by Alana Laanui |
The new Beauchamp Recreation and Wellness Center has brought more additions than just a new building and equipment. In fact, there are two new staff members that contribute to the Beauchamp’s atmosphere in very different ways: Wallace Panel, a janitor, and Nathan Hingley, the new Outdoor Pursuits Program (OPP) manager.
Panel, or “Wally,” as students and staff affectionately call him, started working at the University over the summer and has quickly become known for the wide smile on his face and his willingness to start a pickup game of basketball. Although Panel was born in Portland, he grew up in Los Angeles, California, where he was a member of the highest ranked high school basketball team at the time. He later came to UP and played on the basketball team as a freshman, but later returned home to finish his degree.
“In my freshman year I got homesick and left,” Panel said. “It’s one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made. I should have stayed.”
Panel’s connection to UP can be traced back even further. His father, Wallace Panel Sr., attended the University and played on both the basketball and baseball teams — he was recently inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame. So, when Panel decided to move back to Portland to reconnect with his roots a few years ago, he decided to look for a job on campus.
“The University pays me, but I work for the students,” Panel said, noting that his favorite part of working at the Recreation Center is the daily interactions he has with students with great attitudes and athleticism.
Much like Panel, Hingley said he’s looking forward to sharing his knowledge with students through OPP.
When Hingley isn’t honing his skills in the great outdoors, he can be found in the new OPP office, tucked in the back of the Beauchamp.
Hingley’s passion for outdoor education has taken him all over the world. Originally from England, Hingley traveled to Indonesia at the age of 18, where he worked in the community and assisted on research projects with a student group. He has also followed his career path to Canada, the Caribbean and finally, Portland.
Hingley hopes to expand the kinds of trips offered by the program and eventually, be able to work with other departments on campus.
“It’s a dream job,” Hingley said. “It’s everything that I thought it would be and more.”
Alana Laanui is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at laanui18@up.edu or on Twitter @AlanaLaanui.
