Each week, Melrose Patch spotlights a local child or teenager who has done something noteworthy. It might be that he or she scored a coveted summer internship, planted a patch in a community garden or entered artwork in a citywide exhibition. Youth do amazing work all the time, and we want to know about it.  So send your nominations for next week's Melrose Patch Whiz Kid to editors Chris Caesar or Mark Ouellette at melrose@patch.com. Include in your email the name and age of the nominee, the school he or she attends, a hundred words or so about his or her acheivement and a photo, if possible. 

Our Whiz Kid of the Week profile will return next Friday. In the meantime: Know a group of Cub Scouts who recently completed a big project? A student who committed a random act of kindness? They may be our next Melrose Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Each week, Melrose 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. E-mail your nominations to danield@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Katy Benagh, 10 Accomplishment: She came in first place at the Manchester Sailing Association Optimist Green Fleet Regatta for First Time Racers on Tuesday, July 3, 2012.   From her mother, Betsey Benagh:  How she did it: On Tuesday, July 3rd, 31 young sailors, none of whom had ever competed in a regatta before, raced at Manchester Yacht Club. The competitors sailed Optimist dinghys, which are a class of boat designed for children to learn to sail and race, single-handed. Four young women from Quannapowitt Yacht Club's Youth Sailing Program attended the …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Joshua Yee From Dr. Gene Yee and Mrs. Jennifer Yee:  School: Melrose High School Accomplishment: The recent graduate will receive a $2,000 yearly scholarship to attend Boston University.  How he did it: Joshua is first National Merit Scholar from Melrose High School since 2007, and one of 4,800 students nationwide receiving prestigious college-sponsored Merit Scholarships, which are underwritten by 197 universities and colleges. Only 0.5% of the 1.5-million PSAT/SAT takers from 22,000 high schools nationwide received National Merit Scholarships, which are …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Greg Statho School:Mystic Valley Charter School  From Martin Gately:  Accomplishment: Recent graduate Greg Statho was presented with a commemorative ball at the school’s recent High School Awards night in honor of Greg’s status as the Eagles’ first 1,000 point scorer. How he did it: The Eagle guard was an offensive force for Mystic Valley throughout his career. “To be the first 1,000-point scorer in the history of Mystic Valley basketball is quite an impressive accomplishment,” said boys’ varsity head basketball coach Tony Ferullo. “A four-year starter, …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Alex Wilson School: Melrose High School  Accomplishment: The Ripley School hired Wilson to be a teacher's assistant for a five-week summmer program after he "showed great enthusiasm and commitment to the students and staff" during an internship at the SEEM Collaborative Hurd Elementary Program.  How he did it: The students think Alex is “fun and really nice," and the teachers appreciate his flexibility and willingness to help, according to Jen Thornton, the principal of the SEEM Hurd Program.  We need nominations! Each week, Melrose Patch will seek …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Claire Haldeman and Savannah Soucy School: Melrose High School From Kim Talbot, of the school's foreign language department:  Accomplishment: The girls received recognition for their excellent performance on the 2012 National Italian Examinations. Savannah Soucy was awarded a scholarship from the Massachusetts Italian Teachers Association for her dedication to the study of Italian language and culture. Both students' successes are marked with formal letters, certificates, and a financial award. How they did it: Students from Melrose School have a …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Alex Foley, 17 School: Melrose High School  Accomplishment: Alex is one of 49 girls to qualify for the 2012 Girls Individual State Golf Championship that will be held June 5 at The Bay Club in Mattapoisett. What's next for her: Alex has been named captain of next year's Melrose Boy's Varsity Golf Team.  We need nominations! Each week, Melrose 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 …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Emily Conn, Risa Baba, Mary Madigan, Alyssa Morrison, and Olivia Pfeiffer School: Melrose High School Accomplishment: Conn received a bronze medal for her excellent score on the 2012 National Spanish Examination, and Baba, Madigan, Morrison and Pfeiffer received honorable mention.  How they did it: Nearly 100 Melrose High School students took the exam this year, which is given each year in grades six through 12 and sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Students have a history of scoring well, according to Kimberly …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: The 12 students who attended the Model UN conference at Bentley University in Waltham: seniors Rachel Follett, Sam Cardoso, Corinne Kelly; juniors Jamie Zajac, Sarah McDonald, Jessie Horne and Becca Cunniffe; sophomore Becca Kranz; freshmen Isabella O’Connell, Jack Eccles, Jack Steinberg and Ian Swan.   School: Melrose High School Accomplishment: Experienced and novice model United Nations participants proved outgoing at this training conference and received recognition for their abilities.  From Margot Bauman, Social Studies Department From March 23 to …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Seventh graders Dylan B., Connor A., Chloe S. and Matthew G. School: Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Accomplishment: These students will receive awards from the Boston Society of Civil Engineers for their achievements in the West Point Bridge Design Contest, according to an announcement from the school.  How they did it: During their technology education class, and with the help of their teacher, the group desgined the lowest cost bridge that followed the criteria of the contest. All the while, they learned about engineering.  Nominate a Whiz Kid! …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week:  The 20 Melrose High School Students who earned awards for scoring well on the National Latin Exam.  Brittany D'Innocenzo: Summa cum Laude: Gold Medal and Certificate of Honorable Merit Sydney Doherty: Maxima cum Laude: Silver Medal and Certificate of Honorable Merit Betty Ann Richardson: Maxima cum Laude: Silver Medal and Certificate of Honorable Merit Gabrielle Fox: Maxima cum Laude: Silver Medal and Certificate of Honorable Merit Rachel Johnson: Cum Laude: Certificate of Honorable Merit Andrew Wiswell: Cum Laude: Certificate of Honorable Merit Devin Hy…

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: The Golden Ratios Nate Shu (captain) Greg Hirsch,  Jacob Russett,  Chris Schwarze Garrett Collins (Submitted by Evan H. Shu)  School: Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Accomplishment: They were the Youth Silver Division Finalists in the MIT Science Trivia Challenge, which took place during the Cambridge Science Festival.  How they did it: A team of seventh graders from the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School took on 15 other youth teams (up through high school in age) in the MIT Science Trivia Challenge. The Golden Ratios did extremely well, …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Annabelle Rie, 8  Accomplishment: Annabelle appeared in 'Ice Chips 2012, 100 Years of Excellence,' an ice skating show "celebrating the dreams and accomplishments of the past, present, and future of figure skating," according to an announcement from The Skating Club of Boston.  How she did it: The Melrose girl has appeared in the show three times. She skates at the preliminary level and represents The Skating Club of Boston when she competes, according to the announcement.  Nominate next week's Whiz Kid Every Thursday on Melrose Patch, we spotlight youth in…

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Dylan Nottingham School: Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Accomplishment: Dylan will compete in the Ohio Wrestling Tournament of Champions in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, April 21.  How he did it: Dylan excelled at the Massachusetts State Wrestling Championship and the New England Wrestling Championship, according to an announcement from the school. He then won first place in the Marshwood Invitational in Portland, Maine. Those accomplishments qualified him to challenge youth wrestlers from across the country. What's next: At the national tournament, …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Mia Catalini and Cassandra Tervalon School: Lincoln Elementary School Accomplishment: They are finalists in Allergy & Asthma Today magazine's Ultimate Inhaler contest.  How they got there: They came up with the idea of necklaces for boys and girls with asthma that they could wear all the time. The ones for girls would have jewels on them, and the ones for boys would be sports-themed, according to Gail McCarthy, a nurse at the school.  "I'm so proud of them!" she wrote in an email. "They are the captains of our Lincoln School Asthma Group this year, are …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Destination ImagiNation Regional Tournament winners.  Schools: Hoover Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Winthrop Elementary, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, Acera School, Melrose High School, Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School and several home schooled children. Accomplishment: Five teams were first place regional champions in their age group for their challenge and will compete Saturday, March 31 in the state tournament in Worcester.    From Jennifer Leclerc:  Last week, more than 100 Melrose students ranging from …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Lea B. Alison B., Madelyn J., Rose M., Olivia R. and Jenna S. School: Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  Accomplishment: The group's creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills enabled them to place first at the Destination ImagiNation Metro North Regional Tournament on Saturday, March 17, at Beverly High School, according to an announcement from the school.  How they did it: The students came up with the best solution to an open-ended theater challenge titled “Coming Attractions!” What's next: Their accomplishment qualified the team to compete …

Melrose Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: "Hipster's Milk Dudes," aka, Chloe Melville, Isabel Bates, Alva Ronn and Emily DiPietro.  School: Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Accomplishment: The group created and starred in a video about a particular math problem that has received enough votes from the public to advance to the semi-final round of the Reel Math Challenge video contest. MATHCOUNTS, which sponsored the contest, is a national club that promotes middle school math through fun and challenging problems.  The synopsis: Mandy, who loves chocolate malted milk balls, must figure out how…

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Meghan Kirwan School: Emmanuel College Accomplishment: The senior co-captain of the Saints basketball team was named the 2012 player of the year by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.  From a feature on Emmanuel College's athletics website:  Kirwan has led the 2012 Emmanuel squad to a 22-6 overall record, as the Saints will make the program’s 17th NCAA Tournament appearance this Friday evening. The senior co-captain started in 27 of 28 games so far this year and is averaging big numbers in all four major statistical categories for the Saints. Kirwan is…