McGrath Completes Playground Maps to Aid Schools' Students

Whiz Kid of the Week: Patrick McGrath

Nominated by: Frank McGrath

Whiz Kid's School: Watchung Hills Regional High School

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Received Scouting's Eagle Rank by completing a community project for students at Long Hill's Gillette School and Millington School. Patrick's project encompassed painting large, four-color maps of the 50 U.S. states in the schools' playgrounds. Patrick also designed and created two sets of durable, age-appropriate "learning tiles" for students and teachers to use with the maps.  

Key to Whiz Kid's Awesomeness: Patrick's love of history helped his vision for the schools' playgrounds. Before graduation, he was a member the WHRHS History Club, and, along with fellow Eagles Danny Carlin, Joe Hands and Chris Mederos, worked on the Club's entry in the New Jersey History competition, a documentary video on the ramifications of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff. Patrick was also a four-year member of the varsity track and field team, and played trombone in the marching band and sang in the men's ensemble.