Tennant Company Announces Grand Prize Winner in Fifth Annual Custodians Are Key Program

Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC), a world leader in designing, manufacturing, and marketing solutions to reinvent how the world cleans, today announced the grand-prize winner in its 2023-2024 Custodians Are Key program. From a field of more than 1,700 nominations and 12 finalists, Izet S., a custodian at Saint Ambrose on the Hill Catholic School in Missouri, won the top prize. A celebration at the school took place on Friday, May 10, 2024, where Tennant honored the winning custodian and school with a $15,000 prize package.

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Tennant Company awards Izet Subasic and St. Ambrose on the Hill Grand Prize Award (Photo: Business Wire)

“Izet’s dedication and service to the school in his care show exactly why Custodians Are Key,” said Dave Huml, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tennant. “His contributions illustrate the essential role custodians play in our communities, and we are proud to celebrate his well-deserved recognition — along with the rest of our finalists this year and all the custodians who work every day to make shared spaces clean, safe, and welcoming. At Tennant, we are proud to support schools like St. Ambrose and individuals like Izet in their dedication to ensure a positive learning environment for students, faculty, and staff.”

Izet was nominated by fourth-grade teacher Emily Elmore. Izet's story exemplifies the very essence of the program — going above and beyond to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students and staff. Ms. Elmore's Custodians Are Key submission paints a heartwarming picture of Izet's dedication that extends far beyond keeping the school clean.

Elmore noted that Izet is originally from Bosnia and worked hard to learn English, often with the help of the school’s students. He was “beaming ear to ear” when he passed the U.S. citizenship test and voted in his first election — proudly wearing his “I Voted” sticker throughout the halls of St. Ambrose.

Every year, Elmore invites Izet to her classroom as a guest speaker to share his story of immigration and hardship to teach students what freedom in the U.S. truly means. He connects with students on a personal level, too, playing soccer with them at recess, engaging in friendly arm-wrestling matches, and receiving countless hugs from younger students. He's even the assistant coach for one of the eighth-grade soccer teams!