Los Gatos Patch Whiz Kid of the Week— Nickolas Westman

Nickolas Westman, 18

School: Graduated from , Class of 2011; attending UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering in the fall where he'll pursue a degree in computer science.

Accomplishments:

• Earned a 4.56 GPA during his four years at LGHS.
• Received UCLA Alumni Scholarship.
• Performed 386 hours of community service during high school career.
• Worked as a volunteer for Galileo Science Summer Camp, Walden West Summer camp, City of Saratoga Nature Camp,Music Program and as a private tutor.
• Favorite work was at Fisher Middle School instructing band students in percussion techniques and teaching marching skills.
• Received the LGHS MeKellar Award for his work in the community.
• Participated in the Los Gatos High School Marching band for four years and as a senior he was percussion captain.
• Won the award for Outstanding Percussionist.
• Built his own computer at age 15 and taught himself a second full year of AP physics under the supervision of LGHS's teacher Dan Burns.
• National Merit commended student and national AP scholar.
• This summer he is working as an applications interface engineering intern at Exar Corporation in Fremont. 

Key to Awesomeness: Loves to read, build, discover and invent things. "Even from the time Nick was a little boy he has always been an incredibly hard worker and a true achiever of big goals. But the best thing about Nick is that he is almost always smiling and happy," said mom Bonnie Westman.