Whiz Kid: Grant Writer has Passion for Computers

This week's Whiz Kid is Rhiannon Creighton, a seventh grader who helped write a grant for Buerkle Middle School. Do you know a great kid? Email sarah.flagg@patch.com.

Name: Rhiannon Creighton

Age: 12 years old

School:

Year in school: Seventh grade

Accomplishment:  Rhiannon was instrumental in writing a  that funds a seven-week interdisciplinary unit titled, “Step Into My Shoes,” to teach peers about the acceptance of others.

Key to Awesomeness: Rhiannon Creighton is a self-proclaimed technology nerd who has her career path already mapped.

“I have my whole life planned. I’m going into computer programming and IT work and I’m preparing now. Next semester I’m taking a computer course at school, but I have already learned a lot about technology from my mother. We have six computers at home. Everybody has their own,” Rhiannon said.

Rhiannon’s excellent skills in reading and English made her the perfect candidate to help write the grant for the “Step Into My Shoes” unit at school. Thanks to her input, Buerkle Middle School will have the $5,000 funding for a speaker series and various activities for the unit on acceptance.

Reading and history are Rhiannon’s favorite school subjects. When reading for pleasure, she is a big fan of both the Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket books. She also enjoys history class, especially the activities that her teacher uses to make the subject interesting and engaging.

At home, Rhiannon has plenty of pets to care for with her two Carin Terrier puppies named Gypsy and Django, a Beagle named Jasper and a tarantula named Grindel.

“Grindel is an observing pet. She really does not like to be touched or held,” Rhiannon said.

This summer, Rhiannon and her family went to Lost Valley Lake Resort in Owensville, MO, to celebrate her father’s birthday.

“We stayed in cabins and enjoyed swimming and riding on the lake in paddleboats,” Rhiannon said."It was really fun."