Tennant Selects Winner of 2023 Custodians Are Key Contest

Tennant Co. has named Fabian Emery the grand prize winner of its fourth annual Custodians Are Key contest, which rewards the work custodians are doing in K–12 schools across North America.

Emery, a custodian at Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School in Las Vegas, was one of 12 finalists chosen from nearly 1,400 nominations from around the United States and Canada last fall. He will receive a US$15,000 prize package, which includes $5,000 for himself and $10,000 for his school.

“We were so impressed with this year’s nominees,” said Dave Huml, Tennant CEO. “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 Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School assistant principal Michelle Thom, who highlighted the custodian’s positive attitude. 

“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 that I know and often goes above and beyond to help in any situation. Mr. Fabian will find a way to get it done.”