Serving With Love: LSU Custodian Brenda Finkelstein Wins Hearts and Recognition for Her Work
April 02, 2025
Brenda Finkelstein is an important part of the LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool team and loved by the students who call her "Ms. Brenda."
Brenda Finkelstein applied for more than 200 jobs before landing one at LSU.
She knew she’d be a custodian at the university. Still, she said she had no idea she’d be working in the LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool—or that the job would become one of the greatest joys of her life. “It was a happy surprise,” Finkelstein said.
Nearly three years later, she’s a cherished part of the preschool family. And she’s being recognized for her work on a national stage as a top 10 finalist for Cintas’ National Custodian of the Year award. But to her, the real reward is the children she cares for daily.
“I take this job seriously. I treat these children as if they were my kin. How would I want somebody to provide for them, and how can I help the teachers and the staff that need to do what they do,” Finkelstein said.
A Life of Service
Her career journey began in the military. After graduating from high school in New York, she enlisted in the Army, serving nearly six years on active duty and eight more years in the reserves. She specialized in logistics, a role that took her across the world, from Korea to Central America and South America.
Service was a natural path for Finkelstein —her family had a strong military tradition.
“I had a lot of female role models who were in the Army, specifically. My father had been in the Army, my uncle, aunts, cousins, and such,” Finkelstein said.
But after years of traveling, she eventually settled in Florida. Then, a single moment changed her course once again: Finkelstein reconnected with the love of her life, a fellow Army veteran she hadn’t seen in 40 years. One phone conversation was all it took.
“I found him, and we spoke, and the next day, he asked me to move to Baton Rouge.”
Within a month, she was there, starting a new chapter she never expected.
“Coming to Baton Rouge for this man who I've been in love with my entire life; 40 years is a long time to love somebody you don't think you're ever going to see again,” Finkelstein said.
Finding a New Family at LSU
When Finkelstein took the job at LSU, she didn’t anticipate how deeply she would connect with the preschool community.
“I have no little children in my life,” she said. “Now, I get to be surrounded by them every day. It’s what drives me.”
From keeping classrooms spotless to ensuring the school is stocked with just the right amount of toilet paper for potty training kids, Finkelstein does it all with a sense of ownership and care. The children know her by name, simply as “Ms. Brenda.” She watches them grow, celebrates their milestones, and treats them as if they were her own.
“The amount of teamwork that I see here every day, and I never really understood childhood development until I came here, and I see it with my own eyeballs,” Finkelstein said.
Her colleagues recognize that dedication. One of them secretly nominated her for the National Custodian of the Year award, and now she’s in the top 10.
"There's no one more deserving of this award than Ms. Brenda. I'm so glad she was nominated, as she is an essential member of our winning team. Ms. Brenda goes above and beyond to make sure the needs of ECELP are met," said Kamille Watson, director of the ECELP.
The Honor of a Lifetime
Though the nomination humbles her, Finkelstein remains focused on the job she loves.
“This award is an incredible honor, but honestly, just being here is everything,” she said. “This school, these kids are the best part of my day. They have made me feel part of the family and I couldn’t ask for a better job. This award is like cherries on top of the ice cream sundae because having scored this gig here is everything, honestly.”
Winning would come with a $10,000 grand prize—a sum she already knows how to use.
“I went to South Florida to see my kids for Christmas. On the first day there, I lent my son my car, and he was in a very bad wreck. He walked away unscathed, but the car was totaled,” Finkelstein said, and she purchased a car when she returned to Baton Rouge.
If she wins, she plans to use the money to pay that car off.
Why Brenda Finkelstein Deserves Your Vote
The Cintas National Custodian of the Year award isn’t just about keeping things clean—it’s about making a difference, and Finkelstein does that every day. She served her country, found a second chance at love, and now pours her heart into the children of LSU’s preschool. But a vote in the competition can help her win.
“I truly live a blessed existence. I'm not trying to leave this world anytime soon, but I tell you that if this was my last day, and I leave this life, I leave a very happy woman.”
Next Step
As we build teams that win for Louisiana, the nation, and the world, LSU is putting our state and its citizens on firmer footing for a brighter tomorrow — one win at a time.