It’s a new year, and new journeys are starting for everyone, including longtime CIS participant John, who is celebrating retirement! John retired in October and has since been able to kick back and relax after years of working.   

John started working at Bon Appetit at the University of Pennsylvania in 2018 at McClelland Dining Hall until the pandemic in 2020. When he returned in 2021, he started working at 1920 Commons, a different dining hall on campus. John became an integral part of Bon Appetit and the 1920 Commons Family and became a familiar face for students and faculty.   

To celebrate John and his commitments to both dining halls, his managers and coworkers held a small party for him with cupcakes, coffee (John LOVES his coffee), an Eagles hoodie, and a Phillies lanyard! Talk about some cool going-away gifts!  

Moments like this remind participants like John how important he is to his work family and offer a sense of pride for being a part of a team for so long. 

Check out these cool pictures of John and his coworkers on his last day. Thank you so much to Danielle McIlhenny, CIS’s Assistant Director of Employment Training, for sharing this incredible story about John.  

Congrats on your retirement, John! We hope you enjoy some relaxation.