Attallah Piazza had some unusual visitors on Friday, Oct. 30: a monkey wrench, a disco skater, and Ms. Frizzle, the teacher from The Magic School Bus book series. All three took home prizes at this year’s Staff Pumpkin and Costume Contest.
Colleagues gathered for treats, costume contests, and a department pumpkin-decorating competition at the morning celebration, hosted by Event Operations. Even pets got in on the fun.
The contest is one of many Chapman traditions that bring staff together. That time together matters to Makenna Jonker, an assistant in Special Collections & Archives at Leatherby Libraries, who said her team is her favorite part of working at Chapman.
“We have a good balance of getting things done efficiently and having fun,” Jonker said of her crew in university archives. “Events like this help our team bond more.”
Cat Huskey, a faculty affairs specialist in the Office of Faculty Advancement, came into this year’s contest with an unusual goal: third place. She took third in 2024 as “Monkey Business” and again in 2025 as a cow being abducted by a cardboard UFO.
Her monkey wrench had other plans. Huskey gave her monkey costume a second act, adding overalls she already owned, a tool belt from Home Depot, and a wrench she made from cardboard and painted silver.
Third-place winner Michael Sakhel, who went to college with Huskey, joked about a recount. Huskey, well aware of the pressure that comes with defending a title, is already working on next year’s fit, though she’s keeping the details under wraps.
“This event is a lot of fun,” Huskey said. “In my office, we’re very driven, so this is a nice opportunity to show our creativity.”
Individual Costume
First place: Cat Huskey (faculty affairs specialist, Office of Faculty Advancement ), “Monkey Wrench”
Second place: Eilidh Cogswell (ticketing supervisor, Event Operations), “Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus“
Third place: Michael Sakhel (assistant director of Wellness, Student Engagement), “Disco Skater”
Group Costume
First place: Student Engagement, Despicable Me
Second place: Grand Challenges Initiative, “We’re Underwater!”
Third place: Schmid College, “Night of the Living Panther”
Pumpkin Decorating
First place: Media Services, “Pumptar”
Second place: Student Engagement, “A Little Loopy, A Lot Engaged”
Third place: Financial Services, “Dolly Pumpkin”
See familiar faces in costume, decorated pumpkins, and a few four-legged participants in the photos below.
The Strategic Marketing and Communications team mixes spells and multiverses with costumes inspired by Harry Potter and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The Career and Professional Development team trades business casual for disco fever with sequins, sparkle, and retro flair.
The Hilbert Museum draws inspiration from its collection for a new exhibition: the art of the pumpkin.
At Schmid College’s Pete’s Purr-kin Patch, mini-pumpkins become “pump-kittens” ready for adoption.
