Whiz Kids: Holy Family Future Problem Solvers Advance to International Meet

This week's Whiz Kids are students from the ’s Future Problem Solvers, who finished in first place in the Michigan State Bowl. In June they will travel to the University of Wisconsin for the international competition in both the individual division as well as the team division.

Future Problem Solving Competition State Champions

School: Holy Family Regional School

Accomplishment:  In a field of more than 90 teams, the Holy Family Future Problem Solving Junior division team of sixth-graders Sarah Brady, Tessa Magsoudi, Steven Stine, Hannah Tobiczyk and Pietro Pellerito claimed the first-place title for the Michigan State Bowl at Clarkston Junior High last month.

Fifth-grader Jessica Brinser also finished in first place in the state for her scenario writing for the competition.

Both the junior division team and Jessica have received invitations to compete in the International Conference in June.

Key to awesomeness: The state competition is a culmination of dedication and effort of these young people.  Throughout the year, these students have researched a list a topics. They have hosted speakers and attended presentations to familiarize themselves with topics such as water quality and other healthy living scenarios.  Success in the Future Problem Solving program depends on the students knowing the facts, problems and possible solutions to several future issues.

The team competition involves a four-minute presentation where they determine a problem and a solution based on a given future scene.  The team also performs a skit based on their solution.  This program requires critical thinking skills, learning to be a team member and collectively coming up with a solution. 

Jessica’s scenario writing involved writing about a problem based on a scenario, developing characters, crafting a solution and writing from the perspective of one of the characters. Jessica has already submitted a story to be judged for the international competition, and she will also work on-site with a team of four other competitors on a spontaneous writing piece. 

The students moving forward in the competition will compete against students from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, England and Portugal. 

“The Future Problem Solving Program is a highly successful international competition that encourages a student's awareness on relevant issues of today that could have global impact in the future,” said Mary Nowak, head of Holy Family’s Talent Development Programs.  “We, at Holy Family, are very proud of our junior and middle school students who worked very hard this entire school year fine-tuning their desire to explore challenges and propose action plans to complex societal problems.”

Do you know our next Whiz Kid?

Each week, Rochester Patch seeks 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 writer Sally Anglim. 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?)