Skip to main content
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

  • URI Cuts Underwater Ribbon on New Ocean Robotics Laboratory

    The University of Rhode Island recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at its Narragansett Bay Campus, according to a news release. Two students used a remotely operated vehicle to cut an underwater ribbon in a 30-by-20-foot test tank.

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Barbara Vick Western Branch has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.