Gilman’s Behind-the-Scenes Heros

As students eagerly filed onto the campus to reconnect with friends and dive into the school year, one of the first things students noticed was the renovations to the campus over the summer. An example of this is the newly revamped first floor common room. Upon entering Carey Hall, students and faculty are greeted by its fresh look. Many students have noticed the sleek floors implemented in the renovation. Sophomore Derrick Alexander '27 noted, "The common room. They changed the floors; it's wood now and it looks very nice”. Previously, Carey Hall had a blue carpet, which many students found dull and unremarkable. Grayson Jones ‘27, said “The carpet was outdated and looked like it could use a change.”

The stunning new look is a testament to the hard work done by our impressive grounds and maintenance crew. Carl Jones, director of custodial services, explained that not all of the custodial services team's duties are to maintain the buildings; they also greet and welcome students to school daily by "addressing all the arrivals and making sure the place is up and running.” A perfect example of this is the friendly face of Darnell White, who greets students as they enter the building from the front entrance. Tyler Foote ‘27 remarked about the daily greetings, “It’s very nice and welcoming to come to school and see his smile.” 

Mr. Jones also explained that the maintenance and grounds crew does not take a hiatus during summer break like the student body does. “When you guys are away enjoying summer running in the sun,” he said, “we are here working and taking care, making sure the building's great for you guys”. He explained that the summer time is even busier than the school year, with renovating parts of campus, like Carey Hall, that were refreshed and revamped. 

Another one of the ground crew's duties is their responsibilities when inclement weather occurs. If it snows, when most students and faculty are at home enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate, the grounds and maintenance crew are hard at work salting the walkways and parking lot. Mr. Jones stated, "When school shuts down, we are still out here, pretty much clearing the campus grounds." Mr. Jones shows how the crew's sacrifices and contributions keep the campus nice and clean, rain or shine. 

When asked about his experience working at Gilman, Mr. Jones spoke fondly of the close-knit family. He said, "Gilman is like my second family. You know, this is my work family." Not only do they maintain the facilities at Gilman, but they also maintain the sense of unity experienced by students and faculty alike. The maintenance crew's unity and camaraderie reflect Gilman's brotherhood spirit.  Their role goes beyond their job requirements, and they really care about the community and the well being of the student body. 

The ground and maintenance crew’s contributions often go unnoticed, yet their work is fundamental and a massive part of what makes Gilman so unique. Many things that we, as students, take for granted are extreme amenities that many schools fail to offer. We walk onto our stunning campus daily and are spoiled as a student body. Next time someone is tempted to leave a dirty plate or skip a walk to a trash can, remember that dedicated individuals work tirelessly to ensure the beauty and cleanliness of our school.