Jenks 4th Grader Surprised With Safety Patrol Special Recognition: ‘I Love Helping Kids’

A fourth-grade student at Jenks East Elementary is being honored for her work on the safety patrol.

AAA surprised Vanna Gomez Wednesday with the Outstanding AAA School Safety Patroller Award, one of only two given out in the entire state.

Her teachers said Gomez is very deserving of the award. They said she makes a big impact on the Pre-K students she looks after and has even memorized all of their names.

Gomez said part of why she became a patroller was to be closer to her sister.

"I love helping kids because I really love my little sister and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to kind of hang with my sister a little bit," said Gomez.

AAA also surprised the school with a $500 Advancement Grant to expand and enhance the school's existing patrol programs. They said that grant is only given out to 10 schools across the nation.

The Safety Patrol Coordinator at the school said that money will go towards things like new vests and other updates.