How to vote
Voting for the Janitor of the Year contest can be done online at www.cintas.com/JOTY. Voting will continue through April 15. Visitors to the site can cast one vote per day. The website includes photo and biographies of the 10 finalists.
Bill Sanders never imagined being a janitor could be so much fun.
For the past decade, “Mr. Bill” Sanders has helped care for first the Menlo Park school, then Kitty Hawk school before moving with staff and students to the new Wright Brothers Elementary School.
“You would think that cleaning a school wouldn’t be such a good job but, when you work around these little kids, every day is different,” Sanders said. “They lift you up with the things you see and hear.”
His work and his approach to it caught not only the attention of school staff, but also the judges in the national Janitor of the Year contest sponsored by Cincinnati-based Cintas Corp.
Sanders was nominated by staff and selected as one of the top 10 finalists from 630 nominations in the competition. Online voting continues through April 15.
The winning janitor will receive $5,000 and the school will receive a $5,000 prize.
The nomination of Sanders had this to say about him:
“His upbeat personality is refreshing to both students and staff as he always has a kind, positive and thoughtful word, no matter what kind of day he is having. He also has the uncanny ability to know when teachers or students need their sprits lifted – whether with a simple friendly hello, a high-five or a special treat.”
Among Sanders’ characteristics pointed to in the nomination were his ability to whistle as he works while smiling at the same time and his donning of a gingerbread man suit in December for the children. He also delivers around 80 “Love in a Bag” weekend food packages on Fridays to help students who need a little extra food.
Sanders said his role in that project is minimal compared to the people at three churches — Sulphur Grove, New Seasons Ministry and Aldersgate — who put together the food packages.
Originally from the South Charleston, then Springfield and New Carlisle areas, Sanders lived in Tampa for 15 years working in sales before returning to the area. He lives in Bethel Twp., Miami County.
“Life is good here. We are like a family here,” Sanders, 58, said of the school. He said he “won’t take away from the messes they make” at the school, but said, “I have 600 grandkids here. It is amazing.”
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