Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Alexandra Stephanou

Each week, Marple Newtown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. This week, we highlight recently graduated Marple Newtown High School senior Alexandra Stephanou, who was chosen as one of the students to address the .

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Alexandra Stephanou

Whiz Kid's Age: 18

Whiz Kid's School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: From their student body class of 288, Alex, as she likes to be called, was chosen with her best friend Suzanna Talento (look out for her interview with Patch next week) to share her commencement speech during graduation. The two girls kept this a secret from everyone, including their families, but each other until graduation day. There were four who submitted their speeches and only two were chosen. This was Alex's first big public speaking event.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: When Alex heard the announcement that the high school would be accepting submitted commencement speeches for graduation, she didn't think much of it until the night before the speeches were due.

"To be honest, it was the night before they were due and I had just spoken at the National Honor Society induction–I was an officer this year–and thought I would be able to do this," she recalled. "I kind of just wrote it on a whim."

When she found out she had a 50 percent shot–two out of the four submitted speeches were chosen–of speaking at the graduation she not only started to get nervous but "really started freaking out about this."

The graduation was Alex's first public speaking event of that type of magnitude. Though she says she gets nervous publicly speaking, Alex didn't have her nerves get the best of her. With the help of her English teacher and her best friend Suzanna, she was able to relax and deliver her motivating commencement speech to her fellow classmates on June 16.

"I decided that I would regret this if I didn't do this," she shared.

In her commencement speech, Alex motivates her classmates to continually challenge themselves which has stemmed from her own personal high school experiences.

"We have so many options and some kids feel so limited at high school but at this day in age, we can do anything we want to do," said Alex. "There are going to be obstacles. I always challenged myself with AP classes and honor classes even when I didn't think I could do them. I think I learned from my teachers in those classes–you can do anything you put your mind too."

Though she'll miss her best friend Suzanna, her family and her track & field team (she was a mid-distance runner) and coaches, there are a few things that Alex is looking forward to come fall. Alex will be attending Lehigh University's College of Arts and Sciences.

"It's pretty weird because it's [high school] has been such a big part of my life in so many ways, but I'm excited about college," she said. "Lehigh is giving me the opportunity to try out for their track & field team to see if Ican get on their team. Being away from my parents (it's sad) but it's just new, and I think it will be exciting to just have something always to do at your fingertips. In high school, you usually choose one or two things to do that you can do after school because you don't have the time but in college, you can join all these clubs."

Though she hasn't decided on a major, Alex shared she hopes to study within the sciences as her favorite subject is biology.

Editor's note: 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. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.