Tell Us About Your Whiz Kid

Do you know a whiz kid? You know, one who goes out of the way to help others, who has a friendly smile or is setting a good example?

Youths in Berkley, Huntington Woods and Oak Park are doing great things and, with school beginning Tuesday, there will be new opportunities for them to shine.

Whether it's a good deed or an athletic or academic achievement, we want to hear about the whiz kids who grace our community. Whether it's a poignant poem, fundraising effort or an art project, we want to make sure they don't go unnoticed.

efforts didn't go unnoticed. When , the 15-year-old entering sophomore at knew exactly where to draw inspiration.

“I decided to use a photo of my grandpa's (Richard Dreist of Royal Oak) 1967 Pontiac GTO,” she said. “He is the original owner and it was my mom's family car when she was young. We enjoy cruising around in it during Dream Cruise.”

Her design was sold on T-shirts during CruiseFest and around town afterward. Jennifer's design, as well as other logos designed by Berkley High School art students Alex Bogdan, Jordan Mozal, James Kaurala, Jack Schumacher, Ian King and Kylie Weiner were on display at the through August.

Another artist also strummed up some praise this summer. Eric Kozlowski said he and other staff members at took  notice as of Oak Park continued to take lessons and participate in the music shop's events. "We have watched him progress greatly in his music over the years, and he continues to impress us," Kozlowski said. Tommy will be bringing his skills to BHS Jazz Band this school year.

showed us what it means to be a whiz kid when she gave up her senior spring break to join the Mission of Hope from Kensington Community Church from April 2 to 9 on a trip to Haiti.

"I have a passion for traveling and mission work," she said. "My heart just breaks for these people. I just knew I had to do this."

Dooley estimated that 25 to 50 high-schoolers from Michigan joined her on the spring break trip that took them to the impoverished nation still devastated after a Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake. Dooley is attending Central Michigan University in the fall and is thinking of majoring in human services or abnormal psychology.

Know someone like this? Let us know! Send us name, age, achievement and photo and let use know what makes them special to the author. Send to editor Leslie Ellis at Leslie.Ellis@patch.com.

We can't wait to see what our whiz kids have in store for the new school year!