Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Bobby Sudol and Nicholas Robert Katsock Ages: Nicholas is 16 and Bobby is 17 School: Butler High School Accomplishment: Bobby and Nicholas were selected to participate in a Passaic County youth program which helps teens find summer jobs in municipalities. Key To Awesomeness: Instead of spending July at the beach or hanging out with friends, these teens are hard at work with the Bloomingdale Department of Public Works. They have been weed-wacking, mowing lawns and helping with garbage duty. Bobby and Nicholas began working with the DPW July 5 and …
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Brian Jewett Age: 13 School: Richard Butler School Accomplishment: After reading the first six Harry Potter books, Brian donated the books he purchased to his school library. Key To Awesomeness: Brian wanted to share his passion for the Harry Potter series with his classmates so that they could enjoy the stories as much as he did. But after donating the books, he realized he missed the books so much that he bought the series again! Stay tuned for a special feature about Brian and his friend Brielle Logan for being the biggest local Harry Potter fans…
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kids: Lara Balick, Catherine Dougherty, Jessie Dromsky-Reed and Shannon Wheeler School: Pearl R. Miller School Accomplishment: The students were honored for receiving Scholars of Distinction recognition during a Kinnelon Board of Education meeting Thursday. Key To awesomeness: While several students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades were honored during the meeting, these four students were specifically honored for having achieved Scholars of Distinction for three consecutive years. The standards required for Scholars of Distinction recognition, according to PRM …
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid: Gabriella Montemarano Age: 18 School: Kinnelon High School Accomplishment: Gabriella graduated from Kinnelon High School this month earning two education scholarships. Key To awesomeness: Gabriella believes in always finishing something she starts. Being an active member of her community and school, Gabriella said that "staying true to who she is" and "finding time to give back to the community" motivates her to find success, whether she is leading her lacrosse team as captain or lending a hand at the New Jersey Track & Field Special Olympics.
Kinnelon-Bloomingdale Patch Whiz Kid: Marissa Cobuzio Age: 14 School: Walter T. Bergen School Accomplishment: Marissa won top medals in a New Jersey state gymnastics competition for the past four years. Key To Awesomeness: Aside from training 16 to 20 hours per week while also being involved with many school activities, Cobuzio's dedication and motivation are key to her success in being awarded the medals. "I am very determined, and no matter what challenge is presented to me, I work to overcome and succeed, as I prepare for competition," said Cobuzio. When she is not training for gymnastics …
Age: 10 School: Stonybrook School Accomplishment: While eating lunch, Greg noticed a fellow student who appeared to be choking on his food. Greg ran to get the attention of a lunch aid who performed the Heimlich Maneuver, a procedure to ease choking, and recovered the student. The victim's family was thankful for Greg's bravery and Greg's teacher and principal called home to tell his family of his brave act. Key To Awesomeness: While Greg is creative and athletic, he says that "being brave" is his key to being awesome.
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Robert Voli Age: 11 School: St. Anthony of Padua School Accomplishment: Robert maintains First Honors at St. Anthony's School. He also plays football for the Bloomingdale Chiefs (now the BBYC Bulldogs) as a quarterback and a wide receiver. This past winter he wrestled for BBYO and made it to the regionals in his division. He also played basketball for Bloomingdale Recreation and was chosen to be on the all-star team. This spring he is the starting catcher for his in-town league and his travel baseball teams. In 2009 he was awarded the Tony Rago …
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Joshua Fane Age: 11 School: Walter T. Bergen School Accomplishment: Joshua qualified for the New Jersey State Wrestling Championship in only his second year of wrestling in March. He qualified in the Novice age category in the 90 lb. weight division and was one of 58 on his team from the BBYO Wrestling Club. Key To Awesomeness: When he's not wrestling, Joshua works hard on his grades and was on the honor roll at school last year. He also plays trumpet in the school Cadet band and had a small solo performance in the recent spring concert. Joshua also…
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Emily Klingman, Melissa Cascini, Caroline Bogush, Paulina Naslonski and Michelle Gardyasz Grades: 9-12 School: Butler High School Accomplishment: On Friday April 29, select English classes at Butler High School participated in an Elizabethan celebration to pay tribute to the bard. For the past three years Ms. Tasker, Ms. Ricca, and Mrs. Abdelsalam have united their classes to enjoy Renaissance food, music and festivities in the month of April (Shakespeare’s birth and death date is April 23). The students walked into the library to find Shakespeare…
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Joseph Bastante Grade: 5th grader School: Walter T. Bergen School Accomplishment: Joseph is an athlete, playing baseball with Tri Boro Little League, as well as the Tri-Boro Bombers elite travel baseball team for the last three years. He also plays football (quarterback) in the Bloomingdale Youth Organization football (B-squad) program, has been a New Jersey State Placewinner multiple times as a four-year wrestler in the Pascack Hills program and a multiple-time all-star swimmer in the Small Lakes League for Glen Wild Lake, in Bloomingdale. On top …
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Alyssa Geipel Age: 10 School: Walter T. Bergen School Accomplishment: Alyssa sold Book Sox at the TREP$ Market Place and donated a portion of the proceeds to the Raven Leigh Grande Memorial Foundation. Raven Leigh Grande was a young lady killed by a drunk driver. Key To Awesomeness: Alyssa came up the idea on her own to donate a portion of the proceeds to the foundation.
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Amanda Merino Age: 8 School: Samuel R. Donald School Accomplishment: She has read the entire Diary of a Wimpy Kid series five times. She loves to read! Key To Awesomeness: Amanda is everybody's friend-adults and children. She is quick to give hugs when she sees you. She is kind to everyone.
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Samantha Campoli Age: 9 School: Samuel R. Donald School Accomplishment: Samantha had a Bloomingdale Animal Shelter fundraiser called "Love Your Pets Day" on Saturday. She raised over $150 and over 100 lbs. of dog and cat food for the shelter. Key To Awesomeness: Samantha came up with the idea to hold the fundraiser on her own. She made signs and had gourmet dog treats that she handed out to people who donated. Samantha was very proud of her accomplishments.
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Emily Dunleavy Age: 14 School: St. Anthony of Padua School Accomplishment: Emily was chosen to be Willy Wonka in the upcoming performance of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at the school this Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. Key To Awesomeness: Emily is a hard working, compassionate and dedicated person. She has always had a love for the theater and performing in musicals. She is an honor student, and was recently accepted to the Academy of Veterinary Science in Denville. Emily just graduated from the Bloomingdale Youth Organization as an eight-…
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Zachary Heyburn Age: 12 School: Richard Butler School Accomplishment: Zachary was chosen as Music Student of the Month by the Education Department of the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts in Morristown. The Music Student of the Month program gives Morris County middle and high school music teachers the opportunity to recognize music students who demonstrate a strong commitment to and excellence in the performing arts. This month, they asked the music teachers to nominate outstanding pianists. Zachary was nominated by his band teacher Lyn …
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Riley Lopez Age: 4 School: Plans to attend the Martha B. Day School next year. Accomplishment: Riley is able to multiply, say the alphabet backwards, read and more. Check out the video of Riley showing off his skills. Key To Awesomeness: Not only is Riley just four years old and able to do these things, but he taught himself how to multiply and say the alphabet backwards himself! His parents are very proud.
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Ethan Harriz Age: 9 School: Stonybrook School Accomplishment: Ethan had heard that the kindergarten classes at Stonybrook school were learning about shapes, and Ethan, on his own, took the initiative not only to draw a picture involving many shapes, but he then took it to one of the classes and spoke to the kindergarten teacher about helping her teach her class about shapes. She invited him in during his class' snack time and he explained his picture to the kindergarten kids. His mom received a call from the school’s principal to tell her what a …
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Patrick Brady Age: 11 School:Samuel R. Donald School Accomplishment: Last year, he won the Dolphin award at the Samuel R Donald School and The Outstanding Camper award at Glen Wild Lake swim camp. Key To Awesomeness: He is a kid who leads by example, often without realizing he is a leader. He is driven and compassionate, and is a wonderful friend and big brother. Patrick is also quite the athlete, playing multiple sports every season including, football, baseball (rec, travel and All-Stars) swimming and wrestling (rec and travel). He is always …
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Evan Smith Age: 9 School: 3rd-grader at Aaron Decker Elementary School Accomplishment: Evan wrote an essay for school called "My Fun Day." He was given a score of 5 out of 5 by his teacher for the essay and told it was the best paragraph written in both the 3rd and 4th grades. His teacher, Mrs. Baskinger, wrote this note: “You are a good writer. I am looking forward to reading more paragraphs in the future.” Key To Awesomeness: Evan enjoys writing and has created books for his classmates to read, illustrate and enjoy. Some of his recent titles …
Kinnelon-Butler Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Drew Brancaccio Age: 14 School: Freshman at Butler High School Accomplishment: In seventh grade, while attending St. Anthonys of Padua School, Drew was chosen to attend a Student Leadership Program in Washington, D.C. He fundraised over $5,000 to attend this program. He also earned 10 high school credits in seventh grade for attending and comleting the work. Key To Awesomeness: In addition to maintaining an A-B average and taking honors classes, playing football and baseball, Drew somehow finds time to work at a nursery in West Milford, where he has…
