Considering campus has almost 2,000 acres of land, the task of keeping it safe, clean and accessible to faculty and students is a year-round job that takes countless hours and people.

Ever wonder how the sidewalks on campus are cleared for your walk to 8 a.m. classes after a huge snowstorm, or how trees that once blocked your route to class after strong winds are suddenly gone?

This is the work of Campus Services. Christopher Ellis, a motor vehicle operator for the department, is a part of the process, through driving the garbage truck and helping with other jobs.

In Thomas A. Gaines’ book, “The Campus as a Work of Art,” the ISU campus was rated one of the 25 most beautiful campuses in America.

Some criteria Gaines used to evaluate campuses are architectural quality and their overall appearance.

Ellis, who has been with Campus Services for three years, is part of the reason for the high rating.

“My favorite part of working here is just being a part of the team,” Ellis said.

Prior to working at Iowa State, he worked in waste management and automotive sales in Ames and throughout Story County.

Ellis’ duties include driving the garbage truck three days a week, welding and helping with various other projects during the rest of the week.

In the winter, Ellis has the never-ending job of shoveling and moving snow. He said he gets calls at all hours of the day for snow removal.

“If they call at two in the morning, I have to go into work,” Ellis said.

According to the Campus Services Web site, there are more than 300 trash receptacles around campus that need cleared on a weekly basis, which is how Ellis spends every Monday.

On Tuesday and Friday his route goes from the Administrative Services Building to the Extension 4-H Youth Building, before he heads north to Frederiksen Court.

After emptying the garbage at the more than 20 Frederiksen buildings, he goes to the Veenker Memorial Golf Course and Schilletter Village.

Even though emptying trash may seem like a job full of surprises, Ellis hasn’t come across too many.

He said one of the strangest things to happen to him was being surprised by a raccoon.

“I scared him just as much as he scared me.” Ellis said.

Ellis’ wife, Julie, is also employed by Iowa State. She works as a veterinary hospital assistant.

They have two children and live in Nevada. In his free time, Ellis enjoys camping, spending time with his family and watching sports, especially racing.