Kevin Trees has observed Taylor University’s history of community for over two decades.
Trees is a custodian in Samuel Morris Hall and has worked at Taylor for 21 years, from supply delivery to housekeeping manager to custodian.
He has always lived within a mile of Taylor, having grown up on a farm in the north of Upland. Today, he, his wife and two daughters continue to live on the farm, running a sanctuary for both rescued and unwanted animals.
Trees also runs the goat show at the Grant County fair.
He was the manager of housekeeping during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, the institution was considering outsourcing the housekeeping department, which eventually, the decision was not moved forward with.
“I decided I like serving the students and Taylor more in capacity than being a manager, and I’m not really an office-type person,” Trees said.
After Trees stepped down from his manager role, he worked in Bergwall Hall.
Next, he moved to Samuel Morris.
“It’s been great,” Trees said. “The guys treat me very well. I have a really great bunch of guys here, and they treat me so good. And it’s just been my pleasure to serve them as well as I can. I think God put me here for a reason.”
Trees enjoys greeting students in the morning and afternoon. He’s constantly aware and observant of students’ days and how they’re doing. If he sees a student struggling, he will try to encourage them.
One of Trees’s favorite open houses is Samuel Morris’ annual haunted house. He appreciates that the students clean up well after themselves, making his job easier.
Students had come up with an idea for an activity called Seven with Kevin, where they have conversations with him in the lobby. He brings snacks, and they ask him questions about anything. He also asks them questions to get to know them better.
When the weather permits it, Trees takes some of the students out to his farm.
“It’s kind of fun because some of them were from the city,” Trees said. “They’ve never really been around animals that much. I asked one guy if he needed some horse therapy. So he was petting my horses. They guy really liked our goats, so he spent a lot of time petting the goats and he enjoyed it.”
Trees enjoys seeing the students reading their Bibles in the lobby and talking about spiritual points in their lives. He frequently joins them in prayer.
One of his favorite stories from his time at Taylor is when he told a co-worker about a groundhog he found in his yard. While trying to shoot the groundhog, it started chasing him. When he told the co-worker, the story quickly spread all over campus.
“Taylor is a really good place to work,” Trees said. “I recommend it to anybody. There’s not very many places where you work that you hear the bell tower going off. It’s always something, especially in the summer. There’s just a lot of good people here, a lot of good Christian people, a lot of dedicated people.”
Trees has a sign in his closet he likes to show to others that says ‘If you stay vertical and focused and ask God for help, you’d be amazed how much you can get done.’
Trees lives up to this by asking God what he should do each day, and claims he is answered through his service.
