Troy Elementary School students, who have been diligent in their schoolwork, are being rewarded for their efforts.

Jamison Davis, general manager of Ruby Tuesday of Troy, was at the school on Tuesday to deliver 467 free kids’ meals certificates to all students who made the A or A-B honor roll this nine weeks of school.

And, the good news didn’t end there.

Davis said he will be back at the end of the last nine weeks of school to again present certificates to the students who have excelled in their studies.

“This is not something that we are just going to do this year,” Davis said. “This will be an on-going reward for the students who make the honor roll each nine weeks. We’re proud to be able to recognize hard work and dedication.”

Geoffrey Spann, TES principal, said he is pleased with the number of honor roll students and is very appreciative of the rewards and added incentives that Ruby Tuesday is making available to the students.

“Hard works pays off in good grades and now in the added rewards,” Spann said. “We want to thank Jamison Davis and Ruby Tuesday for this opportunity to reward our students.”

The idea for the rewards was kicked around between Davis and Jimmy Mathews, administrative assistant to the superintendent of Troy City Schools.

“I was dining at Ruby Tuesday and Jamison and I were talking and he mentioned that he would like to do something to give back to the community because Troy had been so good to Ruby Tuesday,” Mathews said. “He mentioned rewarding students for their hard with a free kid’s meals and I thought it was a great idea.”

Dr. Linda Felton-Smith, superintendent of Troy City Schools, was unable to attend the presentation. However, Mathews said Felton-Smith is very appreciative of the support from Ruby Tuesday.

“Dr. Felton-Smith is grateful for the recognition that Ruby Tuesday is giving to the students who are working hard and earning outstanding grades,” Mathews said.

Mathews and Spann know how motivating rewards can be.

When they were in school in Troy, Green Drugs gave free milk shakes to students who excelled academically.

“We would stop at the drug store on our way home from school to get our milk shakes,” Mathews said. “We really looked forward to that.”

Spann said it was a big deal for a student to walk in Green Drugs and walk out with a free milkshake.

“I’m sure it will be a big deal for Troy Elementary students to get a free kid’s meal at Ruby Tuesday,” he said.

The students who earn the free Ruby Tuesday kid’s meals the last nine weeks will be recognized at the school’s honors assembly.