Whiz Kid: Stoney Creek Senior Receives National Photography Award

Each week, the Whiz Kid column spotlights an accomplishment of a student or student group. This week, we feature Mandy Hess, a Stoney Creek High School senior who received top honors in this year's National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

Mandy Hess, 18

Accomplishment: Hess received Gold status for her photography portfolio in the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards contest. She was one of only two students nationwide to receive the 2011 Photography Portfolio Gold Award.

Key to Awesomeness: Hess, a senior at Stoney Creek High School, has been interested in photography since she was in the eighth grade and started by taking pictures of nature scenes and her friends’ bands. She took photography 1 and 2 as a sophomore and spent the last two years in Advanced Placement Portfolio.

As a sophomore and junior, she received Gold Key, Silver Key and certificates in the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards contest, but this is the first time she has been honored nationally.

Her portfolio consisted of eight pieces, and her theme was personal atmospheres. To convey that message, she took pictures of her friends in their homes and living rooms.

Outside of school, she has taken many senior portraits professionally, and she plans to study photojournalism in college. Hess is the daughter of John and Sandy Hess; she has a sister, Nichole.

Note: Some of Hess' artwork is in Rochester Hills.

Do you know our next Whiz Kid?

Each week, Oakland Township Patch and Rochester Patch seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to editors Jen Anesi or Kristin Bull. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's name
• Whiz Kid's name and age
• Whiz Kid's school
• Whiz Kid's accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)