Five toddlers will receive customized vehicles from the GoBabyGo! program at Edgewood Middle School. Photo provided by Warsaw Community Schools.

Press Release

WARSAW — Abbi Richcreek, engineering/technology teacher and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) instructor at Edgewood Middle School, recently kicked off another GoBabyGo!

Launching in 2019, three vehicles were gifted. In 2020, it was four. In 2021, GoBabyGo! grew to five donations. This year, another five toddlers will receive a customized vehicle.

For 2022, Richcreek welcomed back nine returning mentors from Depuy, Zimmer-Biomet, Paragon Medical, and Dalton Foundries. Richcreek also recruited four new mentors to help students understand the design process for modifying vehicles to meet the needs of their client – five children who will benefit from this program to gain more independence.

With 16 middle school students, four returning and 12 new, Richcreek is excited to offer five vehicles to five toddlers who were nominated by Joe’s Kids; Joanne Dean, a local early intervention occupational therapist with First Steps; and Stacey Ousley, teacher at Lincoln Elementary School and Presby Preschool.

EMS 7th and 8th grade students who are giving their time (five after-school meetings and First Friday) and talents are:

• Hunter Fitterling
• Adria Jordan
• Gianna Stouder
• Jacob Stofer
• Ezra Gast
• Ethan Cook
• Kaine Lowry
• Lillian Dunbar
• Mason Fitterling
• Adella-Mae Huffer
• Maya Bodiker
• Mateo Perez
• Lilliana Rak
• Jack Langhorn
• Gwen Bowman
• Jett Bender Lange

Community volunteers who are mentoring students and assisting with communication and physical adaptations are:

• Matt Miller, project manager – Dalton
• Monica Rozelle – Depuy
• Russ Lowry, manager manufacturing engineering – Depuy
• Larrie Davis – Depuy
• Nate Callithen – Zimmer Biomet
• Elizabeth Manes – Zimmer Biomet
• Kyra Edmondson – Paragon Medical
• Matt Smith – Paragon Medical
• Tiffany Temple – Paragon Medical
• Neil Sindelar – Paragon Medical
• Dante Zumbo – Paragon Medical
• Karl Mast, engineering team leader – Depuy
• Chris Lord – Depuy
• Dr. Aaron Turner, physical therapist – Kosciusko Community Hospital
• Lisa LeMasters, translator
• Sam Cook, co-leader, maintenance and grounds director, Warsaw Community Schools
• Abbi Richcreek, co-leader, Edgewood Middle School

Recipients:

• Owen Siebeneck
• Nicholas Ramirez Brito
• Charlotte Timmons
• Taylor Cox
• Junior (Austin) Holloway

The toddlers and their families first met the students and mentors on Thursday, Feb. 24. At that time, Edgewood students and their mentors learned what the physical needs were and what the toddlers loved. The Jeeps will not only provide increased mobility for toddlers, but will be customized with stickers, fabrics, and accessories to delight and individualize each vehicle. The goal is independence, but parents will have remote controls while the toddlers learn to maneuver the new 12-volt vehicles. Families will return again at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 24, for a final fitting and test drive. Further modifications will be made and then they’ll receive their vehicle during First Friday from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 6.

Warsaw Community Schools staff would like to thank all who supported this project with generous donations. For 2022, thanks go to the VFW; and to Nick Stouder, a community member and a member of the Rotary Club, who sponsored a Jeep.

Individuals and corporations interested in making a donation or sponsoring a Jeep ($600), please contact Abbi Richcreek at [email protected].