By Jenna Beresheim Staff Writer
Kellen Hendrickson, a Trades Maintenance Worker 2 on campus, has been announced as the winner of the 2015 Pastega Award for Staff Excellence.
According to the Western Pastega Award homepage, the Award for Staff Excellence “recognizes classified or administrative staff members who demonstrate exceptional service to the university.”
Similar to the Pastega awards for Excellence in Scholarship and Excellence in Teaching, the Staff Excellence award winner also receives a $1,000 honorarium.
A trades maintenance worker is hired through the physical plant on campus. Work orders are sent in through the Portal, allowing both students and staff to notify workers of issues around Western — specifically the dorms and Valsetz.
“I work exclusively on the housing side of campus doing repairs of any kind,” Hendrickson said, explaining the physical plant’s type of work. “An example of a typical day includes repairing lighting fixtures, heaters, furniture, plumbing, and I also do patching and painting work.”
Hendrickson is a Tillamook, Oregon native and began attending Western as a student in fall 2001.
By Spring Break 2003, he had begun working for the paint crew at the Physical Plant, and said he found the flexible schedule and understanding staff a blessing for a student with an ever-changing schedule.
Hendrickson graduated from Western with a social science degree in history, remaining on campus to extend his time at the physical plant.
“After I graduated, I was asked to continue working as a temporary full-time employee,” said Hendrickson. He was given the opportunity to attend electrical school for two years, moving up in rank at work from TMW1 to TMW2.
“I never thought about working here after college, but Western has given me so much,” he said. “I’ve been able to meet and work with some amazing people here.”
After spending years working at Western since graduating from the university, Hendrickson said he finds joy in his work every day.
Outside of work, two children keep him busy for the time being. Once they are older, Hendrickson would like to become more involved with campus activities outside of work.
Working amongst exceptional mentors as well as a previous Pastega Award recipient, Hendrickson was honored to receive such recognition for the work done for the campus community.
“This award tells you that the campus community has noticed your hard work and wants you to know it’s appreciated,” Hendrickson said. “I don’t come to work every day hoping for an award. I come here because I enjoy what I do and who I work with.
“My hope is that each one of the students here finds something that makes them happy,” Hendrickson added. “For me, just helping out the students and the staff makes me happy. Ensuring that their day goes better is the only award I need.”
