Allan Stuchenko
President's Service Award - Spring 2012
Allan Stuchenko is a sheet metal worker, and a very talented one at that, but it is his gift for thinking, and working “outside the box” that make him a very worthy recipient of the President’s Service Award in 2012.
Mr. Stuchenko joined the Facilities Management Division 26 years ago and has built a reputation across campus as someone who is always willing and very able to tackle any challenge. On any given day, he might be found building a venting system for a fume hood, replacing a furnace chimney, fabricating a new floor for a freight elevator or bending custom seed trays. All of these tasks, and many more, reflect Mr. Stuchenko’s love of the University of Saskatchewan and his commitment to providing the best possible environment for the people who study and work here.
When a really tricky situation arises, it is Mr. Stuchenko who gets the call. One of his nominators related the story of a stubborn water leak in a drain that forced the closure of a swimming pool on campus. It was not a job for a sheet metal worker, but it was a job for Mr. Stuchenko. He not only came up with an ingenious solution to stop the leak, he fabricated the tools needed to do the job. It is generally recognized among tradespeople, the mechanical engineers and the technologists on campus that if Mr. Stuchenko can’t build it, it probably can’t be built.
His simple, elegant and innovative solutions are what have earned Mr. Stuchenko the admiration and respect of his colleagues, and made him an indispensable member of the University of Saskatchewan community. He is a true team player, a man willing to start early and stay late, someone who is open to working with anyone to solve any problem, all in the name of maintaining and improving the University of Saskatchewan.
His reputation has spread beyond the facilities division; it would not be unusual to find students from the College of Engineering in Mr. Stuchenko’s shop seeking his help with difficult projects. The students know Mr. Stuchenko is an outstanding innovator, and in turn, he appreciates their creativity. Together they have found remarkable solutions and built lasting friendships.
Mr. Stuchenko’s generosity extends to his co-workers. Renowned for his delightful sense of humour, he is always happy to be the cook at staff barbecues and is noted within the division for sharing the produce he grows and the chickens he raises on his acreage near Saskatoon.
The President’s Service Award recognizes individuals who enhance the work environment through dedication and commitment, and few do that better than Allan Stuchenko.
