Nominated By:  Ann Vertel Whiz Kid's Name: Connor Weiss Whiz Kid’s Age: Age 13, Grade 7 Whiz Kid's School: Severna Park Middle School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Connor designed and created a private neighborhood computer server so that kids could play online games together in a closed, safe online environment. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  Proud aunt Ann Vertel submitted the following as part of her nomination:  “Connor is one of those great whiz-kids who never blows his own horn - he quietly goes about challenging himself to achieve greater accomplishments and be an inspiration to others. …

Whiz Kid: Matthew Phelps Nominated By:  Michele L. Kaup Whiz Kid's Name: Matthew Phelps Whiz Kid’s Age or Grade: Ninth Grade Whiz Kid's School: Severna Park High School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment:  Matthew completed the STP (Seattle to Portland) 204 mile bike ride in two days in order to raise cancer awareness. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  A family tragedy gave Matthew perseverance and a willingness to serve.  Upon the death of Matthew’s stepfather’s mother in 2007, the Kaup family created an organization in her honor called Team Joy Rocks.  The organization was created to raise awareness …

Nominated By:  Cindy Hagan Whiz Kid's Name: Jeffrey Hagan Whiz Kid’s Age: 7 Whiz Kid's School: Oak Hill Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Jeffrey has been able to memorize & recite football scores and standings from the 2010-11 Pro Football season. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  Mom Cindy Hagan was amazed when Jeffrey could recite scores from the previous night’s football game.  Not limited to just the Baltimore Ravens, Jeffrey became interested in the scores for all major NFL football teams. Jeffrey was so interested in the scores that he would check his mom’s phone for results …

Nominated By:  Molly Winkler Whiz Kid's Name: Wesley Winkler Whiz Kid’s Age or Grade in School: Third Grade Whiz Kid's School: Folger McKinsey Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Wesley received his black belt in Tae Kwon Do from Kick Connection in Pasadena on June 4, 2011. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  Practicing since the age of 5,  the key for Winkler’s success is “practice, practice, practice”, according to mom Molly Winkler. The testing requirements for the 4 and a half hour black belt test are: Repeat learned patterns since the white belt Demonstrate knowledge learned at each…

Nominated By:  Michelle Gellert Whiz Kid's Name: Sarah Gellert Whiz Kid’s Age: 11 Whiz Kid's School: Folger McKinsey Elementary Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Sarah is a Principal’s Honor Roll student who has recently earned an spot with the GU13 Baltimore Bays DCFA Siafu team. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  Sarah started playing soccer when she was 4 years old and plays all year long.  Sarah has also made Principal’s Honor Roll since third grade, when grading began. In her nomination submission, proud mom Michelle Gellert describes Sarah’s rigorous schedule and achievements:  “Sarah maintains a…

Nominated By:  Kerri Shirey Whiz Kid's Name: Jake Shirey Whiz Kid’s Age: 9 Whiz Kid's School: Folger McKinsey Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Jake has earned straight A's in Arabic language studies at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) program. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  When Jake is not busy studying Arabic or other school subjects, he pursues a variety of other interests and demonstrates compassion.   This Folger third-grader is also involved in cub scouts, basketball, flag football and playing the cello.  In her submission entry, proud mom Kerri Shirey …

Nominated By:  Paula Brenner and Terri Peters Whiz Kid's Name: Kelly Brenner Whiz Kid’s Age: 11 Whiz Kid's School: Benfield Elementary  Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Kelly makes and sells her reversible "Boo Bags" totes to family, friends and at local school craft fairs. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  In her submission entry, proud mom Paula Brenner shared how her daughter started her side business:  “Kelly “Boo” Brenner started making bags in May 2008 after learning how to sew a tote bag at her Girl Scouts meeting. She spent some gift money on a sewing machine and, using bits of material mum …

Nominated By:  Katie Bartel Whiz Kid's Name: Bailey Bartel Whiz Kid’s Age or Grade in School: 10 Whiz Kid's School: Oak Hill Elementary Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Bailey qualified to compete in National Championships for Irish Step Dance. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  Katie Bartel summarized the key to her daughter’s achievement as follows, “Bailey’s drive, focus and commitment is years beyond her time.  She has shown incredible sportsmanship in a judged sport and has not faltered from her goals and dreams.” Bailey qualified to compete in the North American National Championships in TN on …

Nominated By:  Dr. Jacqueline Baugh Whiz Kid's Name: Kaylee Schwitzer Whiz Kid’s Age or Grade in School: Senior Whiz Kid's School: Severn School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Kaylee is a Maryland Finalist in the Letters About Literature Writing Contest , Here's what her teacher, Dr. Jacqueline Baugh submitted about Kaylee: “Kaylee made the Maryland state finalists cut for high school submissions. By my calculations, The Maryland Center for the Book of the Maryland Humanities Council selected the top 5% of the 2,357 plus Maryland entries for recognition. Kaylee wrote about her connection with …

Nominated By:  Wendi Greim Whiz Kid's Name: Johnathan Greim Whiz Kid’s Age: 8 Whiz Kid's School: Folger McKinsey Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Johnathan has earned his red/black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is on his way to becoming a black belt. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  Johnathan received a trophy for getting his red/black belt.  He also received a medal for best breaking in which he broke a wooden board with his foot. Proud mom Wendi said in her nomination entry, “Johnathan is very kind to animals and loves all of them. He helps out around the house with our dog and cat and…

Nominated By:  Carole Gilmour Whiz Kid's Name: Sean Gilmour Whiz Kid’s Age: 17 Whiz Kid's School: Mount St. Joseph High School, Irvington, MD  Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Sean is one of 61 high school seniors who received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  According to his proud mom, and included as part of his bio for the Distinguished Scholar Award, Sean’s accomplishments and extra curricular activities include: Ranked 1st in his senior class at Mt. St. Joseph High School Studied French and Latin and is currently …

The Magothy River Association awarded the E Gordon Reily Scholarship to Melissa Petschauer at the Annual State of the Magothy meeting on Feb. 16 at Anne Arundel Community College. Melissa is this week's Patch Whiz Kid for her work with the MRA and the environment. Here is Melissa's bio: I was born in Bremerhaven, Germany  and when I was about three we moved to the Millersville, area, ever since I was little I was interested in the environment but I really didn’t get to immerse myself in it till I attended Old Mill Senior High School where I took many biology classes. Once I entered Anne …

This week's Patch Whiz Kid is Midshipman Emily Frost, submitted to Patch by Mary Felter of the Annapolis Rotary Club: The Rotary’s District 7620 Scholarship Committee under Chair Dr. Carl Schneider of Annapolis recently interviewed seven scholars and selected a winner and alternate for each of the Global Grant and Ambassador Scholarships offered for the 2011-2012 school year.             Midshipman Emily Frost of Severna Park, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Annapolis, received the $30,000 Global Grant. These Rotary grants support large international activities with sustainable high-impact …