This week, Lisa Marino has been named the Merrick Whiz Kid!

Name: Lisa Marino

School: Calhoun

Grade: Senior

Key Accomplishment: Marino has been named a Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar-Artist for 2011-12. The Educator’s Committee selected only twenty students from hundreds of nominees to receive this award.

Key to Awesomeness: In addition to being named a Scholar-Artist, Marino has also been recognized by the New York State Art Teachers Association Portfolio Project and received the rating of Distinguished. She prefers to use color pencils, graphite and charcoal to depict realism. As a repeat contributor to Calhoun’s Spring Arts Show, she has exhibited her work with still life. Marino has excelled in drawing, painting, and sculpting and challenges herself this year with advanced placement studio art and a second full year of sculpture. An exceptional academic student, she has also earned admission to the National, Science, LOTE, and Art Honor Societies.

Do you know a great kid? Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to Emily.Cappiello@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's Name
• Nominator's E-Mail
• Whiz Kid's Name
• Whiz Kid's Age
• Whiz Kid's School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)