Sign/label indicating the office or group that has completed the house

Important Note: You are not limited to using only the items we provided. You may use nonedible items for decorating.

How will contest judging work?

The houses will be judged in their categories using a weighted matrix, scored by independent judges.

When will contest results be announced?

Contest results will be announced in-person at the CUIMC Holiday Celebration, Toy Drive, and Gingerbread House Display event on December 13 a approximately 4:30 p.m.

What are the contest prizes?

Winning houses will receive recognition only (first, second and honorable mention). They will get their houses published on the CUIMC website.

I'm not interested in joining the contest, is there another way to get involved?

Yes, all CUIMC faculty and staff are invited to view the display of competing gingerbread houses at the CUIMC Holiday Celebration, Toy Drive, and Gingerbread House Display, and on December 13 between 2-6PM.

If you'd like to donate to the CUIMC Toy Drive, we will be collecting unwrapped toys for children ages 3-13 at the event.

Have questions further questions about the contest?

Contact the CUIMC Event Office at cumc_event_office@cumc.columbia.edu

Further Questions?