Fort Lee's Whiz Kids in Review, Part I

No, this week's "whiz kid" is not Fort Lee Patch sports reporter Mike Radomski, but it very well could be. Radomski is now the director of media relations and broadcasting for the Evansville Otters, a minor league baseball team in Indiana.

But more on him later in the week, when Patch takes a "where are they now" look at a reporter who, until just last week, wrote about some of Fort Lee's best and brightest youth.

This week, in the first part of a two-part series, we take a look back at some of Radomski's articles on Fort Lee Patch's initial whiz kids, starting with our very first, George Padin, and running through March. Next week, we'll review April's and May's whiz kids.

And as always, we remind you to nominate your own whiz kid by contacting the editor (see "editor's note" at the bottom of the page).

February and March's Fort Lee Patch Whiz Kids

A two-sport senior captain who takes four AP classes, Fort Lee’s George Padin has never shied away from life’s challenges. In fact, this whiz kid embraces and welcomes them.

From the time the senior wakes up every morning at 6:40 a.m. until the late hour that he goes to sleep, George is always looking to do the best that he possibly can in whatever he is trying to accomplish.

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With an over-packed bookbag slung on her back, Fort Lee’s Bindi Parikh is hard to miss in the high school hallways.

The senior also stands out on the basketball floor as one of the captains on the Lady Bridgemen basketball team.

But it is this rare blend of dedication and success both on and off the court that makes Bindi Parikh a true Fort Lee “Whiz Kid.”

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Americans tend to be afraid of speaking in public, so much so that studies have shown they are even more afraid of death than speaking in front of an audience.

But those studies fail to mention how many people are even more afraid of singing in public.

Some choose to sing in the shower, and others belt out the lyrics to their favorite songs in the car, but very few people would dare open up to the thought of singing in front of an actual aduience.

Fort Lee’s Arev Dinkjian is different, however, and actually loves doing what most people would never be caught dead doing.

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The expectations are high, and the pressure is mounting, but that is how Fort Lee’s senior Nancie Sophias likes it.

She said, “It’s not about being the best but doing the best that I can,” and Sophias is testing that philosophy this year in a lot of different ways. 

Nancie is one of the top female track stars in Northern New Jersey and has also set numerous school records for the Lady Bridgemen. But in addition to these accomplishments, Sophias also dedicates herself to a class schedule filled with college level courses, is Vice President of her senior class, the secretary of the student council and the President of the Greek Club.

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Transitioning from winter to spring, eighth grader Shaina Rosa has put herself into the same class of Whiz Kids.

As a basketball playing, softball smacking, honor roll student, this eighth grader is something to see.

Shaina plays in the Fort Lee Girls Basketball League and is the leading scorer of her traveling team, averaging 11 points per game. She is also on the town’s traveling softball team, having been named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship Series last year. And if that wasn’t enough, Shaina has never missed a day of middle school and has been on the honor roll each of the past six semesters.

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Bernadette Darcy is another young member of the Fort Lee community who also challenges herself with multiple sports and a tireless approach to success in the classroom.

Darcy is an eighth grader at Lewis F. Cole Middle School. She plays three sports, one for every season of the school year, and also takes all four high honor roll classes that are offered to her.

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Tommasina DiMeglio is 11 years old and a fifth grader at School No. 1 in Fort Lee. She enjoys going to school, participating in sports and playing musical instruments.

But it’s rare to find someone like Tommasina who has accomplished so much at her age in such a wide array of areas.

Editor's Note: Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Each week, Fort Lee 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 erik.wander@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?)

If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you and assign a photographer to take a photo. For questions, e-mail erik.wander@patch.com