After tabulating more than 100,000 votes, Cintas Corporation named Patrick Peterson of North Valleys High School (NVHS) in Reno, Nevada, as the winner of its 2013 Janitor of the Year contest. Peterson will receive a $2,500 cash prize and an additional $2,500 in Cintas products and services for his school.

During his three years at the school, Peterson has made an immediate impact on the NVHS community. He’s the first to arrive every day — sometimes as early as 4 a.m. — and is always ready to do whatever it takes to keep the facilities in sparkling condition. As an at-risk school, NVHS’s facilities had been neglected until his hire. Petersen has identified creative solutions to keep the facilities clean. For example, he’s repainted walls and carpeted floors in school colors to provide an atmosphere in which students, teachers and administrators can take pride. His efforts to improve school cleanliness also have a direct impact on improving indoor air quality, which contributes to a positive learning environment.

“I am humbled and honored to even been nominated much less chosen as Janitor of the Year,” said Peterson. “It is truly a team effort.  North Valleys HS is a community of its own and I’m honored to be a part of the North Valleys family.”

Peterson will be presented with the award during a special ceremony.

While Peterson will receive the grand prize, the nine runners up for the award will not walk away empty handed. Each finalist will receive more than $1,000 in supplies for his or her school from Rubbermaid Commercial Products and $250 in gift certificates from Cintas, which include options for Carhartt outerwear and facility service supplies.

“We were blown away by the response we received from this competition,” said Dave Mesko, senior director of marketing and strategy, Cintas. “Kids and parents really rallied behind their janitors and encouraged friends and family to vote. It shows how these janitors go above and beyond their duties of keeping the school clean and the invaluable role they play in the school community.”

A total of 94,562 votes were cast in this year’s contest, with Grady Harris from Wyoming, Ohio, and Arthur Moore of Thomaston, Georgia, coming in second and third place respectively.

“We would like to thank Rubbermaid, U.S. Communities and the other supporting businesses that have helped us make this competition a success,” added Mesko. “We look forward to hearing the stories and celebrating the amazing work janitors do across the nation as we continue this contest in the future.”