McCOOK (SNR) – Students at St. Patrick School in McCook are gratefully enjoying a new bottle-filling water station, thanks to the persistence of sixth-grader Hayden Uerling.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the country restricted use of drinking fountains. In a regular year, the several drinking fountains around St. Patrick School were sufficient for the drinking water needs of students. With the pandemic, however, access to the drinking fountains in the school was limited to refilling a water bottle each student brought from home.
Hayden knew that he, along with his fellow students, were frustrated with the fact that they could only fill their water bottles about halfway, because the drinking fountains were not intended to supply a stream of water to fill containers, but rather a slower flow of water to drink from.
Having noticed water fountains with bottle-filling stations at other locations, Hayden thought such a station would provide a solution at St. Patrick School. After discussing the project with his parents and others, Hayden decided to try to get a station purchased and installed in the school.
When asked if he felt it was an attainable project for a sixth-grader, Hayden said he thought, “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do it, but I’ll try.”
As Hayden began convincing potential donors of the benefits of the water bottle filling station, his mom Sarah suggested he visit with her brother. Hayden’s uncle, Brian Gutchewsky, is owner of S & B Heating and Air in Kearney.
During a family gathering at Christmas, Hayden learned that Gutchewsky knew exactly what Hayden was researching, and in fact had a lot of experience with them: he has donated water filling stations and the installation of the stations in other schools, and offered to do the same for Hayden and the students at St. Patrick. Hayden said his uncle is also Catholic, and enjoys helping others, especially at schools.
Gutchewsky told Hayden that with the pandemic, the stations were in short supply, and would take several months to arrive. The two set about getting the specifications, finding out which stations would have the correct hookups, which model would best suit the available space and the needs at St. Patrick School, and getting the process started as soon as possible.
Hayden reported his findings to the student council and said the other students and sponsor Mrs. Lanae Fritsch, were very encouraging and enthusiastic about the project.
Gutchewsky and one of his employees at S & B Heating and Air arrived to install the station May 7.
Students in Hayden’s class cheered as they heard the station was ready for use. Hayden’s project was complete, and will be utilized and appreciated by many throughout the coming years.
