Community Corner
Whiz Kid: Milagros Vizcaino Captures Bronze Medal in Essay Competition
The ninth grader was the lone student from her school to be entered in citywide essay contest.
Milagros Vizcaino
Age:14
Whiz Kid's School:
Find out what's happening in Highland Park-Mount Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Bronze Medal Winner in Optimist Club of Lincoln Heights Essay Competition
Whiz Kid's Goal: "I’ve gotten several other awards for my writing, so I thought I would get something for this essay," Vizcaino said about her expectations for receiving recognition in the contest. Vizcaino also has aspirations of getting into the medical field.
Find out what's happening in Highland Park-Mount Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Vizcaino wrote about her own background in the competition, the topic of the essay was How Education is Key To A Successful Future.
"I’ve had a lot of experience being in trouble and I was constantly in the office, so I just wrote about my past and how it would affect me now and how it would affect me in the future," Vizcaino said. Vizcaino said she realized the value of her education when her family lectured her, after she was suspended from school for fighting last year.
"I’m very proud of Milagros, she’s consistently an excellent student. I’m also proud of the way she takes initiative," said Darcey Whitmore, Vizcaino's English teacher. "I announced this contest and she was one of the first students to take it upon herself to get started."
Vizcaino was also recently awarded a scholarship to attend a school of medicine of her choice this summer. The scholarship is part of the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine.
"They gave me a list of 10 states and I can choose any college in those states, " the ninth grade student said.
Whitmore said, "She shows a lot of determination, motivation and drive, so I know she’s going to be successful in whatever she chooses to do."