Edmond 5th grader wins Outstanding Safety Patroller Award

EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) - Fifth grader Max Hathaway takes his job very seriously. 

“Whether it's doing car lines, helping kids open the doors and keeping them away from the street to help them stay safe…,” said Hathaway. 

Every morning, he throws on his neon sash and gets to work as one of Heritage Elementary School’s Safety Patrollers. 

"Students wouldn't be as safe with less people watching them every day,” said Hathaway. “So we try to help them every day by watching them and taking care of them whenever they need help."

Fifth grade teacher and safety patrol coordinator Gena Schuck said their staff was approached by a parent of a preschooler earlier in the school year. 

"Said there was this student who was amazing and he had helped her daughter and she was so thankful,” said Schuck. 

Then, in December, the staff got an email letting them know AAA Oklahoma was taking nominations for its annual Outstanding Safety Patroller Award. 

"I knew immediately, I said I know who this student is!” said Schuck. 

During an assembly Friday, Hathaway was honored with a plaque. 

"I couldn't believe that this could ever happen because this is really cool to have,” said Hathaway. 

He’s one of only two Oklahoma students selected for this year’s honor. 

“You really hope that your kids do good and you ask them to do the right thing,” said David Hathaway, Max’s dad. “But when you hear it from the students and the teachers and the parents today, it's very meaningful."