Although you may not know his name, he is unarguably the most important member of Bowling Green High School’s staff. He arrives at school at 5:30 a.m. before anyone else. He turns the lights on, unlocks the doors, and gets the building ready for the day, and some days he’s here as late as 8 at night. His name is Kenny.
Born in Daviess County and raised by a single mother, his childhood was the definition of humble. His janitorial career began in 1994 while he was working in construction with his uncle. He was in need of a part time job to work in the winter, and his friend was able to get a job as a sub custodian at Daviess County schools. Before he started at Bowling Green, he worked at Muhlenberg County for five years.
When asked his favorite part of working here, he said it is “getting to know the kids,” because he gets to see people evolve over the course of their high school experience.
“He is always really nice and he’s really cool” said Carlos Quintanilla, a senior at BGHS. Seniors, like Quintanilla, and freshmen alike benefit from Kenny’s diligent work every day. From clean classrooms to a tidy commons, Kenny organizes and helps execute the maintenance plan at school each day. While behind the scenes, his work positively influences us all.
Kenny’s impact transcends time and place. Former BGHS teacher Lindsey Houchin said, “One of the hardest things about leaving (BGHS) was telling Kenny. That was because he went out of his way to get to know me as a person and encourage me by reflecting the value he placed on me.” Kenny, according to Houchin, at times cares more for the teachers’ well being than they do themselves. “He’s simply the best,” she said.
Kenny’s mop is his paintbrush and the floor is the canvas. His assortment of brooms, vacuums, and buckets are equivalent to the instruments that any other artist would use. We would do well to show more respect and appreciation for Kenny and all of the other custodians that keep our school in pristine condition.
By Michael Stockton
Born in Daviess County and raised by a single mother, his childhood was the definition of humble. His janitorial career began in 1994 while he was working in construction with his uncle. He was in need of a part time job to work in the winter, and his friend was able to get a job as a sub custodian at Daviess County schools. Before he started at Bowling Green, he worked at Muhlenberg County for five years.
When asked his favorite part of working here, he said it is “getting to know the kids,” because he gets to see people evolve over the course of their high school experience.
“He is always really nice and he’s really cool” said Carlos Quintanilla, a senior at BGHS. Seniors, like Quintanilla, and freshmen alike benefit from Kenny’s diligent work every day. From clean classrooms to a tidy commons, Kenny organizes and helps execute the maintenance plan at school each day. While behind the scenes, his work positively influences us all.
Kenny’s impact transcends time and place. Former BGHS teacher Lindsey Houchin said, “One of the hardest things about leaving (BGHS) was telling Kenny. That was because he went out of his way to get to know me as a person and encourage me by reflecting the value he placed on me.” Kenny, according to Houchin, at times cares more for the teachers’ well being than they do themselves. “He’s simply the best,” she said.
Kenny’s mop is his paintbrush and the floor is the canvas. His assortment of brooms, vacuums, and buckets are equivalent to the instruments that any other artist would use. We would do well to show more respect and appreciation for Kenny and all of the other custodians that keep our school in pristine condition.
By Michael Stockton