Whiz Kid of the Week: Carlee Beckler and Todd Liou

Each week San Marino Patch names a Whiz Kid of the Week. This can be a kid, teen, sports team, Girl Scout troop, etc. from San Marino who is amazing in some way.

We are asking for your nominations for Whiz Kid of the Week, so suggest a special San Marino kid, teen or youth group in the comment box below! Read more about nominations .

This week’s Whiz Kids of the Week are Carlee Beckler and Todd Liou. Carlee and Todd were both recently seniors at where they were chosen to be this year's graduation speakers at the ceremony. Carlee will be attending the University of Notre Dame and Todd will be attending University of California, Berkeley this coming fall. Carlee's parents are Mollie Beckler, a San Marino High School counselor, and Ben Beckler, a developer of senior housing. Her brother Christian Beckler is in the US Military Academy. Todd's parents are Brenda and Thomas Liou, who are both entrepreneurs, and his brother Nicholas is also at UC Berkeley.

• Whiz Kid's Name: Carlee Beckler
• Whiz Kid's Age: 17
• Whiz Kid's School: San Marino High School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Carlee was chosen alongside Todd Liou to be the graduation speaker of the San Marino High School graduating class of 2011. Carlee was President of the ASB and is a member of the National Charity League, an accomplished Girl Scout and a leader at her church youth confirmation program. According to Vice Principal Mary Johnson at SMHS, she is a "special" young lady that is well-liked and respected by her peers and her teachers.
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: The key to Carlee’s awesomeness is that she has always put her academics first. This ability to prioritize her studies and extracurricular activities is certainly just one of the many reasons she has excelled at not only being a student but an individual. In parallel with Carlee’s time-management skills is the fact that she is a very involved individual. Between participating in every campus opportunity she can find, from athletics (soccer, volleyball and track) to clubs, Carlee’s participation in her high school community has taught her how to be comfortable not only within the student body, but also her environment. Carlee is also a very humble young woman and counts her attendance to San Marino High School as a blessing.       

• Whiz Kid's Name: Todd Liou
• Whiz Kid's Age: 17
• Whiz Kid's School: San Marino High School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Todd has had a very successful high school career. From working as a copy editor on the year book, to being an active member of the ASB and the band president, Todd finished off his final year of high school with the privilege of being one of the two student speakers for San Marino High School’s graduating class of 2011.
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: The key to Todd’s awesomeness is his incredible curiosity; he’s taken an intense interest in the world. Todd taught himself how to read, spell, and write before he was in kindergarten, takes a connective learning approach in the way he relates to others and has been a great contributor to the community in multiple arenas. From his involvement in leadership roles around the San Marino High School campus ), to his exceptional academic performance (placing in the top 10 percent of his class), Todd is truly a multi-faceted individual. What truly sets Todd apart, however, is the fact that he’s also incredibly well-rounded. Not only does he excel in academics, but he was  also a member of San Marino’s diverse musical groups: marching band (as a member of the drum line), concert band and wind ensemble.

Bonus Whiz Kid Info: Carlee Beckler

Favorite Food: Seared Ahi

Last Book Read for Pleasure: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

If she had power to change one thing and make the world a better place, what would that be?: I would make sure every person had the opportunity to receive an education.

Bonus Whiz Kid Info: Todd Liou

Favorite Food: Thai, Japanese, and Korean Cuisine; pasta, and mashed potatoes

Last Book Read for Pleasure: Currently reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

If he had power to change one thing and make the world a better place, what would that be?: Education