Whiz Kid: Star Quarterback Spencer Perez

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Spencer Perez, who is awesome because he's a star on the football field and in the classroom.

Whiz Kid: Spencer Perez

Age: 16

School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade

Spencer Perez is the star quarterback for the Hoboken High School football team. He's always played the game but the position is a new opportunity for him.

“It's always been a dream of mine,” he says. “I never played quarterback before.”

Spencer's favorite quarterback to follow in the NFL is Indianapolis Colts legend Peyton Manning. Like Manning, Spencer spends a lot of time studying game film to prepare for his opponents.

He says he most appreciates the leadership role that the position demands. The quarterback always has to know where his teammates are on the field, and how to rally them during the course of a game.

“You're the ultimate leader,” he says.

Spencer's leadership carries over from the football field into the school hallways. He uses his stature to reach out to other students. Everybody knows him.

“It gives me a chance to talk to kids who aren't very social,” he says.

Spencer enjoys studying media production, history and math. About history he says he likes “learning about the past and weird, interesting facts.” Spencer was good enough of a student to skip a grade and is already a senior at the age of 16. He's also a member of his school's Hispanic Culture Club.

Spencer is making plans to attend college, and thanks to his football skills he's being recruited by prominent schools such as Temple and Villanova, where he would attend on a scholarship. He wants to become either a sports journalist or study sports management.

But he's considering one more school too. Spencer is interested in attending West Point, where after graduating he would be commissioned as a second lieutenant. He knows the responsibility that would entail.

“You are serving your country,” he says.

Do you know a Whiz Kid, or even a whole group of them? Send any and all nominations to alanskontra@hotmail.com, and check back every Wednesday afternoon to read about some outstanding youngsters in your community.