A First Fourth of July Becomes Duke Time Off's Latest Winning Photo

All eligible photos taken and shared between May 20 and Aug. 3, 2026, will be entered to win grand prizes

A family stands in front of a Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam on stilts at a Fourth of July Celebration

For Mary nico Alina, this Fourth of July was one to remember.  

Alina, a Clinical Nurse in the Neuro Step-Down Unit at Duke Regional Hospital, spent the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with her family by visiting a new city, Fuquay-Varina, N.C., for live music and fireworks. It was a simple but meaningful gathering.

In a selfie captured by Alina’s husband, Mark Joseph Cabrera, Alina and their daughters, Josephine and Claire, pose in front of larger-than-life Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam characters. Everyone is decked in red, white and blue, and two American flags ripple in the background.

This was also Alina’s first Fourth of July after arriving in the United States in October 2025. Alina, who is from the Philippines and part of an international nursing program, has fully embraced all things America since moving to Durham and beginning her position at Duke University Health System.

“Without Duke Health, we would not be able to celebrate personally the Fourth of July tradition in the United States of America, continuing my nursing profession with family and fulfilling our American dreams,” Alina said.

A family stands in front of a Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam on stilts at a Fourth of July Celebration
Mark Joseph Cabrera snapped this Fourth of July selfie with daughters Josephine and Claire, and Duke Clinical Nurse Mary nico Alina. Photo courtesy of Mary nico Alina

Alina’s photo is the latest winner in Working@Duke’s 2026 Duke Time Off campaign, which highlights how Duke University and Duke University Health System staff and faculty make the most of their time off benefit. Alina’s winning photo earned her a 24-can cooler courtesy of Duke University Stores.

One Duke-themed prize, courtesy of Duke University Stores, will be given away about once every two weeks throughout the summer. All eligible photos taken and shared between May 20 and Aug. 3, 2026, will be entered to win grand prizes, courtesy of the following Duke entities: 

  • A “Classic Package for Two” ($425 value) at the Washington Duke Inn. The package includes a king or double/double room for one night and full breakfast for two in the Vista Room or room service. Sunday brunch is not eligible.
  • A lemur tour for four at the Duke Lemur Center.
  • Two winners will each receive a pair of tickets to a Duke Arts Presents performance. 
  • A $50 Duke Dining gift card will go to an eligible staff or faculty member on social media who tags Working@Duke in their photo and follows us.

Follow Working@Duke and the Duke Time Off campaign (#DukeTimeOff) on Instagram, Facebook, and X and subscribe to Working@Duke’s YouTube channel. 

Grand prize winners will be announced on Working@Duke in late August.

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs through our story idea form or write working@duke.edu.

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