Some of the words were “really out there,” but seventh grader Marissa Joers of Racine figured out their proper spellings and took second place in the district level of the Racine Unified School District Middle School Spelling Bee. She said the event, held May 7 at Gilmore Middle School, was a positive experience aligned with her fondness for English and writing. It was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Racine and requires all district students to take a test for qualification. The winners from each middle school advanced to the District-wide bee. “I figured out the words I didn’t know by …
Seventh grader Jonathan Mills has had a successful year with his artwork. The McKinley Middle Schooler and his team placed third with documentary project for C-Span, and he also took grand prize for his school’s PTA Reflections art contest, for which he submitted a drawing about unity. Considering film as a possible career choice, Jonathan described "Let There Be Light," the film his team produced. It’s also available at http://www.cspanvideo.org/program/Moes. “We created a documentary about LED lighting and how it relates to the federal government,” Jonathan said. “The film was about eight …
Katherine Savas’ community service project is a way for her to help people who need eyeglasses and to honor her grandfather’s memory at the same time. The second grader at Jefferson Lighthouse Elementary School collected 235 pairs of used eyeglasses for the Lion’s Club, and the idea for the project came to her when her grandfather passed away last winter. “Her grandfather died in December,” said Katherine’s mother, Helen Savas. “We were cleaning out his house and there were a lot of extra glasses. At the same time, her school was having the students pick a community service project. We …
Still only a high school junior, Paul Oemig is an award-winning photographer, having recently been awarded first place in the photography category of the Skills USA State Competition, held in Wisconsin Dells. He aspires to work as a professional photographer, but first, the Washington Park High School student will compete at the 47th National Skills USA Competition in Kansas City, scheduled for June 19-25, where he will compete against the top student from each state. “It was a little more involved than a typical contest where you submit a photo and it’s judged by a panel,” said Paul. “The …
Matt Sadowski of Racine said he sees what some might have viewed as an insurmountable challenge as a gift. The senior at St. Catherine High School has been recognized for overcoming an obstacle and for other strengths, as a recipient of the Herb Kohl Initiative Scholarship. He is one of 81 Wisconsin students to receive the $1,000 scholarship. “I was selected by the guidance department for this, and it’s given to a student who has not yet been awarded another financial scholarship, or has overcome a significant obstacle,” Matt said. “It was always kind of difficult for me sometimes to relate …
Prairie School freshman and Mount Pleasant resident Ashley Dail has been dancing and performing since she was four. While she would love find solid footing in a dance career after high school, she knows a dancer's life can be risky when it comes to job security. Because she likes kids and wants to help prepare kids for their own futures, Ashley is looking toward a career in teaching. Whiz Kid's Name: Ashley Dail, 14 Whiz Kid's School: The Prairie School, freshman Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Ashley is focusing on ballet and tap dancing right now, but her favorite form of dance is jazz. She has…
When Sam Shields was 13, he told his dad he wanted to start building things so his father, Van, drove him to Home Depot. They went home with a bunch of pine 2 x 4's, a saw and a power drill among other tools, and Sam got busy building a bench. Van offered Sam $50 for the bench, and the next day Sam announced he was going to make a kitchen table set for the family. "I was supposed to have built the table and chairs with my grandpa," Sam said. "But he had a stroke and we never got to it." Sam's grandfather has since passed away and he left his wood working tools to his grandson. Sam's drive and…
Welcome to the weekly Whiz Kid feature! Each week, we will highlight youth in our area who make a difference in their schools, families, churches or communities. This week's Whiz Kid is Mount Pleasant resident Mackenzie Geyer from Gifford Elementary. Whiz Kid's Name: Mackenzie GeyerWhiz Kid's School: Gifford Elementary, 5th gradeWhiz Kid's Accomplishment: Mackenzie is an honor student who plays the clarinet, is a member of the student council, and serves as a student mediator. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Like most kids, Mackenzie likes to draw, make crafts and play on the beach, but she …
