Dick Wardyn, grounds services supervisor for UNK Facilities Management and Planning, received the University of Nebraska Board of Regents KUDOS award during the Aug. 13 meeting.
KUDOS awards recognize university staff for their professional expertise, service and “superior dedication” to UNK and the University of Nebraska. It is the university’s top staff award.
Wardyn is originally from Litchfield, but UNK feels as much like home. He’s worked here since March 1995.
As grounds supervisor, Wardyn oversees the care and maintenance of all campus landscape and hardscape. With approximately 180 acres of developed land and more than 1,100 trees, that requires significant dedication.
Wardyn leads the grounds team in daily operations such as mowing, trimming and chemical application; tree installation and maintenance; turf repair and irrigation; planting bed and equipment upkeep; snow and ice removal; sidewalk installation and repair; landscape project design and review; and trash and recycling removal.
Recently, he took on the added responsibilities of interim building and grounds services manager. In that position, he oversees carpentry, painting and locksmith services for UNK’s roughly 2 million square feet of building space, coordinates maintenance construction projects and supervises automotive maintenance for more than 60 vehicles.
All of this adds up to a hefty job description, but he covers it like a pro.
A Loper sports fan, Wardyn’s most gratifying projects have been working with UNK Athletics on the installation of field turf at Foster Field and bleachers at the Health and Sports Center.
“In Facilities Management, we are faced with new and challenging obstacles every day. I can always depend on Dick to navigate those challenges thoroughly and effectively. I am truly thankful to have him on our team,” said Michael Cremers, interim director of Facilities Management and Planning.
Prior to joining UNK, Wardyn worked for IBM in Tucson, Arizona, for 12 years.
