Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid: Brandon Ong

Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Brandon Ong, 11

School:

Key to Awesomeness: When Brandon Ong saw his score on the ACT, he thought, “Great, but work harder,” he said. He got a 30, but he wants to get a 34, 35 or 36, he said. Fortunately for him, since he’s only a sixth-grader, he’ll have a few years to reach his goal. Ong took the test through Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic Talent Search, a program to identify gifted and talented students. He had the highest composite and mathematics scores among sixth-graders in the state. To prepare for the test, he took practice tests and studied. Still, he was nervous, and found the test to be “quite intense” when he took it in February. The ACT wasn’t the only test Ong did well on this year. He also took second place in the St. Cloud State University Math Contest against more than 450 seventh-graders. Ong also participates in Knowledge Bowl and the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program. He loves computer games, and when he grows up, he said, he plans to become the CEO of the largest technology company in the world.

Each week, Oakdale Patch will 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 Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to patty.busse@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information: nominator's name, nominator's e-mail, Whiz Kid's name, Whiz Kid's age, Whiz Kid's school, Whiz Kid's accomplishment, Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you and assign a photographer to take a photo. For questions, e-mail patty.busse@patch.com.