Los Gatos Patch Whiz Kid of the Week—Mark White

Mark White, Age 12

School: sixth-grader atin Los Gatos

Accomplishments:

• First-place champion/U-12 Boys-2011 Los Gatos United Soccer League
• Member of 2011 All Conference Scholastic Team
• West Valley Pop Warner
• Member of Congressional Debate Team to compete at Stanford Speech/Debate tournament in February
• Member of Young Genius advanced Math program
• St. Mary’s Honor Roll Student
• St. Mary’s Basketball Team
• St. Mary’s Church - Altar Server
• Presenter at the State of the School at St Mary’s
• Collector of International Currency
• Hobbies: skiing, scuba diving, zip-lining.

Key to Awesomeness:

"Mark is all about connecting the dots in his life," says proud mom Liliana White, adding that this all-around accomplished young man's academic and athletic achievements go hand and hand.

Mark has played soccer since 2005, initially at Go-4-Gold Summer Camps and then in the since 2007. In 2010 his team made it to the final championship and came in second place.

This only encouraged his team in 2011 to work harder and achieve First Place 2011-Champions in U-12 Division of LGUSL. Mark also plays for his school basketball team and is a member of the 2011 All Conference Scholastic Team representing West Valley Pop Warner, according to mom.

Mark is not just all about sports though. Recently, the junior high faculty at St. Mary’s met to discuss digital citizenship presentation for the State of the School event. The teachers all agreed that Mark’s contribution during a recent lesson week intelligent and effective and he was asked to present during the Jan. 26 address. 

The presentation involved pointing out something on an online profile that an educator or friend might find problematic and suggesting something more positive, adds mom.

Mark recently gave a presentation on Steve Jobs for his sixth-grade class, in which he emphasized, as Jobs did, that one can not connect the dots in one's life in advance. "Mark is focused on connecting the dots in his future. He wants to make a difference," mom says.