Whiz Kids: Harlan Students Go Green with New Club

Every week, Patch spotlights young people in the Birmingham community who are successful, talented and just plain awesome. We're pleased to introduce this week's Whiz Kids:

Julian Norton, Bella Rodriguez, Sarah Whitman and Erin Roberts

• Age: Third through fifth grade
  
• School:
  
• Achievement: These four founding members of Harlan Elementary's Green Team — a club focused on ways to save the environment — presented the club's activities to Superintendent David Larson two weeks ago.
  
• Key to awesomeness: Rodriguez said the club has a variety of initiatives, including Trashless Thursday, where students are encouraged to bring plastic containers to lunch. The grade that disposes of the least amount of trash receives "Bob," a trophy constructed out of recycled material that is kept in the classroom. In addition, Roberts said the club releases "green facts" every Tuesday and Friday, keeping their peers aware about saving energy. 

Do you know a special student in the community who deserves a round of applause because he or she volunteers instead of playing video games after school? Or maybe your daughter's science club is trying to challenge the way we think about the energy crisis? Or maybe your son's lacrosse team won its first game in three years? Everyone deserves a little attention, and we want to tell these stories.

So email your Whiz Kid nominations to Editor Laura Houser at laura.houser@patch.com, fill out the information given above and include a photo with names and ages. Then, come back every Wednesday for our Whiz Kid spotlight; you never know who will be up next.