Gustavus Adolphus’ Tim Kennedy embodies the spirit of the CoSIDA Bob Kenworthy Award
by Jim Strick
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - One might think Tim Kennedy’s task balancing the media relations duties for 25 sports at Gustavus Adolphus College would be enough to keep him busy. But Kennedy’s job can be considered almost a hobby for someone whose true passions are serving the 10,000-person community of St. Peter in southern Minnesota.
Kennedy has served Gustavus Adolphus far beyond his media relations position and also is extremely active within Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Peter Public Schools and St. Peter youth sports.
For his efforts, Kennedy has been recognized as the recipient of the Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He will receive the award during the CoSIDA Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, July 6, at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in San Francisco, Calif.
The honor is presented annually to a CoSIDA member for their civic involvement and accomplishments outside of the sports information office. The award is named after Bob Kenworthy, the longtime sports information director at Gettysburg.
“Without question he is the finest representation of community service and selflessness I have seen during my time in the community,” St. Peter High School Principal Paul Peterson said. “Rather than be a passive observer, Tim invests himself completely in community-based projects that are of service to others, and add to the quality of life for adults and children in St. Peter. He really is a role model for so many of our parents and citizens of St. Peter as far as being engaged in your community.”
Kennedy has served multiple terms on the church council, served as president of the congregation and also led a recent pastoral search. He has helped as a worship leader, Sunday school teacher, vacation bible school teacher, and faith mentor for confirmands.
Kennedy led a youth mission trip to Wyoming in 2006, driving an old school bus full of junior high youth to revitalize a poverty-stricken community. Within the school district, Kennedy has been involved with a long-range facilities task force, a curriculum program review and a successful school referendum committee.
He has served on numerous youth sports boards and coached youth basketball and softball. He has been a member of the St. Peter Lions Club and was involved in helping build a playground at the St. Peter Community Center while also helping with a hospice fundraising committee.
At Gustavus Adolphus, Kennedy has served on countless campus committees, including a recent presidential search. He formed Bible study groups and was recognized with the Eric Norelius Administrative Service Award in 2002 for contributions to the school outside of his normal duties.
Kennedy is in his 24th year at Gustavus Adolphus and coached the Gusties’ women’s basketball team from 1987-92, posting a 74-52 record. He has assembled a massive student work force and created a graduate assistant program through nearby Minnesota State University in Mankato that has combined to help numerous students begin careers in sports information.
One of those former students was Nick Huber, who served as sports information director at Buena Vista University from 2004-07 while battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Kennedy led an effort to raise money for Nick to travel to China for treatments and made regular visits to Iowa before Nick’s passing in July 2008.
Along with all of his activities, Kennedy’s main priority has always been his wife, Mary, and their two daughters, Maggie and Lydia. He and his family have “adopted” elderly widows from the local church and hosted three foreign exchange students.