Whiz Kids: Students Receive Rochester Junior Woman's Club Scholarships

This week's Whiz Kids are Valerie Adams and Martha Troy, who both recently received scholarships at the Rochester Junior Woman's Club annual awards ceremony.

Valerie Adams and Martha Troy

School: and , respectively

Accomplishment: Adams and Troy both received a $500 scholarship from the Rochester Junior Woman's Club and the Greater Rochester Area Community Foundation at the Rochester Junior Woman's Club annual awards ceremony on May 24.

Key to awesomeness: Valerie Adams and Martha Troy were selected to receive the scholarship based on their volunteer activities, services to the community during high school and overall grade point average.

Adams, who recently graduated from Stoney Creek High School, plans to major in kinesiology and double minor in business and environmental science at Saginaw Valley State University this fall.

While in high school, Adams participated in the annual CROP walk, Relay for Life, Key Club and the National Honor Society and volunteered her time creating opportunities for Key Club and National Honor Society members.

Adams also volunteers to work with children at the First Congregational Church of Romeo as a teacher and "shepherd." She also worked to raise money for the Heifer Project International.

“Whether it be teaching a class or serving as a 'shepherd' to the kids," said Adams, "I love building a relationship with them and watching as they learn life lessons and morals that they will carry with them through their life."

Adams plans on continuing her volunteer work at Saginaw Valley and hopes to be able to continue working with children. She also hopes to volunteer to help preserve the environment.

“I am extraordinarily blessed in my life, and I am very grateful for that," Adams said. "I recognize that not everyone has the same opportunities as I do, and it is the least I can do to give back in some way."

Troy, who recently graduated from Rochester High School, will attend the College of James Madison at Michigan State University this fall, where she plans on majoring in comparative cultures and politics with a minor or double major in Spanish.

Troy has been involved in volunteer work through the National Honor Society and through her church, and she also participates in softball at the national level.

“I've loved running camps and clinics with my travel organization," Troy said. "Even though it may just be teaching a 12-year-old how to pitch, it makes a difference. It gives these young girls someone to look up to, something to work for and a means of learning hard work and dedication."

Troy said she plans to continue her volunteer work at MSU and looks forward to participating in Habitat for Humanity as well as other youth organizations.

“If such an opportunity comes my way, I'd like to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and teach English as a second language there,” Troy added.

“I volunteer because I like to see the changes one can make," she said. "I'm a people person; I like working with people, helping people, and learning from people. Volunteering allows me to do all three!”

Do you know our next Whiz Kid?

Each week, Oakland Township Patch seeks 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 email the information to editor Jen Anesi. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's name
• Whiz Kid's name and age
• Whiz Kid's school
• Whiz Kid's accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)