Submitted by Carrie Schluter, public relations specialist Yashaswini Makaram, eighth grader at Robert E. Melican Middle School in Northborough, MA, won the top prize in the 2012 state-wide Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair  The Massachusetts Middle School Science & Engineering Fair is a forum for students in grades 6-8 to explore "real world" science and engineering discovery through hands-on experience. Students also learn about the many exciting and emerging fields of science and technology today, building important life skills—from reading, writing and math to communications, …

Riri Uchida's family had season passes to Ski Ward in Shrewsbury, where they'd quite often hit the slopes for a daying of skiing. Uchida quickly tired of skiing, but would eye the kids who were snowboarding. She wanted to try that, and she did. And she got really good at it. At Copper Mountain in Colorado in April 1, Uchida placed ninth in the USASA National Championships in the slope-style category. Uchida, who is 13, and attends eighth grade at the Melican Middle School, and competed against some 30 other girls in her age group category. "I entered one last year," said Uchida, "and it was …

Maggie Del Re got to celebrate the fruits of her efforts on Friday, when students, parents, residents and town officials met to celebrate the Treez 4 Zeh at the Zeh School. The ceremony marks the culmination of a week's worth of planting trees that had replaced trees ruined in this past October's Nor'easter. Treez 4 Zehd was founded by Del Re, a fifth grader at the school. Getting other students and parents involved, as well as local sponsors, she exceeded her original goal of $2,000 and hit $3,000, enough to plant 12 new trees.  On Friday, the entire Zeh staff and student body was present, …

They say he always had a laugh, and a kind word to say. He was always positive. You'd never know Greg Mandara had cancer, say former classmates. Mandara, who attended Lincoln Street School, on Aug. 2, 2009, succumbed to the leukemia he had battling since he was younger. "He was really funny, and he had a lot of jokes and he was never sad, even when he was really sick," said friend and classmate Zoe Chang. "He had a bandana and lost all his hair and still would make us laugh. We would video chat him in the hospital. He acted like he didn’t have cancer. Everybody liked him." Now, those …

Back in December, Maggie Del Re, a fifth grader at the Zeh Elementary School, had that idea that she wanted to replace the trees that had been destroyed outside of her school during the October snowstorm. That idea quickly became a reality, and Del Re coordinated a successful fundraiser that will now bring those trees to her school. With help from classmates and parents, more than $3,000 was raised to purchase trees for the Zeh School. "We are now in the process of picking trees and planning the planting ceremonies," wrote Del Re on her Treez 4 Zeh Facebook page. Del Re said the tree planting…

In mid-December, Maggie Del Re, a fifth grader at the Zeh Elementary School, came home with a huge jar and a letter in her hand. She told her mom, Jodi Del Re, that she had an assignment: write a paragraph. That same day, trees that had been destroyed by the October Nor'easter were being pulled from the Zeh property and removed. "They were on her mind," said Jodi, "and she just started writing out this idea to raise money to save the trees." The next day, Maggie turned the assignment in to her teachers, and they, along with the principal and office staff, were so excited and impressed, they …

On Saturday, a small group of volunteers, led by Dana Grecco from Algonquin Regional High School, headed to 30 Alcott Drive in Northborough. The Moore family needed help with post-storm clean up, and the group, known as Algonquin Gives Back, was there to help. The organization is made up of students from Algonquin Regional High School and give an extra set of hands to people who have various challenges in the community. "They set to task dragging out fallen limbs from the stream bed," said Cynthia Moore,"clearing brush that was clogging the flow and even took a few minutes to take down a few …

A Northborough girl has landed a part in a production of A Christmas Carol at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts this season. Tess Herdman makes her Hanover Theatre debut as part of the Dick Wilkins and youth ensemble. This is New England's largest production of A Christmas Carol, with shows Dec. 16-23 at the theater in Worcester. Adapted and directed by Troy Siebels, executive director of The Hanover Theatre, this Charles Dickens classic has become a holiday tradition for families. A Christmas Carol tells the tale of curmudgeonly miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghosts …

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree.Each week, Northborough Patch will seek suggestions from readers forindividual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination by emailing the information to Charlene Arsenault at charlene.arsenault@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information Nominator's Name Nominator's E-Mail…

Whiz Kid: Abby Barnes, 9 Whiz Kid’s School: Fourth grader at Peaslee School Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: An upcoming equestrian. Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Every little girl seems to fall in love with horses after their first pony ride at a fair. It was no exception for Abby Barnes when she was three years old. “I loved being on a horse,” Abby said. “When I was four or five years old, I took pony classes and now am taking riding lessons.” The Pony Pals class, offered through the Northborough Recreation Department in conjunction with Century Mill Stables in Bolton is what really inspired …

Whiz Kids: Tyler Andrus, 17; Tom Boland, 16 Whiz Kids’ School: Tyler Andrus is a senior and Tom Boland is a junior at Algonquin Regional High School. Whiz Kids’ Accomplishment: These guys started playing and singing the National Anthem in the school cafeteria as a tribute to the victims of 9/11. Whiz Kids’ Key to Awesomeness: It was Friday, Sept. 9, and there were about ten or fifteen minutes left to the first lunch period. Andrus and Boland walked in. Andrus announced to the students and staff in the cafeteria that the upcoming weekend would mark the tenth anniversary of the events of 9/11. …

Whiz Kid: Zach Youssef, 12  Whiz Kid’s School: Melican Middle School, Seventh Grade Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Youssef thrives on setting goals for himself while having fun with some of his favorite extracurricular activities. Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Youssef never shies away from challenges and high goals. Youssef started taking karate classes with T. Rose's Uechi-Ryi Karate School about five years ago and is now a brown belt with 3 black stripes. Typically, he attends classes twice a week, but sometimes there are other time constraints that prevent him from attending as regularly as …

Whiz Kids: Kevin Reale, 12; Tim Reale, 15   Whiz Kids’ Schools: Kevin is in seventh grade at Melican Middle School; Tim is a sophomore at Algonquin Regional High School. Whiz Kids’ Accomplishments: Despite the extreme hockey schedules, these two brothers love the game and fit in baseball too. Whiz Kids’ Key to Awesomeness: Speed, power, and teamwork. The three integral things a hockey player must possess. When Tim and Kevin Reale are not watching professional hockey games on television, they are playing for youth teams. Hockey fans run in the Reale family, so it was no surprise that the boys …

Whiz Kids: Alex Mayhew, 16; Stephen Mayhew, 15            Whiz Kids’ Schools: Alex is a junior and Stephen is a sophomore; both attend Algonquin Regional High School. Whiz Kids’ Accomplishments: Alex is a gifted trombone player, Stephen a talented French horn player. Whiz Kids’ Key to Awesomeness: Auditions, rehearsals, and performances: the life of a musician. Brothers Alex and Stephen Mayhew have been playing musical instruments for years; Alex since fifth grade and Stephen since seventh grade. Although Alex has experience with the guitar and drums, as well as piano, he set his sights on …

Whiz Kid: Sheanah McStay, 18 Whiz Kid’s School: Freshman, Bridgewater State University Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: A dancer for life. Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: “Dance is my life, my therapy, my passion, my everything,” said McStay. “There is not one thing that I don’t like about dance.” At two, dance instruction starts with tap and ballet and classes typically meet once a week. McStay remembers that once a week was just not enough. “I couldn’t wait for class to start and was so happy to turn 7 years old when I was able to take two classes.” She has just about a daily presence at Rhythm …

Whiz Kids: Girl Scout Troop 30478. Olivia Mott, 14; Lauren McKenna, 13; Rachel English, 13; Megan Robbins, 14; Jenna Lyons, 13; Elizabeth Wig, 14; Haley Lyons, 13, and Meghan Clarke,13. Whiz Kids’ Schools: Eighth Grade, Melican Middle School; Freshman, Algonquin High School and Worcester Academy Whiz Kids’ Accomplishment: Received Girl Scout Silver Award. Whiz Kids’ Key to Awesomeness: What can eight Girl Scouts accomplish in 65 hours? Under the leadership of Sue Crosby and Jen Wig, the scouts of Troop 30478 earned their Silver Award on June 12. The process of the award is involved and the …

Whiz Kid's Name, Age: Travis Mann, 12 Whiz Kid's School: Sixth grade at Melican Middle School Whiz Kid's Accomplishments: Mann was chosen as the technology student of the month this past spring, and he achieved straight As, as well. In April, he was nominated as "student of the month." Mann plays the saxophone in the schol band, and takes endurance swimming classes at the YMCA, as well as plays defense for the Northborough soccer team. He also added skiing to his skills, and spends summers at the Ecotarium studying animals and engineering. Mann also helps out with the Junior Woman's Community…

Whiz Kids: Maeve Grandpre, 8; Maeve Hamling, 7; Amanda Ares, 8; Anna Long, 8; and Lucy McGlynn, 8 Whiz Kids’ School: Third grade at Peaslee Elementary School, St. Bernadette’s School Whiz Kids’ Accomplishment: Formed a book club Whiz Kids’ Key to Awesomeness: Camps, beaches, amusement parks and eating ice cream. Most kids’ summers are full of these fun activities and more. What makes it better is sharing these things with friends. Even reading can be more fun with friends as one group of third grade girls decided. Maeve Grandpre, Maeve Hamling, Amanda Ares, Anna Long and Lucy McGlynn all are …

Whiz Kid: Conor Donovan, 18 Whiz Kid’s School: Senior, Algonquin Regional High School Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Donovan shares and develops his musical talent as he approaches his senior year in high school, and will be spending a week at a camp for seriously ill children this summer. Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Stage fright is not in Donovan’s vocabulary. He is, in fact, quite comfortable performing for an audience. Having been a part of church and school musical productions, as well as the school choir, he is considering following this path as he embarks on college in a year. An active …

Whiz Kid: Chloe Reeve-Patel, 9 Whiz Kid’s School: Fourth Grade, Marguerite E. Peaslee Elementary School Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: There’s nothing Chloe won’t try. Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Karate, swimming, hip-hop dancing, rock climbing, and gymnastics. Chloe Reeve-Patel has a lot of interests and enjoys pursuing new things. She enjoys the non-competitive approach to the activities and sports she participates in. She likes to do things “just for fun.” One of her favorite activities is swimming, something she has been doing for awhile through the YMCA. Her favorite stroke is the front …