By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A single good deed can get elementary students around Barton County entered into Eagle Media's Make a Difference Contest. For Jaxon Lewis, a fifth grader at St. Joseph School in Ellinwood, one was not enough. Monday morning, he was surprised in front of his classmates as the February Make a Difference winner.
"I can make a difference by helping around the house with all the chores, giving money to the poor, helping my classmates when they need help, helping our basketball team," he said. "It's the right thing to do."
As a winner in the Make a Difference Contest, Jaxon was handed a Great Bend Chamber gift certificate worth $100. His teacher and principal, Cami Thomas, also received $100. She said Jaxon is a great student who works hard.
"He studies every night for tests and spelling tests at the end of the week," she said. "He's always willing to help out his classmates when they need help."
Eagle's Director of Promotions Becca Fletcher presented Jaxon his prize during a math lesson Monday morning. Math teacher Lyles Lashley also sees how Jaxon is making a difference.
"He has come a long way," Lashley said. "He's worked hard to get where he's at in math. He's a very good student with a very positive attitude every day in class."
Make a Difference Contest forms were distributed to Barton County elementary schools in August. Eligible students can enter the contest by filling out the form and stating how they are making a difference in the world around them. Winners are randomly selected with the student winning a $100 chamber certificate and the nominating teacher winning $100. New winners will be drawn each month through May.
The winning student will also get a visit from Eagle Media staff and be featured on a radio news broadcast. This year's contest is powered by the following sponsors:
Medical Park Pharmacy, Mayo Money Management, Hazmat Response, Protective Equipment Testing Lab, R&R Roofing, Freedom Claims Management, Inc., Rosencrantz-Bemis Water Well Company, Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management, Miller Plastics/Miller Warehouse, Nex-Tech Wireless, USD #431 Hoisington, Great Bend Redi Mix, Heavy Duty Diesel & Auto, USD #428 Great Bend.