For the past 17 years, staff member Oscar Palomares has been a familiar face in various dining halls at Villanova, observing as the campus has evolved. His dedication and infectious positivity have made him an indispensable part of the Villanova community. In this worker spotlight, we gain an inside scoop on Palomares’ job, as well as some things you might not know about him.
Over nearly two decades, Palomares has witnessed significant transformations at Villanova. The Commons were unveiled to house students, the Finneran Pavilion underwent an extensive renovation and CEER currently undergoing dramatic expansion. Nevertheless, one constant amidst these changes has been the energy and enthusiasm of the student body.
“Sometimes after a break [Villanova students] will run up to me and say, ‘Long time no see,’” Palomares said. He emphasized that the students are the primary reason for his excitement to return to campus.
Palomares has become an iconic figure on campus due to his unwaveringly positive attitude. Each morning, Palomares greets students with a fist bump, a small yet impactful gesture.
“I make them happy,” Palomares said, with a smile. “Sometimes they get mad at me if they don’t get the fist bump.”
While Palomares’ job involves plenty of joy and camaraderie, it’s not without its challenges. Oscar shared that the physical demands of the job, like back pain, can be taxing, but he powers through because he knows how much his presence means to the students.
Palomares’ positivity has been observed not only by students, but by staff as well.
“He’s very friendly in nature,” Palomares’ supervisor, Mary Frances Maloney, said. “He has always been very outgoing and willing to help students, parents and other staff.”
Palomares’ typical day is a busy one, consisting of serving meals to hungry students, teaching newcomers the ins-and-outs of the dining halls and making deliveries. When driving the delivery van, Palomares likes to listen to 99.5 radio to pump him up.
Speaking of music, Palomares revealed that the dining hall manager, Ray, is the one in charge of the incredible Pit aux.
“He picks upbeat music that everyone likes,” Palomares said with a laugh.
It is true; Pit at 6p.m. on a Tuesday practically rivals Courts.
Palomares’ favorite place to work and eat on campus is Cafe Nova. A popular student lunch spot, Cova is known for burrito bowls, sandwiches, gelato and more. Palomares appreciates the variety of options available at Cova, but he also enjoyed working at the Law School Cafe because of the excellent food and he enjoyed Pit due to the hustle and bustle.
If Palomares could invite anyone, dead or alive, to dine at Villanova, he would first choose to bring back alumni. He loves alumni events because people he has met over the years return to campus to reconnect. Palomares’ second choice would be a presidential trio: Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson. He’s confident they would enjoy the atmosphere, and of course, the famous Palomares fist bump.
Something many students may not know about Palomares is that he speaks Arabic. Before working at Villanova, he worked in construction in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Going into the job, he could not speak Arabic. However, he picked it up after hearing it spoken around him.
Palomares is one of the many dining hall staff members who work hard to not only serve Villanovans meals, but brightens days. His journey at Villanova is a testament to the lasting impact that one person’s positive spirit can have on an entire community.
