This spring Pomona honored Building Attendant Joaquin Rios and Academic Coordinator Cynthia Madrigal with this year’s Distinguished Staff Awards.
Rios has worked in the Housekeeping Department at Pomona for 10 years, and was appreciated for his thoroughness. “He goes above and beyond to make sure everything is immaculate, organized and in order,” writes one nominator. Two people mention how Rios cares for their plants: “It took me months to realize that he’s been watering all my plants without me ever asking him.”
Beyond the work he does, many point to Rio’s kindness and friendliness. “Joaquin always has a smile on his face and a positive attitude. He greets everyone with a smile,” says one person. “My every interaction with him is positive, and I often see how he makes everyone’s days brighter,” says another.
Madrigal, meanwhile, is an 18-year employee of Pomona who manages the unique challenge of juggling the coordination of three different departments: Art History, Classics and Gender and Women’s Studies.
“She serves all three ably, covering the budgets and all the arrangements for all three departments,” says George Gorse, chair of art history. “She is a very hard worker who takes on massive amounts of responsibility with efficiency and grace.”
Another nominator concurs: “Providing support to three different programs is challenging in and of itself. Each entity has their own nuances and demands, and Cynthia provides assistance with grace, resilience and professionalism.”