Patti Kruser has been a custodian at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for two years and has made connections with students and faculty. Kruser currently works at William’s Fieldhouse and previously worked in Doudna Hall during the night shift, but she said that she enjoys the athletic center more.
“Everyone is just so happy,” Kruser said. “They just get done working out and they are in a feel-good mood. Students and faculty are just happy all the time here.”
Kruser is from Waterford, Wis. and attended Waterford Union High School, which helped her build connections with students from the area. She explains how she will see people with T-shirts on from towns she recognizes and she is not afraid to reach out to those students and strike up a conversation about their town and where they are from.
“I’ll see kids wearing shirts from Burlington and other places and ask them if that is where they are from because that is where my grandson is from.” Kruser said. “You just never know how you could be connected to somebody.”
Kruser used to exercise at the facility before she worked there which helped build great friendships.
“People joke to me that I have regulars; students that I see numerous times a day and I know them on a first name basis. All students are different and it is great to really get to know them,” Kruser said.
Kruser said everyone in the facility pays attention to each other, whether they are faculty, students or someone who uses the gym.
“Some places you work, people don’t even acknowledge you. That doesn’t happen here,” Kruser said.