Whiz Kids: Celebrating Academic Achievers

Welcome to Whiz Kids' Academic All-star Edition. We're taking , nominated by teachers and family, who are consistent academic achievers. They even get a special shout-out from Yorkville Mayor Gary Golinski.

Eddie Sandor
Junior

Nominated by Derek Miller: Eddie has been taking advanced computer classes since the summer before his sophomore year and has been working on a number of computer projects since then. He took AP Computer Science during his sophomore year and created a number of projects including a chess game and a cross country app for the iPad, which he is now selling on the Apple App Store. So few high school students right iPad Apps that Apple only gives student developer accounts to college students.

Nominated by Laura Sandor: He has been on Honor/High Honor Roll consistently. He wants to learn as much as he can and has only missed 2 ½ days of school since the 5th grade. He missed one day in 5th grade due to illness and he recently missed 1 ½ days due to his grandfather’s funeral. He is a student that is upset to miss school for fear of missing out on important information/discussions. He has challenged himself with honors and AP classes and still is involved with Cross country, track, band, Math team, TSA or Robotics Club. He has gone to the state finals with the Math team as a member of the Calculator team the past 2 years.

Kevin Gruhlke
Eighth grade

Nominated by Monita and Gary Gruhlke: Kevin is taking all advanced classes last year and this year. He always get A's and also is in the orchestra. He loves to read and has always read books above his grade level. He is an exceptional student.

Jordan Gingrich
Senior

Nominated by Pam Gingrich: Jordan has been both an excellent student and athlete all four years at YHS.  Jordan has been a volunteer with the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation for the past five years and has been involved with several activities: three-time recipient of the Academic Excellent Award, National Honor Society, ACES, Student Council member, Key Club member, played football four years (captain senior year), played baseball three years so far (captain sophomore year), and played basketball three years.

Kelsie Neahring
Freshman

Nominated by Marti Neahring: Kelsie Neahring is 14 and a freshman at Yorkville High School Academy.  She has aspirations that her full load of honors classes will be just the first step to fulfilling her dream.  Kelsie is a student that maintained the all A honor roll during elementary and middle school and hopes to keep the same pace going in high school, starting with the goal of attaining higher than a 4.0 GPA for the first semester.  The semester mid-term, that just came in the mail, says she is well on her way to achieving that goal.

In her "spare time," when she isn't in school, Kelsie, has practice for varsity poms (one of only four freshmen on the squad).  Then it is off to dance class in Plainfield where she is a member of the Nouveau Competitive Dance Company. Most days, Kelsie leaves the house at 6:45 am and returns home after 10:00 pm. She does her homework in the car and eats on the run too.  She attributes her academic success to the time management skills she has had to make an important part of her life, as she has been going at this pace since she was only eight years old!

As her parents, we couldn't be more proud of the wonderful young lady she has become.  That dream, mentioned earlier, is to attend UCLA with a major in sports medicine and minor in dance.  As her mom, I have tears of joy for how happy she's made me, but the secret is...they are also because I'm sad that in three and one half short years I will be more that 1,200 miles from one of my babies.  Gosh, it was just yesterday that we read, "The Night Before Kindergarten."

Thanks to a partnership with each Whiz Kid receives a free 12-in thin-crust cheese pizza redeemable at the Yorkville or Sandwich locations.

A Whiz Kid is innovative, caring, creative, smart, responsible, savvy, interested, determined, strong, trustworthy, respectful or faithful. (Or any other adjective you can think of to describe a cool kid doing something positive). To nominate a Whiz Kid, email Yorkville Patch editor Jillian Duchnowski at jillian.duchnowski@patch.com.