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“They sure got me,” Young said of the surprise. “I was just overwhelmed and shocked.”

Young has been a custodian at the elementary school for nine years. He is known for giving students fist bumps, talking to them any time they need and always fielding requests from students who want to help him clean, according to Tamarack Elementary principal Carrie Munsey.

\"PHOTO:
Tamarack Elementary School
PHOTO: Tamarack Elementary School head custodian Ricky Young and principal Carrie Munsey pose on "Mr. Ricky Day."
>

“He’s the first one here every morning to start our day and make it safe and ready for learning,” Munsey said. “He treats our students with respect and he builds relationships with students and staff and they’re meaningful and genuine.”

Munsey said when Addilyn and Layliana approached her with the idea to honor Young, she asked them to come back to her with a full proposal.

The students developed a full plan for the day, engaged their fifth-grade classmates and went to each grade to ask them to contribute, too.

\"PHOTO:
Tamarack Elementary School
PHOTO: Layliana Calmese, far left, and Addilyn Simpson pose with Ricky Young at Tamarack Elementary School.
>

On Mr. Ricky Day, each grade presented Young with some type of handmade sentiment. One grade, for example, gave him a bucket filled with Lifesavers candies because he is their \"lifesaver.\" Another grade gave him a cape, which he wore all day, because he is their superhero.

The school staff gave Young Reese’s Pieces because the school would be in pieces without him, according to Munsey.

\"PHOTO:
Tamarack Elementary School
PHOTO: Tamarack Elementary School celebrates head custodian Ricky Young on "Mr. Ricky Day."
>

A state senator was on hand at the school assembly with a letter declaring Feb. 14 as Mr. Ricky Day. The teachers and staff also pitched in to clean the confetti after the assembly so Young could take the day off his normal duties.

Young, a diehard Kentucky Wildcats fan, was also given two tickets to a University of Kentucky basketball game.

\"PHOTO:
Tamarack Elementary School
PHOTO: Tamarack Elementary School head custodian Ricky Young was surprised with University of Kentucky basketball tickets.
>

“That was just icing on the cake,” he said. “I know the kids like me and I love all the kids, but I never dreamed of anything like this.”

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