November 26, 2007
Pendergast-White wins employee honor
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Pendergast-White, of Charleston, earned the award for October. A four-year employee of Recreational Sports and Services, he's a graduate assistant in the outdoor adventure program and works with the base camp and climbing wall. The son of Althea Pendergast and Randy White, Pendergast-White is pursuing his master's degree in forestry.
"Ian is a staff member that you can always trust," said Corné Prozesky, assistant director of facilities for Recreational Sports and Services. "He never shies away from a challenge and is always ready to lend a helping hand, even when his plate is overflowing. He is the consummate team player and is a great example for all of our staff. I am very proud to be able to be a part of his educational process."
Pendergast-White is considering furthering his education with a doctorate. He plans to either continue working with University-based outdoor programs or seek a career with a government agency that will utilize his climbing prowess.
Earlier this fall, he led the rescue of three teenage Boy Scouts stranded on a large freestanding rock formation in the Shawnee National Forest. It was just the latest rescue effort for the man who has spent three summers on the wilderness field staff for a youth-at-risk program in Wyoming. Pendergast-White enjoys rappelling, rock-climbing and other outdoor activities, has twice climbed to the summit of the Grand Tetons and experienced numerous other outdoor adventures.