Papa John’s Surprises First Grader With Award

A pizza-loving, first grader from Biloxi will now be living out his early-life dream. Six-year-old, Phoenix Lacap, from Our Lady of Fatima’s first grade class has always loved pizza. The first grader is the first south Mississippian ever to receive the Papa John’s “Number One Fan” award. Schooner the Seagull with the Biloxi Shuckers and Papa John’s surprised Phoenix with the award in front of his whole class. Phoenix gets free Papa John’s pizza for a year. Papa John’s employees from Biloxi say they knew Phoenix deserved the award when he skipped the candy line trick-or-treating at Hiller Park and went straight for the pizza.

Jordan Hartshorn of Papa John’s said, “Phoenix was actually so excited, his legs were shaking and me and the general manager that was out there was like we got to do something for him.”

First grader at Our Lady of Fatima, Phoenix Lacap, said, “Just popping up into the room that made me feel good, because that’s my favorite food. Why do you love it so much? Because it has pepperoni pizza and all the good stuff in it.”

His class wasn’t left out of the deal. Papa John’s gave all the first graders free pizza and soda.