Whiz Kid of the Week: Matthew Jensen

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week:

○     Matthew Jensen, 18

○     Newtown High School (graduate)

○     Attending Rutgers University to study genetics on a National Merit Scholarship

Matthew Jensen has been fascinated with biology and genetics since first taking the subject in ninth grade. He said he remembered reading about genetic transformation and being enthralled by it.

"I wanted to be a part of it," the Newtown High School graduate said. "You can take DNA of an organism and change it and you can permanently cure disease."

Jensen, who also recently achieved Eagle Scout, was among several National Merit finalists from Newtown, and with that comes several perks, such as scholarship money.

Rutgers University, the state university in New Jersey, not only admitted Jensen but gave him a scholarship that will help defer his out-of-state tuition. In addition, Jensen has received a presidential scholarship and money to attend college from the Sandy Hook PTA and Big Y supermarket.

"It's good to pay as little as possible," Jensen said.

With two younger brothers who also intend to go to college, his family can use the financial aid.

Rutgers also made sense because they have a genetics and microbiology program, said Jensen, who recently attended orientation at the college.