WOODBURY — He’s the unseen hero of Nonnewaug’s ag program who only comes by at night. Mike Chilinski is so much more than just a custodian. He’s a caretaker, he’s self-driven, and apparently, he’s an expert at hide and seek.
“As the night custodian, he looks out for our animals when we are not there,” said Alyssa Gravel, a senior vet science student. “For example, we had lost a hamster, and Mike was the one to give us updates and even sift through the trash and find him.”
Not only does he look after the animals, but he creates a better environment for the animals.
“He’s that guy I can rely on. He gives the kittens and mother food before he leaves,” said Jesse Hungerford, an agriscience teacher. “He also helps me with odd jobs like setting up the axolotls. He cut all the PVC piping for that system.”
Chilinski is able to go above and beyond for the agricultural program and has no problem doing it. He even schedules to make time for the not-so-fun odd jobs around the small animal lab.
“If I hang a light holder for the reptiles, or shift through the garbage to find a hamster or find a goat in distress,” said Mike Chilinski, “I just clean faster so I can make time for these tasks.”
Chilinski makes it clear that he values the animals and is willing to work more efficiently to do everything for them. But he doesn’t do this as a favor; he truly enjoys it.
“When I first started working here, I worked over in the main building and it was like I had no purpose,” Chilinski said. “I didn’t like my job very much because I can’t stand back and say, ‘Wow, those floors are really clean.’ There was no reward but the paycheck. While working in the ag building and doing all those extra tasks, that’s what makes it worth coming to work. It gives me purpose.”
A custodian creating a job where he feels fulfilled by doing good for the agricultural program is remarkable. Many people don’t know all Chilinski does as he is a keep-to-himself kind of guy.
“He’ll pretty much just say hi to you,” said Jennifer Jedd, an agriscience teacher. “Then after about 20,000 times of saying hi, he will start a conversation with you.”
Chilinski may go without starting a conversation, but when you take the time for him to come to you, he’s pretty incredible.
“He’s a man of few words,” said Jedd, “but once you get to know him, he’s quite sweet.”
Chilinski may be a man of few words but doesn’t lack any character. He also doesn’t lack a herd of animals at home from the agriscience program. Chilinski adopted a kitten last year and has recently taken on a new project.
“I have 120 axolotls,” said Chilinski. “The last time they had eggs they really weren’t in a situation to keep them, so I said, ‘I’ll take ‘em.’”
Chilinski has invested time into taking care of animals now inside and outside of work. He has become immersed in the ag program and all it has to offer.
Teachers and students are grateful for all he goes above and beyond for. He is reliable and solution-oriented when it comes to anything in the ag building.
“If we ever have a problem and he doesn’t think of an answer right away,” said Jedd, “he will come up with it by tomorrow.”
Chiliski has done more than necessary for the ag program but there once was a time when he wasn’t even considering coming to ag. Luckily, he had a change of heart and the program is eternally grateful for him.
“I worked over in the main building before here,” said Chilinski, “and all the custodians talked bad about the ag building that it was messy and gross. I was reluctant to come over here but I did and I love it.”
