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Hugo Argueta, dishroom supervisor in the Corcoran Commons dining facility, has received a “Star of the Industry” award from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association in recognition of his long-term and highly skilled service to hundreds of thousands of dining patrons in the Boston College community.
Argueta, a Boston College Dining Services employee since 1989, was presented with the award by US Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) JD ’85 during the MRA banquet held May 1 at Lombardo’s restaurant in Randolph to honor the top employees in the state’s restaurant and food services industries. He was one of 10 winners of “Star” awards that recognize excellence in the field.
Argueta, who has worked in a supervisory role in BCDS for nearly 20 years, has clearly earned the coveted MRA honor, says Derrick Cripps, general manager of Corcoran Commons, BC’s busiest dining facility.
“One of the core things that makes Hugo what he is,” says Cripps, “is the complete ‘ownership’ he takes of everything he does.
“Corcoran Commons is a busy place,” Cripps explains. “We’ve got two levels – and we might be doing ‘fine china’ catering functions on one floor at the same time we are serving student meals on the other. Hugo is the lead supervisor of all utility staff. He’ll be working with all of our staff – and that includes people from six different nations – and he’ll work well with everyone and see to it that they operate seamlessly as a team. He’s been a great employee and this is a well-deserved honor.”
“Boston College has been a great place for me,” says Argueta, a native of Guatemala who started working at the University after moving to Boston from Los Angeles 23 years ago. “I have worked in almost every dining services facility – I started in Walsh Hall, went to McElroy Commons and finally came to Corcoran. But once I got to Boston College, I have never wanted to move.”
Boston College has become a key part of the lives of Hugo and his family. His wife Elizabeth works in the BCDS bakery in McElroy Commons and the couple’s daughter, Vivian, is a psychology and pre-dental studies major in the Woods College of Advancing Studies.
In addition to Argueta, two other BCDS staffers, cashiers Marie Kelly (Corcoran Commons) and Ana Vasquez (Hillside Café) were nominated for MRA “Star” honors and recognized at the May 1 event.