School Custodian Honored for Heroism

A custodian at Los Lunas Elementary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is being called a hero after helping a student who suffered from an allergic reaction, reports channel KOB 4.

Custodian Gabriel Luna was at work when he noticed students acting differently at a nut-free table in the lunchroom. He jumped into action, taking a girl who was having a reaction to the school nurse.

Penny Valdez with Los Lunas Elementary School told KOB 4 that Luna is the type of person to go “above and beyond” at his job. “He is our hero,” she said.

Los Lunas Elementary School Principal Eric Tiger and Valdez wanted to recognize Luna for not only keeping the school facilities clean and safe, but also going beyond to get to know the students and staff and keep them safe. They recommended Luna to KOB 4 for the station’s “Pay it 4ward” segment and a television crew came to the school to highlight his heroism and honor him with $400.

Luna said that it was just another day on the job for him. “That’s what I’m here for. I don’t think of it any other way, it’s for the kids,” he told KOB 4.