Whiz Kid: Biomedical Engineer Anthony Simbana

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Anthony Simbana, who is awesome because he's dedicating his life to saving the lives of others.

Whiz Kid: Anthony Simbana

Age: 18

School: Hoboken High School, 2011 Graduate

If you've ever called for emergency medical help, there's a fair chance that recent Hoboken High School graduate Anthony Simbana has answered. Since eighth grade he's been learning how to be an emergency medical technician as a part of a volunteer rescue squad with the Hoboken University Medical Center.

“I really enjoyed it,” he says. “I enjoy helping people to the best of my ability.”

Through a special program with the high school, Anthony learned the ropes from veteran technicians. He recently completed his own certification allowing him to become a professional EMT.

But what Anthony really wants to do is become a biomedical engineer. He's starting classes in that field in the fall at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He wants build a career specializing in designing and maintaining complex hospital equipment.

“I want to make sure everything is running the way it should be,” he says.

Anthony's work as an EMT and future career as biomedical engineer both fit into his lifelong passion for volunteerism. Whether he's answering an emergency distress call, or building a life-saving breathing machine, Anthony considers his work in the health care field as the best way he can help his community.

“Volunteering was the main foundation,” he says. “Since then I knew exactly what I wanted to do.”

Anthony has already been busy this summer preparing for college by taking a summer program at NJIT. He says the program helped him meet his future classmates and also prepare for the typical college class workload.

He says he's nervous about taking those college classes, but that he's ready and motivated. He expects to maintain a 4.0 grade point average.

“I plan on taking the hardest classes,” he says. “I'm going to give it my all.”

Do you know a Whiz Kid, or even a whole group of them? Send any and all nominations to alanskontra@hotmail.com, and check back every Wednesday afternoon to read about some outstanding youngsters in your community.