Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Leila Esposito• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: fifth grader at Franklin School• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Leila Esposito recently competed in the SITE regional competition for the third consecutive year, coming in first place in her division.• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  As a third grader, Leila took first place in the regional competition for her invention “Movie Theater Snack Tray.” As a fourth grader, she partcipated in regionals but did not place. This year, she took first place for her invention “Kid Friendly …

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Ben Tolles• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: The Summit High School Art Department has selected senior Ben Tolles to receive a scholarship from Rizzo Fine Arts, Inc. in Chatham.• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  The scholarship, which was begun in 2006 by Nicholas and Brenda Rizzo celebrate their 25th year in business in Chatham, is awarded each year to graduating seniors from five area high schools who will continue their education in visual arts. The art departments from Chatham, Madison, Millburn, and New Providence high …

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Bridget Cornog• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Jefferson School• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Bridget Cornog and her mom, Barbara Powers, hosted the Guatemala exhibit at the school's International Festival held April 28.• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  Bridget is a native of Guatemala. The annual International Festival is a celebration of the school’s rich heritage diversity. This year’s event featured the cuisine, art, clothing, music, and history of 22 countries in exhibits displayed by Jefferson families.There was also a …

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): The students at Kent Place Middle School• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Kent Place• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: On April 21, the Kent Place Middle School sponsored an event called “Helping Hands for Japan,” a fundraising activity to aid the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. All funds raised will be donated to rebuilding several schools in the city of Ishinomaki, Japan. By the event’s end, $5,000 was raised.• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Students, teachers and parents participated in several activities…

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): David Lizza, Ryan Schreck and Brian Kulpan• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Troop 67• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Brian Kulpan, David Lizza and Ryan Schreck have achieved and been presented with the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Rank Distinction.  Eagle is BSA’s Highest Rank and recognizes achievement in outdoor skills, leadership and community service. • Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Brian Kulpan’s Eagle project revitalized an area of Morris Avenue near Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School, creating a Community Peace Park …

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Gabe Rissman• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Summit High School junior• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Gabe won two awards in the 28th annual North Jersey Regional Science Fair, which was held at Rutgers Univesity on March 18 and 19. • Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: For his project, “An Optical Microphone,” Gabe won a second place award in the engineering division and was one of two students to win a summer research scholarship. The scholarship, funded by the Liberty Science Center’s “Partners in Science” program, provides a $1…

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Zachary Kessel• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Fourth grader in teacher Melissa Grasso’s class at Summit’s Franklin School• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Zachary placed 16th in the state finals of The New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs Spelling Bee. The state final, which pitted fourth and fifth grade winners of regional spelling competitions from around the state, was held March 12 at NJSFWC Headquarters on the campus of Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.• Whiz Kid's Key to …

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Sonja Podesta• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, 2011• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Sonja recently received a state-level Certificate of Excellence from the 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Sonja was nominated by members of the Upper School faculty and administration. • Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: In her sophomore year, the Summit resident helped develop the Free Market Committee, a student-run initiative and online program that also has a physical location at the City of…

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Will Taggart• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: School of Rock, Chatham• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Will Taggart receievd a New Jersey Joint Legislative Resolution honoring his work on the third annual "Kids Rock for Vision" concert on February 26 at St. John's Episcopal Church.  The event, sponsored by School of Rock, Chatham, raised more than $8,000 for New Eyes for the Needy, a Short Hills non profit that provides poor children living in the United States newprescription eyeglasses.• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Over the …

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Pat Lackey• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Junior at the Pingry School • Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Pat Lackey has been selected as a New Jersey Devils’ High School Hockey “Player of the Month.”• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: As of February 10, Pat has tallied 31 goals and 27 assists in 18 games, including four three-goal games, one four-goal game, and one five-goal game—all in Pingry victories. NJ PowerRanking selected him as a “Snipe of the Week” (miniature profiles of some of the best hockey players in New Jersey) for …

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Brian Feeney• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: 2010 graduate of Summit High School• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Brian Feeney, the University of Pennslyvania freshman goalie, was chosen as the first men's lacrosse Ivy League Rookie of the Week for 2011.• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: In his collegiate debut, Feeney made nine saves and allowed just three goals as Penn knocked off defending NCAA champion Duke, 7-3, Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field. Feeney had four saves in the first half, when the Quakers shut out the Blue …

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Brian Bell• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: 2009 graduate of Summit High School• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Brian Bell recently climbed Mt. Kilamanjaro in Tanzania Africa with a group from Chapman University to create a 3D Expedition documentary. The 8 day expedition took the spectacular and not-as well-traveled “Lemosho Route" to the summit of 19, 334 feet high. The expedition documentary was partially funded by the Ryan McGeough Memorial Scholarship.  The documentary will be entered in several film festivals.  • Whiz Kid's…

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Emily Cristaldi• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Freshman, Kean University• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Cristaldi earns NJAC Rookie of the Week honors for the fourth time this season and the second consecutive week after averaging 11.0 points and 1.7 assists in a 3-0 week of play for the Cougars. She opened the week with 11 points, three assists, and two steals in a 77-56 NJAC victory over rival Richard Stockton. Two days later, she posted 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field during Kean’s 87-63 non-conference road …

Patch Whiz Kids of the Week •  Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Nicole Theriot and Matt Scheer, juniors• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Summit High School• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Nicole and Matt comprise an award winning public forum debate team. They are members of the Summit High School forensic team and are the only debate team to have placed at every tournament.• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: They are diligent workers, who love participating in forensics. Nicole, who is secretary of the team, began competing her freshman year, while Matt joined the team as a sophomore. They …