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From a young age when he attended St. Casimir’s School in Wells, Konrad Hawkinson was identified as someone who was going to make a difference in his community.

At that age, he was awarded the Ben Bushlack Scholarship, created by Bushlack’s family as a memorial scholarship to students who exhibit qualities of a strong, faith-filled life, give of their selves to others and have a love for the educational environment.

Those same sentiments have carried through to adulthood, where Hawkinson now works in a visible role in the community as he helps plan community events and as an administrative assistant for the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and Albert Lea Economic Development Agency.

He was hired in the role three years ago.

Hawkinson, 26, also owns a building in Wells that houses the community’s gym, The Grind Fitness Center, which he oversees, as well as a few other rental units in the home he grew up in.

He said at a young age, he learned from his mother, Angel, the importance of being kind to others, of being humble and being outgoing in his endeavors. His mother, who lives in Freeborn, continues to be an inspiration to him.

After attending St. Casimir’s for his primary education, Hawkinson went to high school at United South Central and graduated in 2016, after which he attended Riverland for two years and earned an Associate of Arts in web development.

He said having an open-ended degree helped him be more flexible in his opportunities.

After working for a few years at Wells Concrete, he worked for a brief period at KBEW in Blue Earth in sales, before applying for the job in Albert Lea.

He said the CVB, chamber and ALEDA interviewed him at the same time, which he admits was a little overwhelming, and he was ultimately hired.

“The joke was always help out where I can,” he said, noting that the job has evolved through the years. He estimates 75% of his time is spent with efforts tied to the CVB, while 25% is spent on other administrative duties that overlap the three organizations.

He said he is grateful to the people around him.

“I knew that I am an outgoing and humble person, but I didn’t realize how many others like me there are out there,” he said. “There are a lot of nice people in our community who want to help people out.”

Of all the events he has helped to coordinate since his arrival, Hawkinson said he was proud to be a part of Albert Lea’s first pride event.

“That was really big,” he said, not only for his friends in the area but also his friends in the Twin Cities who came down to attend.

“It was exciting to be involved in something like that — to push forward and remind the young people that we can enjoy the rural areas still,” he said.

He also enjoyed planning the polka party and Oktoberween, which incorporated many volunteer hours and included everything from creating a website to building.

“Konrad’s bright and helpful energy transfers into his other work, not just behind the desk or answering questions that come into the office,” said Holly Babcock, executive director with the CVB. “With event planning, especially community events like ours, it takes being creative and caring to ensure events are all-encompassing. He’s been able to quickly grasp what it takes to be a great event and has taken what he’s learned quickly and translated that into the planning and execution stages. I think he gets just as much pride and joy seeing all the planning and effort come together on event day as I do. It’s so rewarding to watch him grow.”

Hawkinson said Babcock and Bob Furland with Albert Lea Recreation have been influential to him in his role and said they have provided him the tools and resources to be involved on a community level.

“If not for them, I wouldn’t be as helpful as I am now,” he said. “What started out as ‘Helping where I can’ has blossomed into amazing connections and future opportunities.”

When asked why he stays in the area he grew up in, Hawkinson said he thinks it is easier for him to contribute here.

“I find that contributing on a local level is far more impactful than — I’m sorry — complaining on the internet,” he said. “It’s just so much more impactful to be able to get involved on the ground floor,” he said.

Looking ahead to the coming year, he said he is excited to continue to work toward beautifying downtown Albert Lea.

He said he is definitely interested in some day purchasing his own building in Albert Lea.

Aside from his full-time job, Hawkinson volunteers as a mentor to an Albert Lea High School student, who he sees every week.

He also teaches blockchain online from 6 to 8 p.m. a few days a week as a top-rated ambassador with the Super Prof platform. That opportunity has helped him connect with people from around the world.