Whiz Kid: Veterinarian Samantha Scios

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Samantha Scios, who is awesome because she's making the footsteps she's followed into her own.

Whiz Kid: Samantha Scios

Age: 17

School: Hoboken High School, 12th Grade

With just a few weeks left until she graduates from Hoboken High School, 17 year old Samantha Scios thinks she may finally be getting some senioritis.

“I'm getting there,” she jokes.

Samantha has certainly earned some relaxed last few days, as she's been very busy during her time at Hoboken High. She's been involved in a number of groups, including the class clubs during her junior and senior years, the French Club, the Harvard Model Congress Club, the Adopt a Solider program, Team Pep, where she helps mentor younger students, and the theater department, where she recently starred as Amber in Hoboken High's hit production of “Hairspray.”

Samantha is also an excellent student, being a member of both the National Honors Society and the International Baccalaureate programs.

Samantha has parlayed her educational success into acceptance at Penn State. She's received several scholarships, including from the university, but also from the Hoboken Elks Lodge and other funds.

She intends to study veterinary medicine. Samantha has an interest in animals, something she thinks she learned from her mom, who in addition to being a teacher at Hoboken High is also an animal rescue activist.

“My mom has definitely been an influence,” Samantha says. She feels that passion has been passed down and is now her own.

“I've always loved animals,” she says. “In my heart I know I want to be a vet.”

With those last few weeks of school to go, and then three months of summer before she moves away, Samantha hopes to enjoy spending quality time with her friends and seeing movies.

“Typical teenage stuff,” she says. “Oh, and driving too. I love going on drives with my family.”

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.