Whiz Kid: Sherman Helps Bring New Technology to West Hills

Patch spotlights young people in the West Bloomfield community who are successful, talented and just plain awesome. Today we introduce the latest Whiz Kid:

Jolie Sherman

• Age: 13
• School:
• Achievements: This eighth-grader played an instrumental role in helping her school to gain entry into the WeatherBug Schools Program after winning the nationwide 2011 SunWise with SHADE National Poster Contest. West Hills now has a brand-new WeatherBug Weather Station and a lifetime WeatherBug Achieve educational software license.
  
  The school also joins a group of 8,500 others across the country with the technology, which enables teachers to integrate live, local weather data and the latest technology into classroom learning. “Current 7th graders are utilizing the WeatherBug Tracking Station every day at the beginning of class as they are recording the live, real-time data for various atmospheric conditions while they learn about weather and climate. Students are excited to have the WeatherBug Station because they get to wear the hat of meteorologists who study and predict the weather,” Principal Heidi Kattula said in a press release.
  
  For her win, Jolie traveled to Washington, DC, last spring to take part in an award ceremony hosted by the SHADE Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that teaches children about sun safety. There, she met with those involved in the SHADE Foundation, including politician Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), retired baseball professional Curt Schilling, and reality television star Omarosa.
  
  Jolie also gave a speech, which father Larry Sherman described as, "thrilling ... beyond what we were expecting."
  
  "I prepared the speech in the car going to Washington. Since I was so moved by this accomplishment, I said how I’d carry the message further by informing fourth- and fifth-grade students at my school how to be sun-wise … because it was already spring and school was almost out," Jolie said.

• Key to Awesomeness: Jolie is truly dedicated to her fellow students and the community, which is apparent in the explanation of her speech and confirmed by forensics coach Rachel Warnecke.
  
  "Jolie is one of the hardest working, most dedicated students I’ve ever had. ... Not only that, but she’s always watching every team member to make sure they’re in a good frame of mind," Warnecke said. "What she radiates helps us shine as a team. Even her classmates recognize that from her."
  
  Jolie balances her time on the forensics team with competitive dance at in Farmington Hills, soccer in the , clarinet in the school band, straight As in classwork, and her Dec. 10 Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
  
  "I want to do my best all the time, and that’s what satisfies me," Jolie said.

Do you know our next Whiz Kid?

Bloomfield Patch welcomes suggestions for students, youth groups and even sports teams who wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about amazing children and teens and select one each week as Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or email the information to editor Art.Aisner@patch.com. Please include all these details:

• Nominator's name
• Whiz Kid's name and age
• Whiz Kid's school
• Whiz Kid's accomplishment
• What makes him or her successful