Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Kelsey McMenamin

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 Kelsey McMenamin, a young volunteer spending her time helping and teaching younger students at St. Pius X School's summer camp.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Kelsey McMenamin

Whiz Kid's Age: 12

Whiz Kid's School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Unlike many other middle school students, Kelsey has given up her mornings for several weeks this entire summer going to school. Though she isn't in the classroom learning herself, Kelsey is volunteering her time and energy working with younger students, particularly kindergartners and first graders, at St. Pius X's summer enrichment program for the second year in a row.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: The summer camp is generally for young students in the community and varies from week to week–from sports to creative and art programs.

Kelsey has volunteered her time working with the kindergarten group at the camp in the Creative Corner (art) and field hockey programs.

Though she enjoys volunteering many of the programs, Kelsey said she enjoys working with the younger-aged campers the most. As a volunteer, Kelsey believes it's helping her train to become a teacher someday.

"I really like the kindergarten and first grade camps because I really like working with them," said Kelsey. "One day I plan to be an elementary school teacher. Kindergartners really need help and I think that's helping me prepare to become an elementary school teacher."

This is Kelsey's second year in a row volunteering at the camp, which also launched last year. Kelsey said she initially volunteered last year to receive her hour requirements for confirmation but liked it "so much" she decided to volunteer again this summer. In fact, the first year volunteering at St. Pius X's summer camp also helped inspire her career goal.

"Last year when I helped out with one of the camps, I enjoyed it so much and loved working with younger students. So I thought it would be so fun to go to school to be an elementary school teacher," shared Kelsey.

In particular, Kelsey hopes to teach reading and math someday. "I really like reading and I enjoy reading books," she said.

Teaching and volunteering are just two things that Kelsey has a passion for. Kelsey believes it's important to volunteer "because it's giving back to the community and it's what Jesus would've done, and he always said to help people and volunteer."

Kelsey said she hopes to continue to volunteer at the summer camp next year as well. "I enjoy it very much."

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.