Walkerton February 8 – CleanRite Cleaning Services is pleased to announce the winner in this year’s “Clean House for a Sweetheart” Valentine’s Contest Winner. In the sixth annual contest, nine CleanRite cleaning specialists selected the poem “Ode to a Sister” composed by Donna Burroughs of Argos, Indiana, for her sister, Diana Budka of Plymouth, Indiana, as the winning entry.

CleanRite received 196 contest entries, including 86 from Walkerton Elementary and 43 from North Liberty Elementary. Dawn Gorby-Verhaeghe, owner of CleanRite Cleaning Services, will be visiting each school, sharing contest information, winning entries, and treats with the students who participated.

In this contest, everyone is a winner, as each participant will receive a $25.00 CleanRite gift certificate that’s good for a future cleaning. The grand prize includes dusting, vacuuming, mopping, polishing furniture and cabinets, cleaning ceiling fans/fixtures, and more. Diana Budka, the grand prize winner, will have her home professionally cleaned in time for Valentine’s Day.

winning entry & pictures 

Walkerton - CleanRite Cleaning Services is pleased to announce that Nathan Ockerman, a seventh grader at Oregon Davis, and Kylie Rhodes from Walkerton Elementary are the winners of the CleanRite Cleaning Services 2011 Most Deserving Parent Contest. Nathan wrote his essay about his dad, Richard Ockerman; Kylie Rhodes wrote about her aunt, Betty Schulte. 

Nathan, a student of Ms. Estok, explained how his father took care of him and his brother after their mother left, and he told of the long hours his father puts in at his job to make sure they have what they need. In addition to thanking his dad for things like cooking their meals and washing their clothes, he also thanked him for not making him help with the grocery shopping.
essay and pictures

Kylie, a student of Ms. Guseilla, spoke of challenges her aunt has faced in recent years: her husband passed away, she was hit by a car and spent three weeks in the hospital, and she split open her head in an accident on the stairs. In spite of these tragedies, Kylie says her aunt still spoils her and the rest of the family when they visit.
essay and pictures

Walkerton - CleanRite Cleaning Services is pleased to announce a tie for this year's "Clean House for a Sweetheart" Contest: Mollie Rudecki and Brianna Helminger. Mollie Rudecki, a John Glenn High School student, wrote "Grandma Evelyn, What Would I Do Without You?" to her grandmother, Evelyn Rudecki, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment. When Mollie was told that she had won the contest and that her grandmother would receive a professionally cleaned home, she cried, saying that she didn't know what she would do without her grandmother. Mollie's poem begins by reminiscing about special memories that she and her grandmother shared before turning to the subject of what she could do to encourage her grandmother during her cancer trial.

Brianna Helminger is a fourth-grade student at North Liberty Elementary School; she penned her poem "Sweetheart Mom" to her mother, Michelle Helminger of North Liberty, who works in the cafeteria at the same school. Brianna's love for her mom shines forth in each stanza.     Read More

"Most Deserving Mom"
2010 Contest Winner

Walkerton - CleanRite Cleaning Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that Bonnie Solomon of Argos, Indiana is the 2010 winner of the "Most Deserving Mom" Essay Contest. According to her daughter, Sheila Beers, ..
Click here to read the winning entry!


"Most Deserving Mom"
2009 Contest Winner
Walkerton - CleanRite Cleaning Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that Shelly Stout-Stromyer from Walkerton is the 2009 winner of the "Most Deserving Mom" Essay Contest. According to her son, Ryan Stout, Shelly deserves a clean house because she spends every waking moment working...    Read more!


"A Clean House for a Sweetheart"
2009 Contest Winner
Walkerton, February 10 - CleanRite Cleaning Services is pleased to announce that Debbie Brown of North Liberty, Indiana...
Click here to read the winning entry!


"Most Deserving Mom"
2008 Contest Winner
Walkerton - CleanRite Cleaning Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that Penny Groth, a third-grade teacher from South Bend,...
Click here to read about the winning entry!

Walkerton - CleanRite Cleaning Services, Inc. is please to announce that Krishna Lundgard of South Bend, Indiana is the 2007 winner of the "Most Deserving Mom" Essay Contest. She beat out a mom with four kids under five and no "Nanny 911" calls, a mom with a dedication written to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies, and many other nominees.

(photo, l to r: Hunter, Seth, Dawn Gorby-Verhaeghe (owner), Ca'Saundra Freitag (friend), Karlie Leyba (friend), Sierra King (niece), Destiny Lundgard (daughter), Krishna Lundgard (winner), Debra Voltz-Miller (entrant), Dustin Lundgard (son), Eric Leyba (friend), Drew - dog)

Dawn Gorby-Verhaeghe, owner of CleanRite Cleaning Services, launched the essay contest in order to reward one special mom with a real treat, a free professional house cleaning. The judges, six CleanRite employees, found it difficult to select a winner this year with so many deserving nominees.

The judges eventually selected the winning entry, written by Debra Voltz-Miller. Ms. Voltz-Miller nominated her daughter Krishna for her sacrificial spirit. In 2005, Krishna, who has two children of her own, took in her niece and nephew (now 13 and 15) after her sister passed away. When she found out that her daughter's friend and her brother did not have a stable home, she also welcomed in those children (now 11 and 13). Krishna's house is always filled with six kids and their friends, with dinners for twelve or more a frequent occurrence. In July of 2006 her house burned and all the contents were destroyed. Fortunately, except for the fish and hermit crabs, no one was hurt. The family, however, had to move to the extremely cramped quarters of a rental property until they were able to move back to their own home. According to Krishna's mother, though the stresses of the last two years have been enormous, Krishna has shown the strength to give love and comfort to any child who comes through her door.

In awarding the prize, Dawn Gorby-Verhaeghe announced that CleanRite is also presenting each entrant and nominee with a $25.00 gift certificate, good toward on initial house cleaning because, in her eyes, "each one is a winner." The grand prize winner, Krishna Lundgard, will enjoy a professionally cleaned home sometime in May.

(photo, l to r: Jenny, Sandy, Laura, Kelsie, Jody, Judy)