Going the extra mile

Mark Lockwood knows everyone. At about 8 a.m., he walks down the third-floor hallway of Teter-Boisen greeting groggy, pajama-clad residents. Lockwood says their names followed by “Good morning” or “Hello.”\n“I know people might be having a bad day sometimes, but I believe in the nice gesture of saying good morning,” Lockwood said.\nHowever, he doesn’t know the names of just one floor of students; he knows the names of students on about three floors.\nLockwood was recently the recipient of the Residential Programs and Services Kudos Award. The awards program, currently in its second year, allows students or co-workers to nominate an exemplary RPS staff member, said Steve Akers, associate director of environmental operations.\n“Mark really goes above and beyond,” Akers said. “He is almost like an RA in the fact that he’s there if people need help, but he’s a custodian. He has adopted the floors almost like a surrogate family ... He does a great job and he’s just a great guy.”\nLockwood said he has been a custodian at IU since January 1995 when he transferred to Bloomington from Indianapolis. He spent four and a half years working in McNutt Quad and then moved to Wright Quad, where he spent only one month. After moving to Teter, he worked in several wings until he settled into working on half of Boisen’s second floor and all of the third and fourth floors. \nLockwood said he works from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. five days a week to make sure students have a clean living environment.\n“I believe in cleanliness and courtesy,” he said. “Some people don’t believe in courtesy and I do. You just don’t treat people like crap.”\nLockwood and his wife live with two 10-pound Chihuahuas named Maggie and Yoda, the latter affectionately dubbed for her “Star Wars”-inspired ears.\n“I found the dogs at Delilah’s over on 17th and College,” Lockwood said as he pulled a small, keychain frame with a photo of Maggie and Yoda out of his pants pocket. “I carry them everywhere I go.”\nLockwood flips through pictures in his wallet as he talks about his family and his job. Starting with Welcome Week, when students move into the dorms, he begins learning the names of every resident on his floors. \n“I look at the signs on the doors and just put it in the back of my mind,” he said, naming a handful of returning students. “I try to look ahead to the next year and find out who is going to be staying on the floor.” \nStudents appreciate Lockwood’s friendly personality and hard work.\n“Mark is very dedicated to his job,” said freshman Julia Stern. “He cares about what he does and he’s always willing to talk. He’s just a nice, cool guy.”\nIn the winter, Lockwood not only empties trash and stocks bathrooms, he plays Santa to the students on the floors he cleans. Before students leave for winter break, Lockwood leaves individually addressed red and green cards that read, “Merry Christmas” or “Seasons Greetings” outside of each student’s door. He has been preparing cards, occasionally topped with candy canes, each year since he began working at IU.\n“My grandma told me to do unto to people as you would have them do unto you,” Lockwood said. “When I took on this big thing, I thought, there are some kids who are not getting anything for Christmas, no presents or even a card.”\nAfter Christmas, Lockwood purchases cards for the following year. Every resident’s name and room number is on an envelope by the end of October.\n“Sometimes I’ll do candy canes and sometimes I won’t,” Lockwood said. “I always put out a card. They always think, ‘Mark remembered us,’ and I know people have remembered it all throughout college.”\nLockwood’s work philosophy is simple.\n“I believe in working hard and being honest,” he said.