Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Kira Nakahara

Each week, Marple Newtown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. This week, we highlight Kira Nakahara, a rising senior and artist at Episcopal Academy.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Kira Nakahara

Whiz Kid's Age: 18

Whiz Kid's School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Kira was one of the students selected by Episcopal Academy’s Art Department to receive a Dora Khayatt Art Award for excellence in art for her oil painting self-portrait. Established in 1990, in memory of Dora Khayatt, painter and wife of the late John Plant, former Chairman of Episcopal Academy's Classics Department, the Dora Khayatt Awards have been established to recognize excellent students in music and the arts. Kira is an accomplished musician and artist as well as an academically talented student.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Since she can remember, Kira said she has always been drawing.

"Since when I can remember, I've always been drawing pictures," shared Kira. "We have home videos of me drawing stick figures, not very good drawings at the time, but I took over this table in the living room and there are just stacks of papers and pencils."

Though she doesn't draw as much on her spare time as she spends most of her spare time at school dropping in on honors art classes (they don't fit into her schedule and voluntarily works on her art portfolio during breaks in her school schedule), Kira said she still has a personal sketchbook that she keeps around, kind of like a personal journal.

"I still have a sketchbook though and draw stories that pop into my head," said Kira. "I don't really like people looking through my sketchbook because it's kind of like private drawings for myself. There's a part of me really into art that I like to share and show people what I've been doing and where I've been putting my heart in, but at the same time I'm that kid in the living room not ready to show anyone that. I like to keep that at home–it's kind of like, mine."

But when she was recognized by the school on her self-portrait that she created while she was voluntarily taking an honors class last year, Kira said it was exciting.

"There's nothing like getting an award for something you love," she said. "I honestly don't think I'm the best artist–I know I'm good but it's kind of hard to tell, so it's nice having people know that I can draw and have people notice my hard work."

This summer, Kira has taken an art-intensive summer class for a month at the University of Pennsylvania, where she attended art classes for seven hours a day and developed 20 portfolio pieces. 

Though she's only really started painting her sophomore year, Kira said painting (and oil painting) is her favorite medium–pencil and charcoal come as a close second.

A passion and knack for art, Kira is a self-proclaimed "nerd" and said she loves writing and history as well.

Although she is looking at more liberal arts colleges and not just art-specific schools after senior year, Kira said there is no doubt that she will still be taking art classes in some way.

"I'm pretty sure I'll major in art," said Kira, but "I still have to figure out if this is the thing for me and I don't know if it's completely me but I guess that's what college is for figuring things out." And at the very least, she said she will minor in art.

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. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.