Elliot Wilson believes teaching and learning are one in the same. It’s a philosophy the University City High School graduate is taking with him to the Ivy League this fall. As the Harvard-bound teen prepares to enter a rigorous academic environment, he looks forward to being surrounded by some of the best professors on any campus and peers who are active learners and share his interests in a variety of disciplines. “I always like to learn just as much from my fellow students as I do from my teachers,” Wilson said. “That is part of why I tutor, as well because it gives me a better …

Some people look at a cup of ice soda as either half empty or half full. Brittany Woods eighth grader Jamilah Irby looks at the cup and sees a colorful picture of a vast landscape with clouds, a river, and glaciers, her father said. According to her parents, Jamiliah's unique way of looking at the cup portrays the artist that Jamilah has been, even as a young child. Jamilah has had an affinity for art since she was five. Her mother Emily Irby said she has a ton of her daughter's pictures at home that she's collected over the years. When Jamilah was younger she asked her mom what else she …

University City High School student Jacob Bashkin said there are so many guitars in his house that he could probably play a different guitar in every room. The graduating senior has a guitar in his room, a bass guitar in the basement, and a couple of guitars in both the living room and the dining room. The only rooms that are void of a guitar are the kitchen and the dining room, which, Jacob said, are already cluttered enough. “We have over 10 guitars. My dad collects them. And I am fine with that. Just more for me to play. I can go play anywhere in the house, which is nice,” Jacob said. …

The University City High School Latin Club picked up "a ton of awards" at this weekend's state Latin convention (Missouri Junior Classical League), according to UCHS Latin Teacher, Jennifer Ice. The most prestigious award the group nabbed was the Advanced Certamen (Latin Quiz Bowl) Champions. Students defeated SLUH in the very first round of competition, and went on to defeat Desmet and then Pembroke Hill, and then finally defeated MICDS in the final round. The team, consisting of Elliot Wilson, Ethan Farber, Anna Soifer, and Daniel Politte has worked hard all year, said Ice. "We've studied …

The parents of University City High School Junior Ariel Neely, learned early on that they better harness their daughter's energy and curiosity otherwise she'd find her own creative outlet. When Ariel was about six, her parents came home from work to find their daughter covered from head to toe in petroleum jelly. Apparently, she was attempting to put the stuff in her hair and ended up getting it all over her. “She used to just get into a lot of stuff; It was hard to keep up with her,” said her father, happily giggling as he reminisced. “That is why we used to take (her and her brother) to the…

Sarah Sarber spent close to two years convincing her parents to let her play the violin. The convincing started when the University High School Senior was in kindergarten.  A story that her mother Susan Smorodin says really showed that Sarah's “kindness” began the day the teacher's daughter came into the class and played the violin for the kids. After school that day, Sarah, mesmerized by the beauty of the instrument, came home and expressed a desire to play the violin to her parents. Like many other children's fleeting interests, her parents assumed that desire would disappear so they didn't…

On Saturday, February 26th, five Brittany Woods Middle School students and their teacher spent the day the University of Missouri - St, Louis campus as participants in the National History Day regional competition.  This year’s theme was “Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences,” and students submitted projects including research papers, video documentaries, websites, original performance pieces, and exhibits based on this theme. Projects submitted by Brittany Woods students explored such diverse topics as cloning, animal abuse, the Brown vs. the Board of Education …

At the March 3, meeting of the University City School Board, the Board recognized the following University High School students for receiving Outstanding Musicianship Awards at the February 4, Jazz Festival at the University of Missouri-Kansas City: Ben Aronberg, piano Terrance Childs, trombone Nate King, trumpet Zach Morrow, drums These awards continue the tradition of success for the jazz band program at UCHS, presently led by Mr. Stanley Coleman, who has been teaching in the University City School District for 11 years.  Mr. Coleman won a Yale Distinguished Music Educator of the Year award…

Whiz Kids' Name(s): Anna Carlsson and Elliot Wilson.  Whiz Kids' School: University City High School. Whiz Kids' Accomplishment: The two UCHS seniors were named National Merit Finalists. At a Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Feb. 17, the School Board recognized the students for their outstanding achievement in being named National Merit Finalists. Whiz Kids' Key to Awesomeness: Each year, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announces those students who qualify for national merit recognition, based on scores received as juniors from the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).

Last week University City Patch asked for suggestions from readers for Patch Whiz Kid honorees. They could be kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. Having received no response, University City Patch Editor Myra Lopez had no choice but to nominate herself. And Myra' mom, Myra Senior was gracious enough to write about what a whiz kid she was. My precious, energetic, out-going, determined, petite little treasure who carries on her shoulders a name a mile longer than she is tall...Myra Beatriz Brittamart Lopez-Faerber.  Her name wasn't meant to …