The Walter J. Gallo ’58 Award recognizes a member of the Saint Anselm College faculty or staff for dedication and service both to the Alumni Association and the College. This year’s recipient is Terry Newcomb, the evening supervisor at the C-Shop.

In his Rule for Monks, Saint Benedict dedicates a chapter to the reception of guests. In chapter 53, Saint Benedict wrote, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matthew 25:35)”. Terry Newcomb lives this dictum each and every day receiving students, faculty, staff, monks and guests at the coffee shop with beaming smile, hearty laugh, open heart and maybe a tear or two.

Hospitality is a core value and a hallmark of Benedictine education. If you venture over to the Coffee Shop, you wouldn’t have to wait very long to see Terry living his hallmark. Terry knows students and faculty by name, she knows our orders it’s the buffalo chicken wrap with a side of ranch or just a cup of coffee, Terry serves with kindness.

It’s not uncommon to hear Terry comforting a homesick first-year student, congratulating a student athlete on a well-won victory, or encouraging a nervous senior before their first job interview. Terry is also a model and mentor to her fellow employees in the coffee shop. Terry is always willing to listen and lend a helping hand.

Terry continues to make a lasting impact on our campus. One of her nominators wrote, “Her dedication and care of our students, alumni, faculty, monastic community and staff is truly incredible. Her treatment of our students is sometimes indescribable....you have to witness her actions to see her impact on our student's lives. During COVID she went above and beyond the call of duty giving extra attention, kind words, and a huge smile (with her eyes because everyone had to wear masks) when students would arrive to pick up their takeout orders. As a longtime member of the community, I have witnessed alumni return to campus and make a stop at the C-Shop just to see Terry.” 

The poet Maya Angelou wrote, "People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Thank you, Terry, for making us all feel a little better, a bit happier, a bit more loved – one buffalo chicken wrap at a time.