Scout Honors Beloved Principal with Wishing Well Tribute
He described her as kind, a good person, someone always willing to listen, and when she passed away unexpectedly, Kim Hardwick left a void in the heart of one of her students. Antonio Gerbino will never forget his principal and created a tribute to her on the way to becoming an Eagle Scout with Troop 414 in Center Moriches.
Joined by family, friends, and colleagues of Mrs. Hardwick, the teen dedicated a wishing well in her honor on the front lawn of the Clayton Huey Elementary School, where they first came together.
In a ceremony filled with emotion and gratitude, Antonio addressed the crowd with a message that spoke from the heart. “Throughout my entire time as a student at Clayton Huey, Mrs. Hardwick stood by my side,” he said. “She lifted me through my lowest points and was a source of positivity and kindness.”
Antonio explained that when he began planning his Eagle Scout project, he didn’t have to think twice about what he wanted to do—or for whom. He knew he would build something meaningful at the school that shaped his childhood, and he knew it would be for the beloved principal who helped shape him. The idea of a wishing well came naturally. “As you may know, a wishing well is a source of hope and a place to deposit your aspirations,” he said. “Mrs. Hardwick was exactly that to me. She always listened to my concerns and generously and genuinely made it her mission to better any circumstance.”
As the sun set on the front lawn of Clayton Huey, the well stood tall—not just as a symbol of remembrance, but as a beacon for the future. Antonio shared that the well is meant to remind the community, “whether knowing Mrs. Hardwick or not, that they have a place here… that hope and faith supersede fear and uncertainty.”
Among those deeply moved by the tribute was George Keller, the troop’s committee chairman, who praised Antonio’s dedication and spirit. “Antonio is an exemplary scout, always willing to help his fellow scouts and the community,” Keller said. “It’s wonderful that he honored his teacher with his Eagle Scout project.”
Antonio closed the ceremony by inviting his sister and cousins to place painted stones—each one decorated by local fifth graders—around the base of the well. He encouraged others to take part in the tradition. “At the end of this dedication, please feel free to take a stone to decorate as your own source of a well wish. You can bring it back to the well or keep it for yourself,” he said.
The ceremony wasn’t just a recognition of a young man’s path to Eagle—it was a moment that celebrated the enduring power of kindness, the influence of a good teacher, and the strength of a tight-knit community.
Antonio made sure he thanked the many people who guided him along his life’s path:
- Scoutmasters and Adult Leaders of Troop 414: Mr. Keller Jr., Mr. Keller Sr., Mr. Sigerson, Mr. Kaiser, Mr. Person, Mr. Nizza, Mr. Russell, Mr. Tremel, Mrs. Harke, Mr. Penniese, and Mr. Aylward.
- Scouts who helped with the fundraiser and project: Patrick Hart, Patrick Caruso, Jameson Keller, Riley Keller, Dylan Davis, Matt Russell, PK Bechtold, Zack Finn, Riley Kaiser, Mason Kaiser, Logan Kaiser, Cameron Eten, Colin Freck, Joe Nizza, and April Harke.
- Community contributors: True Value (donated car wash soap), Home Depot (donated rocks), Matt Kruk of Roma Funeral Home (memorial stone), and the Sigerson family (bucket and lumber)
- School district support: Mr. Ricci, Mrs. Jackson, and the Grounds and Security Team of the Center Moriches School District
- Board of Education: Mr. Brian Tenedy
- Teachers: Mrs. Lopez (4th grade teacher) and Mrs. Phillips (Clayton Huey art teacher)
- Family: His parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
- Guests of honor: Mr. Honor and the family of Mrs. Hardwick.