Whiz Kid: James McWilliam

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week

Name/Age: James McWilliam, 13

School: Cook Wissahickon Elementary School, Roxborough

Accomplishment: Advanced to the Delaware Valley Regional Science Fair.

James built an “air launcher,” or cannon-type device that uses air pressure to catapult items into the air.

Key to Awesomeness: For the last four years, this Roxborough seventh-grader made it to the citywide George Washington Carver Science Fair, but has been ineligible to participate in the Delaware Valley competition since it’s open only to those students in seventh grade and above.

Now, however, McWilliam is moving on to the regional competition. He says he’s the first student from Cook Wissahickon to participate in the large event. If he does well at DelVal, as it’s called, he can move onto nationals.

We at Patch think that’s pretty awesome.

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, Roxborough-Manayunk 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 Jon.Campisi@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?)