Whiz Kid: Dunedin High Student Builds Shed For Community Garden

Whiz Kid of the Week

• Name and Age: Rick Wallace, 17, senior
• School:
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Rick championed the construction of the new shed at the 's plot of land at . He was also one of six students chosen (out of 96 students statewide) to compete for states on the Academic Team at Walt Disney World in April.
• Key to Awesomeness: Rick took on the Dunedin Community Garden Association shed project to complete requirements for obtaining his full Eagle Scout rank. The project required him to "plan, develop and carry out a project" that proves he exhibited "leadership over people." All manual labor had to be completed by volunteers; he was not allowed to do any of the construction himself. Rick lead and organized the permit and inspection process and oversaw construction of the entire shed. Rick said he may have learned some of his father Richard Wallace's carpentry skills, and added that fundraising was the toughest part of the project. "The biggest thing you learn," Rick said, "is how to work on everyone else's time."

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They could be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Nominate your Whiz Kid by emailing editor Katie Dolac at Kathryn.Dolac@patch.com.