Millions of spectators enjoyed the splendor of the 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade last week, either from the comfort of their homes or perched along the parade route between 77th Street and 34th Street in New York City. With the excitement of celebrity talent, special appearances and entertainment, the floats, the clowns, the marching bands and other performance groups, and the long history and tradition the parade represents, it's no wonder the parade is one of the most-watched events in the country, second only, they say, to the Super Bowl.
Among parade favorites are the famous helium balloons - old stars like Snoopy, Ronald McDonald and Spider-Man, as well as new ones like the Kung Fu Panda and Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloons making their first public appearance this year. In all, eighteen giant balloons and forty-three novelty balloons made their mark in the procession on Thanksgiving Day, and we can be grateful for the behind-the-scenes talent that gives life to these big stars of the parade. Few people get to see what it takes to inflate and then manage the balloons down the celebrated route, yet the folks in charge of this task are right under our noses here at Stevens Institute of Technology.
The volunteer crew responsible for facilitating the balloon inflation (and deflation) and ensuring that all goes well with the balloons during the parade are none other than a 115-member group of Stevens students, faculty, staff and alumni. What's more, Stevens has been involved in this way for 25 years. Being a premier engineering, science and management school, Stevens people, without a doubt, have the technical know-how to be given such a complex and delicate responsibility. They also, though, like to have fun, which is essential for a parade! "It gives me chills to see the joy on the kids' faces," said Linda Vollkommer, Inflation Team Coordinator and Head Women's Fencing Coach at Stevens. "It is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun."
The Stevens volunteers begin their work well before Thanksgiving Day by taking part in several pre-parade trainings, practices and flight tests in the months leading up to the event. But their commitment is not so apparent to the public - at least until Inflation Eve, which takes place in front of the Museum of Natural History (on both 81st and 77th streets) the day (and into the eve) prior to parade day. Onlookers get to watch the balloons come to life as the crew works hard to assemble and inflate them. Once inflated, covered with netting and anchored to heavy sand bags for the night, the balloons and the volunteers await their curtain call - only hours later at 4:00 a.m. It's a long, rugged two days for the volunteers. 
But it's well worth it, say those who are either long-time volunteers or just breaking in as new ones. "Everyone enjoys the camaraderie working with other Stevens people - the alumni, students, staff, faculty - and being part of the Macy's team," said Kenneth Nilsen, 17-year volunteer veteran and Dean of Student Life at Stevens. "We share a sense of pride, working together to manage these main features of the parade. And it's a lot of fun being together down the entire stretch of the parade with millions of people cheering and waving and also knowing there are millions more watching on TV, this icon of the holiday. Stevens is right in the middle of it." It's so rewarding that Stevens no longer needs to recruit volunteers as they had in the past.
Pictured left are second-year Stevens civil engineering major Donna Barden and alumnus Joe Kukis, who graduated from Stevens in 2005 with a degree in computer engineering. In addition to their inflation responsibilities, Donna served as a front vehicle manager for the Kermit the Frog balloon, and Joe piloted one of the Macy's Yellow Star balloons during the parade this year. A network engineer for J.Crew, Joe said his 10-year showing as a volunteer in this capacity is because it's unique. "This is fun. It's definitely different than being behind my computer all day at work," Joe said. "My parents TiVo it so I can watch the broadcast later," added Donna, her second year as a volunteer. "It's really a blast to be here. Imagine all the kids and adults yelling and waving, shouting your balloon's name at you in this happy, excited way. Last year, for me, I heard 'Hey Pikachu!' from thousands and thousands of people down the entire parade route. It was really amazing."
Taking a quick break for a photo (left) is Linda Vollkommer with Stevens sophomore Zach Zaorski and alumna Maia Hadidi, who also serves as Admissions Counselor and Events & Summer Programs Coordinator for Undergraduate Admissions at Stevens. This was both Zach's and Maia's first year as Inflation Team volunteers.
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