She Made the Grade! Fort Leavenworth Sixth-Grader Scores $2,000 Exchange Gift Card for Academic Excellence

FORT LEAVENWORTH – Hard work and good grades have paid off for a Fort Leavenworth sixth-grader—to the tune of $2,000, presented by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.

Jane Thomas, a 12-year-old who attends Patton Junior High School in Fort Leavenworth, took home the first-place prize in the Exchange’s worldwide You Made the Grade sweepstakes. The program celebrates military students’ academic success and resilience in the classroom.

Fort Leavenworth Garrison Commander Col. Duane Mosier, Command Sergeant Major Erika Rhine-Russell, Patton Junior High School administrators and Exchange leaders presented Jane with her $2,000 PX gift card at the Fort Leavenworth Exchange on Jan. 26.

“The Exchange is honored to present Jane with this reward for her outstanding academic performance,” said Fort Leavenworth Exchange General Manager Cynthia Gregg. “Her dedication, success and sacrifice as a military child comes well-rewarded and the Exchange is proud of her.”

Jane is the daughter of Maj. Andrew Thomas, who is assigned to Fort Leavenworth, and his wife Whitney. Her favorite subjects are math and language arts. She hopes to become a pediatrician when she grows up.

“When my mom told me that I won I was like, ‘What am I going to do?’” Jane said. “I’d like to thank my mom for mailing in the form for me, and I’m going to treat myself and my family.”

The Exchange’s You Made the Grade program, now in its 24^th year, rewards students who maintain a B average or higher with a $5 PX/BX gift card each grading period during the school year. Students can then enter the worldwide sweepstakes for a chance at a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 gift card.

Jane Thomas, a 12-year-old who attends Patton Junior High School in Fort Leavenworth, took home the first-place prize in the Exchange’s worldwide You Made the Grade sweepstakes. From left: Fort Leavenworth Command Sgt. Maj. Erika Rhine-Russell; Fort Leavenwoth Exchange Store Manager Marina Lemanua; Austin Thomas, Jane’s brother; Maj. Andrew Thomas, Jane’s father; Whitney Thomas, Jane’s mother; Eleanor Thomas, Jane’s sister; Fort Leavenworth School District Deputy Superintendent Dr. SuAnn Grant;  Jane; Patton Junior High School Assistant Principal Kevin Wellington; Exchange General Manager Cynthia Gregg; and Fort Leavenworth Garrison Commander Col. Duane Mosier.