Eastern staff and faculty, members of the faculty union and the Faculty Senate gathered in the Tarble Arts Center on Tuesday for the annual Faculty Retirement Banquet.

According to Bonnie Irwin, secretary of the faculty union and co-organizer of the event, 11 faculty members who are retiring are receiving certificates of appreciation for their years as teachers at Eastern.

“It’s just a way of celebrating faculty who have given so many years of service,” Irwin said.

Bud Fischer, the chair of the faculty senate, and David Radavich, the faculty union chapter president, also worked together in organizing this year’s retirement banquet. This is the second year the faculty union and faculty senate collaborated to plan the event.

Teachers from all different departments including political science and English were being honored for their years of teaching and dedication to Eastern and the students.

Carol Helwig is retiring after 33 years at Eastern. She has been the chair of early childhood, elementary and middle level education for 13 years. Helwig is also a teacher in the elementary education program.

After her retirement, she plans on doing many things.

“I plan on doing all of the things I haven’t had time to do,” Helwig said.

Some of these include traveling, reading, visiting with friends, organizing her house and maintaining some organized proffessions.

Richard Hummel is another faculty member that is being honored this year as he retires after 32 and a half years on staff. He worked in the sociology and anthropology departments.

Hummel joked that his wife has many jobs lined up for him to complete after his retirement, but he still plans to keep up some of his hobbies.

Hummel said he still has research that he’s interested in continuing, and he plans to visit his grandchildren in Florida. He is also a collector of antique furniture and books and plans to build upon that.