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“She is an incredible person who is always so quick to say hello and ask me how I’m doing,” one student wrote. “She is easy to talk to and really brightens my day.”

On May 24, Vargas received the 2019 Spirit of �ʼһ��� award for the care and excellence she brings to serving the college community. President Carol Quillen presented the award before a cheering audience at the college’s Employee Appreciation Day.

The award is given annually to an hourly employee who has been at the college for at least three years, follows the Honor Code and excels in service and support to �ʼһ��� and its students.

Kathy and Gary Parsons established the $850 annual award in 2008 in appreciation for the caring way that �ʼһ��� employees treated their son Mike ’08 during his time at the college. Mathematics Professor Donna Molinek and �ʼһ��� friend Frank Molinek contributed to the endowment to increase the award to $1,000.

Vargas is enormously popular with students, who repeatedly praised her in their nominations for the award. At Spring Convocation, she received the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) staff award in front of another cheering crowd.

“Irsa greatly impacts �ʼһ��� through her tangible joy, humble servant heart and genuine passion for students, co-workers and all who pass through the Union,” the ODK award said. “She’s an integral component of the �ʼһ��� family, intentionally encouraging and uplifting others.”

Students concur. As one wrote in the Spirit of �ʼһ��� nomination:

“She is like family to me and encourages me to keep pushing on hard days, and generally increases my happiness on all days. Her genuine care towards me and life advice has helped me out since my first few days here.”

Matthews Travel Endowment Award

Scott Applegate is a behind-the-scenes guy who’s everywhere.

If you go to a soccer, field hockey or basketball game, he’s there. During his 30 years at �ʼһ��� he’s built a reputation as someone “embodying that very rare and precious combination of high competence and low drama,” one colleague wrote.

And though he’s known for not taking time off, perhaps this year will be different.

Applegate received the 2019 Matthews Travel Endowment Award, an annual grant given to recognize “the outstanding and unselfish service rendered �ʼһ��� by members of the College family.”

Frank Matthews ’49, established the award in memory of his brothers, Eugene Robinson Matthews ’36 and James Houston Matthews ’50. The award gives $20,000 toward travel expenses for recipients and their families. Faculty and staff who’ve worked at the college for at least six years are eligible for the award.

Applegate came to �ʼһ��� in 1989 as an assistant athletic trainer. He now oversees the athletic facilities and is associate athletics director.

“He has served �ʼһ��� for many years, but is not wed to the way things are now,” the nomination letter said. “Instead, he thinks about how things could be better. His willingness to innovate and take risks has brought about much positive change to our campus.”