Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Ariel Cruz, who is awesome because she's planning on being a big showbiz star. Whiz Kid: Ariel Cruz Age: 16 School: Hoboken High School, 11th Grade Sixteen year-old Hoboken High School junior Ariel Cruz does a bit of everything. She sings, acts, dances, writes, volunteers, designs costumes, debates politics and wants to be a business mogul. Her favorite school subject is English. She's currently taking the advanced placement class. She enjoys reading and wants to be a writer …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Cristian Rosa, who is awesome because he's learning how to crunch the numbers for big business. Whiz Kid: Cristian Rosa Age: 17 School: Hoboken High School, 11th Grade Cristian Rosa is already climbing the corporate ladder. The 17 year-old Hoboken High School junior works as an intern for the John Wiley & Sons publishing company. “I've been wanting to do it since my sophomore year,” Cristian says. “A teacher referred me, I handed in the application and got the job.” Cristian …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Samantha Perkins, who is awesome because she's building a strong work ethic at an early age. Whiz Kid: Samantha Perkins Age: 17 School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade Seventeen year-old Hoboken High School senior Samantha Perkins is preparing to attend college next fall. She's already been accepted, with a scholarship, to St. Elizabeth, Iona and the University of Hartford. She is also waiting to hear from Ramapo. She plans to study secondary education. “I want to be a …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Gina Tosado, who is awesome because she's counting on having a successful future. Whiz Kid: Gina Tosado Age: 17 School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade Gina Tosado, a senior at Hoboken High, is waiting for the next big stage in her life. She is planning on attending college next year. She's already been accepted to St. Elizabeth and NJCU, and is waiting to hear from Seton Hall and other schools. “I want to go to a small college where I can focus on things like sports, clubs …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Jennifer Tu, who is awesome because she's just starting a successful academic career. Whiz Kid: Jennifer Tu Age: 13 School: Hoboken High School, 8th Grade Jennifer Tu is in her first year as a student at Hoboken High. The eighth grader says she is adjusting to the more rigorous course load. Right now she cites math, science and social studies as her favorite subjects, and she likes the atmosphere of her classes. “The teachers are great here,” she says. Jennifer is a good …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Barbara Schaefer, who is awesome because she's destined for a life full of intellectual pursuits. Whiz Kid: Barbara Schaefer Age: 16 School: Hoboken High School, 11th Grade Hoboken High junior Barbara Schaefer is a modern girl who has a fascination with bygone times. She's particularly interested in 20th century American history, such as the World War II era. “I like how the exterior seemed very conservative, but things may not have really been that way,” she says. Barbara's …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Jaemison Yoon-Hendricks, who is awesome because he's a leader among his peers. Whiz Kid: Jaemison Yoon-Hendricks Age: 15 School: Hoboken High School, 10th Grade Jaemison is a prominent member of his school class. He's the vice president for the class of 2014, and he excels at conducting officer meetings and fundraising for class activities. He's involved in a number of clubs which have raised his profile in Hoboken High. To start, he's a member of the Jumpstart program, where…

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Marcelo Bulatovic, who is awesome because he's learning early in life how to cover long distances. Whiz Kid: Marcelo Bulatovic Age: 13 School: Hoboken Charter School, 7th Grade Running comes easy for Hoboken Charter School 7th grader Marcelo Bulatovic. He's a member of his school's new running club, and he just ran the annual “Hobooken” 5k race on Halloween weekend. Marcelo first realized he could run well while playing tag with his friends. “They always say, 'you're so fast…

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Israel Flores, who is awesome because he's learning how to capture life on camera. Whiz Kid: Israel Flores Age: 17 School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade Israel Flores is only 17, but he already knows what he wants to do in life. He's got an ambitious career goal. “I want to be a filmmaker,” he says with a big smile. He's preparing for his future career by taking media production classes at Hoboken High, where's he's learning cinematography and editing skills. After …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Irma Pinos, who is awesome because she's as busy as she can be. Whiz Kid: Irma Pinos Age: 16 School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade Sixteen year-old Irma Pinos knows how to handle a busy schedule. She's in several clubs at Hoboken High School, including the yearbook, math, chemistry and Hispanic culture clubs. She's also in the Hype Club where she mentors younger students. “It's basically managing and multitasking,” she says. “You just have to balance it out.” Irma, a senior…

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Natasha Rivera, who is awesome because she's the one neighbors can call when they're in need. Whiz Kid: Natasha Rivera Age: 17 School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade While other students are in class, Hoboken High senior Natasha Rivera spends her school days as a paramedic on call with a volunteer ambulance corps. The corps, started by the high school, is the first of its kind in the nation. Students go on real calls and learn the ropes of responding to neighbors in distress…

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Spencer Perez, who is awesome because he's a star on the football field and in the classroom. Whiz Kid: Spencer Perez Age: 16 School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade Spencer Perez is the star quarterback for the Hoboken High School football team. He's always played the game but the position is a new opportunity for him. “It's always been a dream of mine,” he says. “I never played quarterback before.” Spencer's favorite quarterback to follow in the NFL is Indianapolis Colts …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Gabrielle Frederick, who is awesome because she's following bright lights towards the big city. Whiz Kid: Gabrielle Frederick Age: 17 School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade When it comes to the performing arts, 17 year-old Hoboken High School senior Gabrielle Frederick does it all. She sings, dances and acts. She had already been singing since she was young when joined the high school's award-winning theater program. Acting in plays at school has opened doors for her. Over …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Lily Bowman, who is awesome because she's learning early how to find her singing voice. Whiz Kid: Lily Bowman Age: 8 School: HoLa Dual Language School, 3rd grade Eight year old Lily Bowman loves music. She has been singing since she was four. She is a member of the Garden Street Music rock band and is also going to sing at the upcoming fall arts and music festival. Her favorite types of music are pop and country, and her favorite acts are Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Lady …

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…

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Cheyanne Montalvo, who is awesome because she's getting involved in helping her community at an early age. Whiz Kid: Cheyanne Montalvo Age: 17 School: Hoboken Charter School, graduated 2011 Seventeen-year-old Cheyanne Montalvo has just earned a college scholarship from the Rotary Club of Hoboken, a reward for spending several years performing service to her community. Cheyanne has been a member of the Interact Rotary, which is a junior Rotary group for teenagers and young …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Jake Rubenstein, who is awesome because he's becoming a musical prodigy. Whiz Kid: Jake Rubenstein Age: 8 School: Wallace Elementary School, 3rd Grade He may not be old enough yet to have to go to work, but eight-year old Jake Rubenstein already wants to bang on drums every day. He's been playing for two years, having started taking lessons at the Garden Street Music school. “It's the easiest thing, I just like banging on stuff,” he says. He practices on a set at home for …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Hudson Cannon, who is awesome because he's creating a whole new comic book universe. Whiz Kid: Hudson Cannon Age: 7 School: HoLa Dual Language School, 3rd Grade Hudson Cannon may only be seven years old, but he's already created an entire new universe full of superheros and villains. Together with his best bud, Hudson draws comic books. “I said, 'we should start a comic book,'” Hudson recalls. The book is called Paper Dudes, and it's full of characters with cool names like …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Millie Novak, who is awesome because she's already a performing superstar. Whiz Kid: Millie Novak Age: 11 School: Stevens Cooperative School, 6th grade Just 11 years old, Millie Novak is already an accomplished and award-winning performer. She sings, acts, dances and also plays the piano and violin. She's been doing all of those musical things since she was very young, but says she probably likes dancing the most. “I've been doing it the longest,” she says. Recently she was …

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Marina Wardell, who is awesome because she's learning how to express herself through song. Whiz Kid: Marina Wardell Age: 14 School: Notre Dame School, incoming 9th grader “I've been singing my whole life,” 14 year old Marina Wardell says about her favorite activity. She's since learned how to play musical instruments and write her own songs. “I've started learning the piano,” she says. “My mom thought that would benefit me for writing songs.” She also plays the guitar. Marina…