Hingham Whiz Kid: Camden Vassallo

Name:    Camden Vassallo, Grade 6

 School: 

 Key to Awesomeness: Believing in and seeing beyond himself

 Accomplishments: 

 You may recognize sixth grader Camden Vassallo – he was part of the eCYBERMISSION winning

Now Camden has been recognized for his writing skills as an honoree in the May State House ceremony for winners of the 2011 Letters About Literature (LAL) national contest.

 This competition had students in grades 6-8 from around the U.S. write letters to an author whose book has inspired them. Camden’s letter to Matt Tavares was in the top 1 percent of letters from MA.

The young winner discovered Mudball in 2007 when he met Tavares as part of Derby’s Joann Chandler Mitchell Visiting Author Series. Through Tavares’ tale of Andy Oyler, the 1903 minor-league baseball player and real-life hero of Mudball, Camden related to the challenges a small-sized athlete can face.

 The book helped him to realize that by staying positive and working hard, great things are possible.

 Inspirational himself, the sixth grader recognized the magnitude of his opportunity to visit the State House, represent Derby, and his teacher, Sara O’Brien. He said he enjoyed learning about the State House’s history and role in government today.