The Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award is given to business officers who have made extraordinary contributions to their schools and exemplify exceptional integrity, knowledge and motivation. At the end of each school year, new Unsung Heroes receive their award from their head of school, often at a significant school occasion such as a board meeting or an all-school ceremony. What makes these Unsung Heroes so special? The highlights below come straight from their colleagues' nominations.
See a full list of the 2022 recipients. Stay tuned to Net Assets online for additional profiles.
Title: Business Manager
School: Central Catholic High School, Lawrence, Massachusetts
Years in current position: 38
Years in an independent school business office: 42
Superpower: Legacy leader: Forty years ago, Cargill became the youngest person to be appointed to the position of business manager at Central Catholic High School, after serving as an accounting teacher at the school for three years. Since then, Cargill established policies and procedures that helped to bring financial stability and allowed CCHS to expand its buildings and grounds, educational programs, endowments and enrollment. “The impact of Dan’s contributions to the CCHS community might never be fully understood. He has made Central Catholic High School stronger and better able to serve a greater diversity of students,” wrote a colleague.
Tech visionary: Cargill led the development of a technology infrastructure that, “prepared us to become a 1:1 device school long before many public schools in our area. His foresight, along with that of our technology director allowed us to remain fully operational during the pandemic."
Financial aid “founder”: Cargill established the framework for a financial aid program, which works well to this day. “He thoughtfully prepares financial aid packages to families in a fair, honest and diplomatic way, treats everyone with respect, and models empathy and compassion to those around him.”
After school: A former college basketball player himself, Cargill “understands the importance of living a healthy lifestyle” and has served as a high school referee for over 30 years.
