A spider web, still wet with morning dew, glistens in the sunlight. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire custodian Andre Gibault, who carries his camera around with him in a lunch box, took this picture in summer 2006.
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Check out the criteria for the Andre and Joanne Gibault Blugold Spirit award.
Custodian cleans buildings,
rewards students with spirit
By Sara Norgon
norgonst@uwec.edu
Some people refer to Wednesday as “Hump Day,” but one University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire custodian prefers to call it hug day.
Although the hard work of custodians is often underappreciated, UW-Eau Claire custodian Andre Gibault takes pride in his work and says he always finds little things to smile about. After spending just five minutes with him, it is no wonder why he has a day devoted to hugs. Gibault has been working at the university as a custodian for 30 years now and said he loves his job.
“I look forward to every year, because you never know who you’re going to meet,” he said while spouting off story after story of students and faculty members he has met over the years. “The real reason why I’m here is to help people out; for five minutes, five seconds, five years.”
Although he works hard cleaning up the mess students make, “janitor” hardly begins to describe the impact Gibault has had on this university.
“I just love being around students,” Gibault said. “Seeing them around campus going to and from classes makes my day.”
Gibault works 3:30 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday, as a floater, meaning he works in different buildings all over campus, said Gibault’s supervisor, Office Associate Mary Green.
Green, who has worked as office associate since December 1991, described Gibault as a warm and caring person.
“He’ll do anything for the students,” she said, including giving out teddy bears or “Andre’s care bears,” as she calls them.
Over the years, this father of three has given back to the university with more than just his services as a custodian. His two daughters, Anne and Amy, are both UW-Eau Claire graduates. He created the Blugold Spirit Award in 2004, in honor of Anne O'Brien, a UW-Eau Claire student who died in August 2003. Gibault also contributes to the Campus Campaign, a fundraising project by the university.
“When the staff scholarship fund was established I began giving 1 percent of my salary to it, Gibralt said. “I wasn't able to help my kids with it, but perhaps I will be able to help out the sons and daughters of co-workers or alumni or students I know or will meet.” Along with funding the Blugold Spirit Award, Gibault also nominates students for the Leadership Award. “The most students I ever nominated was 100,” he said. “They all deserve it.”