Alexa Goldsmith: Whiz Kid

She was nominated by Charla Brautigam at Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 .

Whiz Kid's Name and Age: High school senior Alexa Goldsmith, 18

Whiz Kid's School: Lincoln-Way East High School

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Alexa earned an all-expense-paid educational trip to La Rochelle, France after entering a video contest sponsored by the French Consulate in Chicago and the Maude Fontenoy Foundation. Alexa submitted a 1.5 -minute video about environmental issues and her commitment to environmental protection earlier this year.

She learned last month that her video had been selected winner of the "Green Connection Contest." She will travel to France in July for an 11-day trip, during which she'll attend a conference on "Man and the Sea," visit the La Rochelle Aquarium, meet with experts from the National Seashore Conservatory and visit an ecological center for the treatment of waste water. She'll also visit a waste reprocessing plant and participate in beach clean-up outings.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: For her video, Alexa recruited a few classmates to act out some environmental tips — such as turning the lights off when you leave the room and turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth — as she sang about each one in French and German. She wrote the song with her guitar teacher, David Wonder.

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout, or did your local soccer team take the championship? Each week, Mokena Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to jessemichaelmarx@gmail.com. Be sure to include all of the following information: name, age/grade, school, accomplishment and 100-200 words on the key to their "awesomeness."