Martha's Vineyard Patch Whiz Kid: Willa Vigneault

Willa Vigneault

Age: 12

School:

Accomplishment: Willa's accomplishments are many. This past December, Willa, along with classmates Sydney Johnson and Livy Pate, traveled with their fifth grade teachers to the National Middle School Association (NMSA) conference in Baltimore, Md., to showcase projects they created on the school's Promethean boards. Willa's lesson on Nelson Mandela, using an interactive flip chart, is indicative of the kind of things that are important to her. She also chose to focus on the nonprofit company Kiva, which gives micro loans to businesses in Third World countries, in her Leadership Program elective at school this year.

But the thing we find the most "Whiz Worthy" about Willa is that for the past five years Willa's birthday party guests have been asked to bring money to donate to Heifer International instead of presents. It all started when her aunt donated chickens in her name one year. Since then, Willa has celebrated the day that most of us (especially kids) spend thinking about ourselves by thinking about others who may need just a little bit more. This year she made $353, which allowed her to purchase both a water buffalo and a goat!

Key to Awesomness: "I don't really think about it," said Willa when asked what makes her choose to help people the way she does. "I just do it." Talking about it a lot at home is helpful, she said. "My parents help me think about people who have a lot worse conditions than I do, and I just feel like it's the right thing to do." We wholeheartedly agree! 

Each week, Martha's Vineyard Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to vanessa.czarnecki@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's Name
• Nominator's E-Mail
• Whiz Kid's Name
• Whiz Kid's Age
• Whiz Kid's School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)
• A photo