You may not know his name, but chances are you know who he is.

For the past 30 years, David Chavez has been cruising the campus in his cart, smiling, waving and conversing with the students. He also cleans up after them.

“I try to do my part and create a good friendly atmosphere for the students,” Chavez said.

“When they know who their custodian is they’re more aware and considerate of what they do and we can work together.”

It seems as though Chavez is doing more than keeping our campus spotless. He goes out of his way to add an extra sparkle to students’ days.

“Almost every morning, when my friend and I walk to class he takes the time to say good morning to us,” said student Airica Prange.

Chavez leaves any stress and problems that may exist in his personal life at home. When he is at work, he is there to do his job and enjoy the day.

“I try to have a positive outlook on each day and spread that attitude to the students,” he said.

“When he takes the time to say hello to me it really brightens my day,” said student Sophie Gosetto. “It makes me feel special like I’m not just another face in the crowd.”

Some students may find it odd having a stranger be so outgoing and friendly to them.

But Chavez is sincere.

“At first I was surprised and thought it was a little weird,” said student Amanda Iacovetta. “But it’s made me realize just how indifferent the world can be; something as simple as a smile can make a difference.”

Chavez’s favorite part of his job is communicating with the students.

“I love hearing about their lives and their goals,” he said. Student Megan Alldis described him as a “jolly spirit.”

Chavez graduated from City College in 1988 with an associate’s degree in administrative justice, criminology and penology, adding to his personal investment and belief in City College as an institution.

“Kids come from all over the world because they want a change and they know that SBCC is a good school and has a lot to offer them,” he said.

“It’s the best faculty that I’ve ever encountered,” he explained. Chavez seems to care about the students and City College as a whole.

“When you work for an institution you’ve got to help create a positive environment,” he said. “The most important thing is realizing that we are all human and that we co-exist together-students, teachers, and faculty.”

Life for Chavez is not all work and no play. The father of two is truly a man of the great outdoors.

He enjoys camping, hiking hunting, and fishing.

Chavez also spends a great deal of his time outside of City College contributing to the greater good of the community.

He’s involved with a variety of organizations.

He is a union representative for the California State Employees Association, a union for classified staff and a member of the Political Action Coordination.

“I feel it is important to give back to the community because it has given a lot to me,” he said.

Next time you see him, you may take the time to smile back and wave at the man who helps keep our campus clean and add a little extra sheen to his day.