Student Union workers serve 25 thousand people daily

More students, more work, she said. 

Her place is the food court. The first three or four hours of her 10-hour shift are dedicated to scrubbing the walls, floors, tables, trashcans and anything in between. She works alone. 

Despite the grueling schedule, Centeno is infectiously cheerful. She is adorned with rings, earrings and other jewelry she made herself after watching how-to videos on YouTube. Students and staff often compliment her on her craftsmanship.

“When I make something special, they ask me,” Centeno said.

She said students don’t realize the amount of time the custodial staff spends cleaning so students can enjoy the facilities. She said she would like every student to know how hard they work, because it is not easy, and just a simple “thank you” goes a long way. 

“We work for the student,” Centeno said. “We want the student to enjoy the place.”