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IN THE COMMUNITY A HELPING HAND
Handwashing stations combat COVID-19 “Because of their lack of plumbing infrastructure, the Navajo Nation has one of the highest rates of COVID cases,” said Katie Ashley, architectural engineering student. “One way to combat this is handwashing.” Ashley and her classmate, architectural engineering major Sarah Ceurvorst, were tasked with improving the design of prototype handwashing stations for the Navajo Nation to combat the spread of COVID-19 across the reservation. The prototypes were designed by teams from the International
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) and DigDeep. Ashley and Ceurvorst enhanced the design to make the prototypes lighter and used off-grid methods to prevent the water from freezing. The units hold a 200-gallon tank of water which will serve a six-person household for one month. Both Ashley and Ceurvorst were drawn into the project to be able to help a community in need. “I’ve loved every second of using the skills that I have to directly benefit another human being,” said Ceurvorst. The stations will be ready for deployment to the Navajo Nation summer 2021.
Day of service benefits community MSOE’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service continued this year with more than 100 students participating in a variety of service projects to honor the life and legacy of King and serve the Milwaukee community. Ten student organizations helped facilitate the projects which included putting together 1,000 health, hygiene and winter care packages; creating 15 fleece tie blankets; and decorating greeting cards and placemats. All of the materials were donated to La Causa Inc., Milwaukee Christian Center, United Community Center and YMCA Metropolitan Milwaukee. From there, the care packages were distributed to additional organizations based on urgent needs.
I gave the shot! MSOE nursing students were approved to administer COIVD-19 vaccines to the community. The students are gaining clinical experience by administering vaccines in partnership with the Franklin, Wis. Health Department at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex.
