Whiz Kid: Atajio Ivy Works Hard to Reach His Goals

Atajio Ivy

Whiz Kid Age: 11

Whiz Kids School:  

Whiz Kids Accomplishments: Fifth-grader Atajio Ivy recently received the Parkway School District's Spirit of Excellence Award. The award is given to African-American students who have achieved outstanding accomplishments, including maintaining a high GPA and good citizenship. Atajio is president of the Student Leadership Council. His mother tells Patch that Atajio maintained straight A's all year long.

"He was very excited about being honored and he really wanted to earn the award. He started praying for it. It was his goal," she said. She describes her son as an intelligent, quick learner and a "socialbutterfly" who can still maintain his grades. She said Atajio loves to play jokes, and most people, other than his four siblings, think his jokes are funny.

Whiz Kids' Key to Awesomeness: "I think I won the award because I tried my best to get the best grades I can get. I got all 'A's' and I didn't act up a lot," Atajio said. "I tried my best and I got there. I got to my goal."

Know of a Whiz Kid? Send us your suggestion by telling us in the comments, or email Gabrielle.Biondo@patch.com.