Tennant Announces Fourth Round of Finalists in Custodians Are Key Contest

Tennant Co. has announced the fourth and final round of three finalists for its fourth-annual Custodians Are Key recognition program.

First launched in September 2019, the annual program recognizes the work K–12 custodians are doing in educational facilities across the United States. Parents, teachers, and school administrators were invited to nominate custodians for their efforts to provide students with a healthy and safe educational environment. Tennant has chosen a total of 12 finalists, who will each receive a US$500 gift card. The grand prize winner will be selected next month and receives a prize valued at $5,000 while his or her school receives $10,000. This year’s finalists were chosen from a field of nearly 1,400 nominations and can be viewed on Tennant’s website.

The latest round of finalists includes Doreen Merritt of Elms Elementary School in Jackson, New Jersey; Kenny Wilson of Avalon Middle School in Milton, Florida; and Daniel Arredondo of Amistad High School in Indio, California.

“We thought we had already seen all the best humanity had to offer in our first nine finalists this year,” said Amanda Herbert, Tennant senior marketing manager. “These last three finalists confirm what we’ve only scratched the surface. Our schools’ custodians are empathetic, selfless leaders who care deeply about their work and the communities they serve. We have a significant challenge ahead of us as we select only one grand prize winner from this impressive group of 12.”