The Honorary Student Award is presented to a Kirkwood Community College employee selected by students who believe the recipient goes above and beyond normal job responsibilities to provide meaningful support. This year, Austin Hutchcroft, custodian, received the award.
“It was surreal,” Hutchcroft said. “I didn’t think I would get something you could call prestigious. It just felt out of place for a while. It felt like I shouldn’t be the one who got it.”
The award is frequently given to faculty members who work with students on a daily basis. However, Hutchcroft goes out of his way to greet and chat with students while cleaning and maintaining campus, leaving a positive impact on many.
“It makes everyone’s day better with little conversations,” Hutchcroft said. “It makes it seem like a community. I’ll greet anyone who makes eye contact.”
Hutchcroft’s impact is attributed to brief conversations between point A and point B, which can be grounding for someone under stress.
“Most things don’t need more than a greeting. I’m surprised how many people say it means a lot to them. I have had a lot of students thank me for that,” Hutchcroft said.
Last year’s recipient, Andrew Freeman, director of Trio SSS Traditional, agreed it was a surreal experience to receive the award.
“It’s probably the highlight of my career because when you’re honored by the students, that means so much more,” Freeman said.
Freeman described the ceremony as a validating experience, with an auditorium full of Kirkwood staff recognizing one another’s accomplishments. He said he was delighted with this year’s recipient.
“I loved it. I know Austin — who doesn’t? He’s everywhere,” Freeman said.
“I feel like that’s one of the great things about this award. People recognize when there’s somebody who plays a supportive role here, and Austin does that,” he added.
The day-to-day work of a custodian allows time for solitude, which Hutchcroft said he appreciates. He enjoys being in the background, maintaining the campus and his relationships with staff and students alike.
He said he appreciates when students pick up after themselves, but the biggest challenge is anything biohazardous.
“I am able to clean stuff, do my job, make connections and chat with people,” Hutchcroft said.
Categories: Campus News, News
