Name: Melanie Mara School: Downers Grove South Year: Senior Accomplishment: Mara has signed with North Central College and will swim freestyle there starting this fall. Key to Awesomeness: Why swimming? Mara said the sport has helped her realize how to improve. "I wasn't very good when I started," she said. "I was on the team freshman year and didn't think I would return the next year. But I continued on, and it's one of my favorite things in high school." Mara said she was considering North Central, Illinois Wesleyan University and Hope College in Michigan. Why North Central? "When I…
Group Name: Calliope, the literary magazine at South High School. The magazine includes poetry, short stories and art work. Advisors: Zach Kuhn, Michelle Lynn and Jenneine Rowley Editors: Julianna Estall and David Huettner Students: Abby Armato, Mikaela Damon, Alex Hansen, Erin Keegan, Alex Johnson, Gillian Miller, Paige Miller, Liz Schwartzers and Cameron Walker Accomplishment: Calliope received an excellent rating from the National Council of Teachers of English for its 2009-2010 publications. According to NCTE, an excellent rating means, "high quality of writing; variety of genres (at …
patch whiz kid of the week Name: Mandy Winslow Age: 18 School: Downers Grove North High School Accomplishment: From 40 applicants state-wide, Winslow was selected as one of six official readers to help select the 2012 Abraham Lincoln Book Award nominee list. The program is like Rebecca Caudill, but for high school students. The Abraham Lincoln Book Award challenges students to read as many books as possible from a list of 22 titles. If students read at least four books, they can vote for their favorite to receive the Abe Lincoln Book Award. Students who read all 22 of the books are …
patch whiz kid of the week Name: Dan Vurpillat Age: 17 School: Downers Grove South Accomplishment: Dan took first place at the regional competition for IDEA (Illinois Drafting Educators Association) in the Architectural CAD 3D competition. He had 2.5 hours to recreate a 3D image of a home based entirely on a floor plan given to him. He took second place in the 2D state competition last year. Key to Awesomeness: Dan said that he enjoys designing houses and making them function for what people want. He said his family gives him ideas for houses they'd like, and he designs from those ideas. He …
patch whiz kid of the week Name: Jefferson's Eighth Grade Girls Basketball Team, with players Jenny Adams, Maggie Considine, Vashae Easley, Kacey Ford, Jaida Green, Marisa Johansen, Jami Haasl, Stephanie Henderson, Brianna Love, Alexis Martinez, Mary Meyers, Donna Montilla, Megan Ramsden, Anne Rock and Allie Sheetz School: Jefferson Jr. High School Accomplishment: The team is undefeated in conference (16-0), and one win away from the conference championship. Coach Dreama Mensavage-Mueller said it could be the first time in school history that a team had that record. Before starting conference…
Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Name: Anne Marie Rock Age: 14 School: Jefferson Junior High School Accomplishment: Straight “A” Student, Jefferson Junior High School basketball player and Downers Grove Elite Volleyball setter. Key to Awesomeness: The key to Anne’s awesomeness is that Anne is driven to challenge herself to reach her knowledge potential, she is a hard worker and she has a great attitude toward learning. Anne has excellent listening skills and pays close attention to others around her. Ever since she was very little, she has been able to not only express respect and kindness …
Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Name: Maria D'Ambrose Age: 11 School: Willow Creek Elementary School Accomplishment: Maria has been to the District 68 spelling bee three times. Since you have to be in at least the fourth-grade to qualify, the sixth-grader has been to every district spelling bee she has been eligible for. She came in second at last week's district spelling bee with grace, mastering words like "froufrou," "kinesiology," "rous" and "tempestuous." Key to Awesomeness: Maria said her mom helped her study the spelling words for the district bee, hitting the spelling list hard the week …
Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Name: Maggie Considine Age: 14 School: Thomas Jefferson Junior High School Accomplishment: Maggie excels in academics, community service and athletics. She has a 4.0 GPA (even with taking Algebra as an eighth-grader). She plays for the Woodridge Park District, and on the Woodridge Storm Travel Soccer and Jefferson Varsity basketball, volleyball and cross country teams. She also volunteers at Successful Starts Daycare and babysits on weekends. Key to Awesomeness: Maggie works very hard and is goal-oriented. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to put in the …
Patch Whiz Kid of the Week ○ Whiz Kid's Name: Austin Moca, 10 ○ Whiz Kid's School: Willow Creek Elementary School ○ Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Austin has a long list of accomplishments from athletics to academics, but he most recently took first place at Willow Creek's spelling bee. He also played one of the lead roles in Willow Creek's performance of "Dracula" last fall, is in honors chorus and made the 2011 Woodridge Fusion Traveling Baseball Team. ○ Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomness: Austin devotes much effort to practice and studying because he understands that he will …
