Tennant Company Announces Grand Prize Winner Of Custodians Are Key Program

Tennant Company has announced the grand prize winner in its fourth annual Custodians Are Key program. This eight-month-long recognition campaign rewards the great work custodians are doing in K-12 schools, and honors the winning custodian and their school with a $15,000 prize package. This year’s finalists were chosen from a field of nearly 1,400 nominations from around the U.S. and Canada.

This year’s winner is Fabian Emery, of Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School, in Las Vegas, NV. Emery received a prize valued at $5,000, while Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School received $10,000.

“We were so impressed with this year’s nominees,” Tennant Company CEO Dave Huml said. “Nomination after nomination detailed the many ways these custodians are making a real difference in their schools and in their communities. It’s clear that school custodians are keeping their schools beautifully clean and are an integral part of their school community. Our congratulations to Fabian as one of the thousands of superheroes in our schools, and we at Tennant are honored to celebrate and reward that.”

Emery was nominated by Michelle Thom, assistant principal of Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School. Thom shared that Emery has an “all-in” mentality, going above and beyond to help in any situation with a positive attitude and a smile on his face.

“At Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School we are the Home of the Heroes, and our custodian, Fabian Emery, exemplifies this daily,” Thom said in her nomination. “He is one of the hardest working individuals who I know, and often goes above and beyond to help in any situation. Mr. Fabian will find a way to get it done.”

A surprise celebration with students, staff, treats, banners, and a giant $10,000 check was planned at Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary on May 17, where Emery learned he was the winner of the Custodians Are Key contest.

Other finalists in this year’s contest were: Judy Preete, of Indus School in Indus, Alberta, Canada; Keith Venable, of Shallowater ISD in Ransom Canyon, TX; Cristhian Cardona, of Abraham Mallinson Elementary School in Sugar Creek, MO; Angela Russell, of The Benedictine School in Ridgely, MD; Matthew Tanel, of St. Edmund Campion School in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; Andrea Wallin, of Northview Intermediate School in Kodak, TN; Eric Cardinal, of Pleasant Street School in Laconia, NH; Rich Kinstetter, of Kewaunee High School in Kewaunee, WI; Doreen Merritt, of Elms Elementary School in Jackson, NJ; Kenny Wilson, of Avalon Middle School in Milton, FL; and Daniel Arredondo, of Amistad High School in Indio, CA. Each finalist received a $500 gift card and a chance to win the grand prize.

Visit tennantco.com/custodian to learn more about Tennant Company’s Custodians Are Key program.