Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Wil Kauffman

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 Wil Kauffman, a senior at Marple Newtown High School, who had perfect attendance for his entire school career in the Marple Newtown School District.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Wil Kauffman

Whiz Kid's Age: 18

Whiz Kid's School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Wil Kauffman is an accomplished soccer star, who plays for the Marple Newtown Tigers and the Marple Newtown Vipers, the travel team, singer, actor, and musician, and was recently awarded with the Creative Writing Award at a recent Senior Awards Night Ceremony.

But, now, he can add another accomplishment to his high school career: perfect attendance. Wil is just about finished with his senior year, ending his Marple Newtown career on a perfect note. He's never missed a day of school since first grade.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: "It just kind of happened," recalls Wil about not missing a day of school since first grade. "I got an award for it after that year [first grade] for perfect attendance and I just thought it was something special."

Wil credits his dad for never missing a day of school, or even being late to school for that matter, but says his parents never really pushed him to achieve this accomplishment.

"I guess I never got sick enough to miss school. Once elementary school was over, I still haven't missed a day and I just kind of kept doig it," says Wil.

But that's not to say he hasn't had his share of weak moments.

"The worst was when the Phillies won the World Series. Everyone was out celebrating, except me and four other kids," shares Wil.

Despite some tempting moments to miss school, Wil is glad that he's able to share this unique accomplishment to others. "It's pretty cool–it's definitely an ice breaker at this point."

What's helped keep him motivated to attend school everyday is, really, the extracurricular activities like soccer, choir, the high school musicals and plays. According to Wil, if you miss a day of school during those seasons you are not allowed to attend a game or performance.

Soccer is one of Wil's biggest passions. He started playing at the age of 5 like many other kids but soon got involved with the travel team in town. Wil plays for the Marple Newtown Vipers and is qualified to referee for any soccer game.

The other big passion in Wil's life: singing and performing. Wil started performing in the middle school One Act Plays and join in high school, only to realize that all the same students were also involved in the choir, who were also involved in the high school musicals.

Wil claims English is definitely one of his favorite subjects in school–not much reading, he says, but more of the creative writing aspect. He's planning to attend the State University of New York this fall to study screenwriting.

Wil, who , shared he's excited for the fall, attending one of the biggest performing arts programs in the nation, and living in New York only a bus stop away to the city and the Broadway district.

"I don't know, I guess I'm just excited about the lifestyle. You can go to New York City with the school bus system. The first thing I'll do when I get to New York City is probably watch a musical. I've only gone to New York City to see shows but I haven't really gotten to explore," shares Wil.

Though he's excited about college and New York, leaving Marple Newtown is bittersweet.

"I guess I'm realizing I'll never see my friends after this year. I'll never perform with the same cast ever again. I'll definitely miss my friendships with people. This will be the last time all of us will be together on the same stage. I'll miss that the most," says Wil.

But he has his sights to the future and someday, Wil hopes to write for Saturday Night Live or on the Jimmy Fallon show and work his way up to write films and musicals.