Tim Kennedy, Director of Communication Services and Sports Information at Gustavus Adolphus College, has been named the 2010 recipient of the Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The Kenworthy Award is named after former Gettysburg College sports information director Bob Kenworthy and is presented annually to a CoSIDA member for civic involvement and accomplishments outside of the sports information office. Kennedy will accept the honor at the CoSIDA Convention on Tuesday, July 6 in San Francisco.
Kennedy, a 1982 alumnus of Gustavus and a native of Moline, Ill., has served as the College’s sports information director since 1990. Besides handling media relations duties for 25 varsity sports at the College, Kennedy is active within Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Peter Public Schools, and St. Peter youth sports.
“Without question he is the finest representation of community service and selflessness I have seen during my time in the community,” said St. Peter High School Principal Paul Peterson. “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.”
He has served multiple terms on the Trinity church council, served as president of the congregation, and led a pastoral search. He has also served as a worship leader, Sunday school teacher, vacation bible school teacher, and faith mentor for confirmands. Kennedy also led a youth mission trip to Wyoming in 2006, driving an old school bus full of junior high youth to help 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.
When Kennedy returned to Gustavus as an employee, he served as a sports information intern (1984-85), an admission counselor (1985-86), and as head women’s soccer coach for three years (1986-89). He also served as the Gusties’ head women’s basketball coach from 1987-92, posting a 74-52 record.
Since taking the reins as sports information director in 1990, he has assembled a large student work force and created a graduate assistant program through nearby Minnesota State University, Mankato that has helped numerous students land jobs in the sports information field. 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 Huber to travel to China for treatments and made regular visits to Iowa before Huber’s passing in July 2008. Kennedy has also served on countless campus committees including a recent presidential search. He has formed Bible study groups for Gustavus staff and was recognized with the Eric Norelius Outstanding Administrator Award in 2002.
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 also “adopted” elderly widows from the local church and hosted three foreign exchange students.
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