Add as a preferred source on Google

Tennant Company Awards Grand Prize in "Custodians Are Key" Contest

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 07/06/20

Tennant Company, a leader in the cleaning industry, announced the grand prize winner in their inaugural “Custodians Are Key” contest. The contest launched in September and recognizes the work of K-12 custodians around the country. Kris Kantor of Hayes Elementary in Lakewood, Ohio is the grand prize winner and will receive a prize valued $5,000, while his school receives $10,000.

The 8-month long award program recognized 12 finalists chosen from more than 2,000 nominations from across the U.S. A committee of judges selected finalists and the winner based on the quality of the nomination and the impact the custodian makes on their school.

“We had so many amazing nominees for this contest, which made it challenging to whittle down to 12 finalists, much less identify a single person to win the grand prize. Kris Kantor’s clear devotion to students and staff is what gave him the edge.” said Lisa Hrpcek, Channel Marketing Manager, Tennant Company.  “There’s never been a more important time to herald the important work these heroes like Kris and the other nominees undertake for our schools.”

Kantor was nominated by school health aide Maureen Yantek. He’s described as “fastidious about organization and cleanliness” and makes an effort to learn everyone’s name at his school. Kantor created a program called “Kids with Kantor” where he works with students on special projects once a week during his lunch hour, building bird houses and decorative boxes while teaching kids about safety, tool use and teamwork.

“Kris lives by the motto that he has painted outside his office: ‘work smarter not harder.’” Yantek said. “This enables him to get his regular job duties completed efficiently and effectively, which leaves him time to engage with others. What truly sets Kris apart is the respect and kindness he shows to all students, faculty, and staff.”

The second annual “Custodians Are Key” will kick off September 15, 2020. Find out how to nominate a custodian at tennantco.com/custodian.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

  • Anderson Brulé Architects Rebrands as ABA Studios

    Anderson Brulé Architects, based in San Jose, Calif., recently announced that it is celebrating 40 years of service by rebranding under a new name, according to a news release. The architectural, interior design, and planning firm will now be known as ABA Studios to refresh its identity underneath a new generation of leadership.

  • Empowering People Through Smart, Sustainable Campuses

    Sustainability is facing increasing scrutiny, with some questioning its costs and priorities. Yet for universities, it remains an essential driver of resilience, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that sustainable transformation is not just about reducing energy consumption and emissions to comply with tightening regulations ‒ it’s about creating vibrant, comfortable environments where people can thrive, innovate and connect. For university leadership, this is a complex balancing act, with rising energy costs and limited budgets only adding to the challenge.

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

Digital Edition