WHIZ KID: SAMANTHA STOKES

Whiz Kid Nominator: Donna Teets

Whiz Kid: Samatha Stokes

Whiz Kid Age: 14

Whiz Kid School: Harford Technical High School

Whiz Kid Accomplishment: 2011 Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County Youth of the Year

Whiz Kid Key to Awesomeness: Excelling despite personal challenges

Samantha Stokes was recognized as this year's Youth of the Year at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County Annual Steak & Burger Dinner.

Samantha is a freshman at the Harford Technical High School with a concentration in nursing assistant training. She currently has a 3.8 grade point average.

Samantha also was recently selected as one of the 2011 Women of Tomorrow through the Maryland Commission on Women. She has received citations from the Maryland House of Delegates on behalf of Delegate Glen Glass and from the state senate on behalf of Senator Barbara Mikulski.

Samantha is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Edgewood but she is a resident of Aberdeen. She also participates in the Girl Scouts, church youth mission groups, and she plays softball.

During the Steak and Burger Dinner, Samantha gave an outstanding speech in response to her achievement as Youth of the Year. She stated that she would not have been where she is today if it had not been for the Boys & Girls Club.

Samantha shared personal family tragedies that include losing a brother, family substance abuse, and being born prematurely at the alarming weight of one pound one ounce.

Samantha turned her personal challenges into personal aspirations of becoming a pediatric nurse and attending the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Ironically, Samantha received an opportunity to hear and meet the keynote speaker for the 2011 Steak & Burger Dinner—Dr.  Ben Carson—famous pediatric neurosurgeon from the Johns Hopkins University.