Harrison Sixth Grader Names Newest Fire Truck
4/24/2023One Harrison Intermediate student recently received a special afternoon visit from a big, shiny, red truck. Wylie Fire Rescue stopped by the school April 21 to celebrate sixth grader Liam Storm.
Back in October, students in art classes submitted a name for Wylie’s newest fire engine, Quint 144.
“Mrs. Melissa Blythe and I value being contributing members to our city and district,” art teacher Mrs. Michelle Beck said. “When we were asked by the Wylie Fire and Rescue to participate, we talked to the students about sharing our talents, to better our community.”
Beck’s student, Liam Storm’s, entry was selected by the fire department.
Fire Chief Brandon Blythe surprised Storm in front of his class and family with the news that his entry was selected. He invited the sixth grader up to pull the covering off the top of the fire engine to reveal the name Storm chose for the new fire truck: Maverick.
Storm submitted the name, Maverick, after his first cousin, who passed away during childbirth. On his contest entry form, Storm wrote that he chose the name because he “has a cousin named it that went to heaven and [it] sounds like a nice name for a fire truck.”
Storm’s family, including Maverick’s family, were there to surprise Liam. They even hid behind the fire truck as students came out of the school so as not to spoil the surprise.
“I saw their shoes under the truck,” Storm said. “My cousin squatted down underneath and that’s when I knew what was going on.”
Chief Blythe gifted Storm with a photo of the truck stating that he named it. Chief Blythe also presented Ms. Beck and Principal Christa Smyder with a plaque for the school to display in Storm’s honor. A gold plate stating “Named by Liam Storm in Loving Memory of Maverick Hollien” is placed inside the fire truck.
“Liam is such a well-deserving student,” Beck said. “Liam puts purpose into everything he does. Every project has meaning and a story. I love to see his creativity develop into his work. I am proud of Liam for believing in himself and always finding an optimistic perspective.”