Nominator said: Ben Dillon has been the glue of our department for the 5 years he’s worked with us. His kindness is truly unparalleled, as he went above and beyond for every student, staff member, and faculty member he interacted with. He would show up even at the last minute to document our events and productions, make beautiful posters and flyers for us, maintain a complex website that needed to be updated and re-organized often, and was always willing to help someone find something or learn how to do what they didn’t know how to do. In the 5 years I’ve known him, I’ve never once seen him treat someone unkindly or even be distant. He was always fully present, making everyone feel equally valued and respected no matter what their role was within the department. His life ended far too soon: After many weeks of worsening symptoms, he received a diagnosis of cancer in his colon and liver just 8 days before he passed. In addition to his legacy of kindness, Ben’s story also reminds us to advocate for better healthcare for ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. Our department and his loved ones are still in shock, and we hope to lift up his memory by nominating him for this award. His sister, Lindsey has agreed to accept this recognition on Ben’s behalf, because if he wins we’d like the money to go to their family to assist with the expenses they are struggling to cover in this time.
