For the fourth consecutive year, the Harvard Law community gathered to celebrate the unsung from across the school at the annual Support Staff Awards Dinner on April 21.
Launched in 2023, the event honors the contributions of staff members who support the community through roles that are sometimes behind the scenes at Harvard — including public safety, custodial services, mail delivery, facilities and groundskeeping services, food services, and the provision of textbooks and other materials.
This year, individuals were honored with three awards: the excellence award, which recognizes individuals who uplift colleagues through kindness; the leadership award, which celebrates initiative, teamwork, and community-building; and a third award, which honors those who create warmth, belonging, and community. The awards are voted on by fellow staff members and students.
This year’s event was co-hosted by the Harvard Black Law Students Association and The Reciprocity Effect, a nonprofit founded by Harvard Law alum and former sanitation worker Rehan Staton ’23, initially to honor support staff at Harvard Law School. The evening also featured performances by Kiersten Hash ’28 and Harvard Law’s a cappella group, Scales of Justice.
The following staff members were recognized at this year’s ceremony:
Recognizing individuals who uplift colleagues through kindness
- Silbert “Junior” Williams (Plumbing)
- Mario Arevalo (Custodial)
- Margarete Da Silva (Security)
- Edwin Melo (Security)
Celebrating initiative, teamwork, and community-building
- Jeremy Porter (Custodial)
- Israel Espinal-Lara (Facilities)
- Garrell Dortichon (Security)
- Jean Fedor (Security)
Honoring those who create warmth, belonging, and community
- Yahya Bajinka (Security)
- Maria Fuentes (Custodial)
- Jess Crews (Dining)
- Ligia Hernandez (Dining)
Here, Harvard Law Today presents just a few of the evening’s other highlights:
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