Two Students Lead Outdoor Project at San Gabriel Elementary

When 5th graders Case Hewlett and Cooper Peterson noticed a desire among peers for a baseball field on campus, they didn’t just ask their administrators to make it happen – they instead asked, “How can WE make this happen?”.

“Case and Cooper requested a meeting with me and the principal, and we had no idea what to expect,” San Gabriel Elementary P.E. Teacher Haley Schulz said. “They said they had this dream of putting a baseball field on campus and presented a thoughtful plan to make it happen.”

The students asked Schulz and Rebecca Lambert, San Gabriel Elementary Principal, permission to mow the grass where the field would go, gather supplies, paint the field and provide baseball equipment for their peers.

“Everyone wanted a baseball field, so we were excited to get to work,” Cooper said. “We just wanted to create something that we could leave behind on campus, something kids after us will enjoy.” 

This first meeting was held before Christmas break, and the baseball field would not be complete until spring – which meant Case and Cooper would have to wait quite some time before seeing their project come to fruition.

“From the beginning, I told them it would be a bit of a process if they really wanted to go through with this,” Schulz said. “For them to see it all the way through to the end and be patient throughout, it took a lot of perseverance.”

Another factor they would need to consider: cost. 

So, Case and Cooper decided they would fundraise for their project through the school’s Color Run Fundraiser. They asked that whatever they were able to bring in on their own would be set aside for the baseball field. 

Supplies and equipment started to arrive over the months, and under Schulz’s supervision, the two students measured and marked the grass, painted the field, and slowly watched their big idea come to life.

“We spent time after school working on the field because it was important to get this project done,” Case said. “We got to create a place for people to play and have fun, so it was worth it.”

Students from all grade levels at San Gabriel have enjoyed the new baseball field, and Schulz is even utilizing it for her kickball unit in P.E. The paint has seen some wear from all the activity, but scheduled maintenance will keep the field alive for years to come. 

“Case & Cooper demonstrated outstanding initiative and leadership with this project,” Principal Rebecca Lambert said. “They identified a need, communicated their vision, collaborated on a solution, and applied critical thinking and perseverance to bring the project to life.”