Beloved Albany Park school custodian finishes as runner-up for national honor
Students and faculty members at Hibbard Elementary School in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood cheered on custodian Micaela 'Mica' Ortiz Arredondo, who recently placed second in Cintas 'Custodian of the Year' contest.
The surprise celebration struck a chord with an emotional Arredondo, who earned $1,000 and a trip for two to Las Vegas as runner-up for the national honor.
Tina Knowles on new book, 'Matriarch: A Memoir,' Beyoncé, and her love for Chicago
But the prize that means the most to her, she says, is the love from everyone at the school.
In April, WGN's Mike Lowe profiled the beloved custodian, who continues to make an impression on students with her Swiffer and smile.
'I love it. I really do,' Ortiz said. 'The school is our second house, for the kids, because they come to learn, they come to enjoy, and they come to play as well, so they must be in a good, clean place.'
Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines
The 57-year-old grandmother's second-place finish out of 10 national finalists proves that the right person can make even the dirty work sparkle.
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Chicago Tribune
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- Chicago Tribune
Elmwood Park's Jordan Arredondo brings a lifetime of acting experience to the stage at Steppenwolf
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Yahoo
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Beyonce Will ‘Bare It All' in Upcoming Memoir, Says ‘Source'
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Axios
27-06-2025
- Axios
Retirements, remembrances and rivalries: What's new in Chicago media
We are halfway through 2025, and the media beat is stirring with comings, goings, anniversaries and milestones. Why it matters: In Chicago, media figures are our celebrities. The latest: In June, we lost some notable leaders, including longtime radio programmer Lorna Gladstone. Zoom in: Gladstone was a mainstay of Chicago radio in the 1980s/1990s as one of the first women to run radio stations like WGN-AM and WMAQ-AM. She had a stellar reputation with journalists who worked for her. What they're saying: "She had an incredible ear for talent, and for the power of good radio to connect people and connect communities," former WLS-AM news anchor John Dempsey wrote on social media. Gladstone died at the age of 76. Other notable passings in June: Renee Ferguson, the first Black woman to be an investigative reporter in Chicago television. She started in 1987 and retired in 2008. "Renee considered herself a voice for people who otherwise weren't heard," said former NBC Chicago station manager Frank Whittaker. Earl Moses, one of the first Black journalists and editors in Chicago newspapers. He died at the age of 94. Hanging up the headphones: Political reporter Craig Dellimore started at WBBM Radio in 1983, and he moved on to not only report but edit and host for the station. He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Headline Club in 2024. Missing in action: John Clare took over mornings at WFMT-FM earlier this spring after the station fired longtime host Dennis Moore. After just a few short months, Clare was let go with little fanfare. "John Clare is no longer with WFMT," a spokesperson tells Axios. "Dave Schwan and Jan Weller are hosting the majority of weekday morning shifts." Switching teams: Telemundo Chicago hired five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Maria Berrelleza from rival network Univision. Still hiring: Telemundo's sister station, NBC Chicago, has still not hired a full-time sports anchor for the 10pm news. Leila Rahimi left late last year, and Mike Berman has taken over her duties, while others have been filling in. Anniversaries: Sun-Times political reporter Fran Spielman celebrates 50 years; WGN Radio's Steve Bertrand hit the 40-year milestone and his engineer counterpart Bob Ferguson is close behind with 35 years.
