Fox Cities News

Lawrence University held a staff awards reception on December 12 at the Warch Campus Center to honor employees for their exceptional work. The event was led by President Laurie A. Carter and the Office of Human Resources.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the President’s Award of Excellence – Individual, awarded to Juan Arguello, Lawrence's second-year dean. Arguello, who joined Lawrence in May 2023, focuses on supporting sophomores and transfer students by connecting them with essential resources throughout the year. His efforts are significant in enhancing student retention at the university.

Arguello expressed his commitment to his role: “I really wanted to work in a job where I could advocate for people and listen to them,” he said. “As a first-gen student, I didn’t have a lot of additional guidance and had to spend a lot of time on my own getting answers. I wanted to help students and help them accomplish their goals.”

Other awards presented during the event included:

- Kindness Award: Shannan Hartel, executive assistant in the Office of Advancement.

- First-Year Impact Award: Noemi Delgado, director of accessibility services, and Mikey Zadroga, head coach of men’s lacrosse.

- Leadership Award: Jeff Miller, director of campus safety.

- Collaboration Award: Dakota McKee, director of Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership (SEAL).

Additionally, employees were recognized for reaching service milestones ranging from five to thirty years.