Whiz Kid: Cranbrook Student Earns Leadership Award from West Point

This week's Whiz Kid impressed cadets from the nation's oldest military academy with her zeal, ethics and other leadership qualities.

Kamaria Washington

• Age: 16
• School: Junior at Cranbrook Schools
• Achievement: Kamaria was recently selected the top Leader Among Leaders by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The national distinction is given to participants in the academy's national leadership conference for high school students that impressed West Point cadets who worked with them in groups. The convention occurred in October at the Detroit Marriott and similarly in 10 other states. Her essay depicting a realistic, yet imaginative, ethical dilemma and how she would steer through it earned a first-place award and a $1,500 check from the Seeds of Humanity Foundation.
• Key to awesomeness: Though admittedly outgoing, Washington said she's more comfortable when the attention is focused on others — so last Friday's surprise visit by West Point and foundation officials to the school to present her check made her feel a bit strange, she said. "It was a total surprise. I'm more of a humbled person," the Detroit resident said. "I like to be around people, but not the center of attention. So it was a little awkward."
• Defining a leader: Washington said it can vary depending on personalities, but she knows the type of leader she is and wants to be. "Leadership is so different between extroverted and introverted individuals," she explained. "As an extroverted individual, my job is to encourage others to become leaders. A leader is designed to make leaders out of others."

Do you know our next Whiz Kid?

Birmingham Patch welcomes suggestions for students, youth groups and even sports teams who wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about amazing children and teens and select one each week as Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or email the information to editor Laura.Houser@patch.com. Please include all these details:

• Nominator's name
• Whiz Kid's name and age
• Whiz Kid's school
• Whiz Kid's accomplishment
• What makes him or her successful.