Any student at Bethel College who has eaten in the Caf has seen or interacted with Gloria. She has worked at Bethel for thirteen years and is Front of House Supervisor. This means her duties are to make sure students that are working there are wearing the proper uniforms and completing closing duties correctly.
Gloria started off as a dishwasher, then moved up to Salad/Prep Cook, and finally to the Made to Order station, which is where she currently works. She also worked for a year as Supervisor/Lead Cook in the back of the kitchen. Gloria later made the decision to move to the front of the house because the heat from the kitchen was not preferable for her and she significantly enjoyed the interactions she would have with students.
Gloria loves interacting with and getting to know students. She may seem short with words, but that is only because her station is always so popular, so she has to keep things moving. However, if a student starts a conversation with her, asks about her day, tells her what they learned about in class or gives her a compliment, it makes her day.
Students also love interacting with Gloria when they go to eat at the Caf. “For the past three years here at Bethel, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Gloria by just simply saying hello to her every day,” said junior Autumn Quinones. “She has quickly become one of my favorite people on this campus to say the least and is one of the most kind people I’ve ever met. It is one of my favorite parts of my day just getting to interact with her and just see how she’s doing.”
Gloria works hard for Bethel to make sure the dietary needs of the campus are taken care of. Her dedication to her job and the Bethel community does not go unnoticed.
“Easily she is one of the hardest working people on this campus and I think she is incredibly overlooked,” said Quinones. “I hope that she knows how much of an impact she’s had on students and how much joy it brings just to see her do her thing in the Caf every day.”
“Gloria is great,” said sophomore Lyric Wheeler. “Everyday while she’s making wraps for people she still finds the time to ask me how my day is going and is super nice about it. I really appreciate how much she cares for the school and the students that come to eat in her line.”
Gloria is also known for remembering students and what they prefer to eat. A lot of students go up to her station to get a wrap, burrito or sandwich and she remembers what type of style they would like their food.
“Every time I go to the Caf, I usually head straight to the wrap area, also known as Gloria’s station,” said sophomore Anna Wangberg. “No matter what kind of day I’m having, I’m always greeted with a smile from her, which makes the experience that much better. One thing I really appreciate about Gloria is how she makes an effort to remember everyone’s preferences, whether that means remembering what kind of tortilla someone likes or knowing that they prefer a bowl instead. It may seem like a small thing, but it shows how much she cares about the students and wants to make them feel welcomed and appreciated.”
Next time students and staff see Gloria in the Caf, keep in mind how hard she works and the dedication that she has not only to her job, but to the community at Bethel. Stopping to express gratitude by thanking Gloria, giving her a smile or having a conversation with her can make her feel valued by the Bethel community.
Thresher of the Year