Nominations Open in Tennant’s 5th Annual Custodians are Key Contest

Schools have many amazing staff members and teachers making a difference in kids' lives. At Tennant, we love to honor and recognize an often overlooked group: those who keep K-12 schools clean and safe so kids and others can better focus on learning. Through our Custodians Are Key contest, we have recognized custodians for more than just their cleaning skills.

And we are especially excited about our 2023-2024 school year, being the 5th annual Custodians Are Key contest. Reaching the five-year milestone in this extremely popular competition that celebrates unsung custodians across the U.S. and Canada is very rewarding for all of us at Tennant.

We launched this competition in 2018 to recognize rock-start custodians and every year we receive so many worthy nominees. Over the years, there have been thousands of nominations and we have chosen four grand prize winners and dozens of finalists. Now, we are doing it all again.

Nominate your custodian here by October 31, 2023. Finalists receive a $500 gift card. If your custodian is named the grand prize winner, they receive a prize valued at $5,000 for themselves, and your school receives $10,000.

Meet last year’s grand-prize winner

As one of 12 finalists who took the grand prize in the fourth annual Custodians are Key contest, Fabian Emery of Keith and Karen Hayes in Las Vegas had made a huge impact on the school just one year on the job. Every day, he was happily all-in to help in any situation, took extra time with students and their families and worked weekends if a project went unfinished during the work week.

Especially notable, Emery began his own incentive program for students, awarding them “Hero Grams” at lunch when he observed students helping others, earning respect, being mindful of safety and owning their behavior and education. Students admired Emery so much that there was a line to be the custodian’s helper for the day. As the top Custodians are Key winner, Emery chose a trip worth $5,000 to Los Cabos, Mexico and the school received $10,000 in a special ceremony.

Who will win the 5th annual custodians are key contest?

At this point it’s anyone’s guess who will become finalists and win the grand prize in the 2024 Custodians are Key contest. But if experience tells us anything, we will receive so many outstanding nominees that it will be a challenge to narrow it down. Nominations are being accepted from September 12 through October 31, 2023. After that time, Tennant’s judging committee will have the distinct pleasure of reading nominations and making our selections.

If you have a stand-out custodian that you would like to be considered for this recognition, go ahead and fill out the nomination form online. Your custodian will appreciate your efforts and who knows … they could be among this year’s finalists or even become the grand-prize winner!

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