Tom Whalen, Assistant Coordinator of Outdoor Pursuits, wins 2010 Outstanding Staff Award

“He’s here for the students. That’s what really struck me. That’s what he’s psyched to do.” So says Brett Davis, coordinator of Fort Lewis College’s Outdoor Pursuits program, about Assistant Coordinator Tom Whalen. “His passion and his strength is really educating students.”

Mr. Whalen has spent decades working in the outdoors and, for the last ten years, he’s directed his wealth of experience toward teaching Fort Lewis College students about the environment around them.

“His experience level is unparalleled in terms of what we do in the outdoor industry,” says Mr. Davis. “It shows every day in the way he interacts with students and the way he works with colleagues.”

“The trials and tribulations that he’s been through personally, he brings that to the table and helps mentor students through their experiences,” says Jeff Dupont, the College’s director of Recreational Services.

The Fort Lewis College Outdoor Pursuits program has risen to become one of the premier recreational and educational programs in the region. That rise is due, in large part, to the efforts of Mr. Whalen.

For five months, while the program was in between coordinators, Mr. Whalen took on the responsibility of running Outdoor Pursuits himself. The program could have easily suffered, but it didn’t miss a beat. Nor was there a letdown during the potentially awkward period when he “trained” his new boss after Mr. Davis was hired.

Mr. Whalen involves himself in every aspect of Outdoor Pursuits, including the often tedious, behind-the-scenes organizational and logistical work. This attitude leads to much more work and responsibility for him, but making sure the students have a positive experience is, and always has been, his top priority.

One example of Mr. Whalen’s willingness to take on what needs to be done is his work to insure that Fort Lewis College can continue to utilize public lands as classrooms. Due to rising concerns over permits and the use of public lands, restrictions may someday be placed on organizations like the College as it tries to make use of the natural resources of this area. Such restrictions would cripple programs like Outdoor Pursuits as much of what they aspire to teach is done through experiential learning in the outdoors. Mr. Whalen has taken up the charge to make sure this doesn’t happen.

In a letter to the College, Mr. Davis stated that, “as the driving force for our peer Colorado institutions, Tom has spent countless hours on the phone with state officials and worked unwaveringly to bring together all involved agencies to help orchestrate a solution to this ever important issue.”

Another improvement that Mr. Whalen has helped bring to Outdoor Pursuits is the acquisition of a lease for a hut owned by the Colorado Trail Foundation. The hut is located in the backcountry near Lake City and is a perfect fit for a base camp for program trips and other projects.

Upon learning of the hut’s availability, he contacted the Colorado Trail Foundation and made them aware of the College’s interest in taking over the property’s lease. His efforts, combined with the efforts of others, have been instrumental throughout the College’s negotiations. If acquired, Outdoor Pursuits will take over management of the property during the summer of 2010.

“Tom’s done an amazing job here and he’s grown and helped this program, taking it to different levels,” says Mr. Davis. “It’s been really good for our students and really good for the College.”