Whiz Kid: Alissa Anderegg

Name: Alissa Anderegg, 16 years old

School:  

Accomplishment: Alissa is a high achieving teen, who also passionately pursues a very personal mission to raise awareness about Alzheimer's.

Alissa, a junior at Monte Vista, currently has a 4.4 GPA and says she hopes to graduate with a 4.6 GPA. 

After her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Alissa says she became very involved in Alzheimer’s disease awareness and advocacy efforts. 

She started an Alzheimer’s Club at Monte Vista that is now part of the National Alzheimer’s Foundation Teen Chapter. 

Alissa has a talent for singing, and has performed at eight Alzheimer’s Memory Walks and events throughout California.  

She was a co-host at Maria Shriver’s Memory Walk at the Womens' Conference in Long Beach in Oct. 2010.

Alissa used Alzheimer’s disease awareness as her platform when she competed at the Miss California’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, affiliated with the Miss America organization, where she was named first runner-up.

In April she will travel to Chicago to speak at a state-wide caregiver’s conference, and will be a guest at the National Alzheimer’s Association’s headquarters. 

In recognition of her volunteering efforts, Alissa has also won the annual 100-hour volunteer service award for the past four  years as a member of the National Charity League.

Key to Awesomeness: Alissa approaches whatever she does with preparation and professionalism.

At age 5, Alissa says she saw a production of "Annie" at Pleasanton Playhouse and told her mom, "I want to do that."

Soon after seeing the production, she started taking voice lessons in Danville, taught by Lynda Kalb. 

Alissa says she learned to be prepared and professional from the acting and modeling work she has done since she was very young.

“By working professionally as a performer since I was 11 years old, and prior to that as a model, I learned how to be very organized and responsible," Alissa says. "These traits have helped me at school, at work, and to achieve my goals.”

Alissa has performed in over 35 professional and community musical and theatrical productions in the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

As a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Alissa has also appeared in movies, on TV, and in commercials. 

At age 11, she was hired by Mattel for three years to perform in the American Girl’s Revue in Los Angeles.  

Alissa currently is involved in drama classes at Monte Vista, and sings at charity events throughout California.  

Alissa says that although acting and singing is a big part of her life, her involvement with Alzheimer’s disease advocacy has made her very interested in science. 

She hopes to study neuroscience in college and become a doctor. 

For Alissa’s current schedule and resume, visit her website www.AlissaAnderegg.com.

Know a great kid who made a big accomplishment? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid. We want to hear about these amazing kids and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination tolizs@patch.com andkirsten.e.branch@gmail.com.