Bellevue Patch Whiz Kid: Bellevue 9th grader served as Senate Page for Sen. Rodney Tom

Name: Will Badart

Grade and School: 9th grader at

Accomplishment: Will was selected to spend a week participating in the Senate Page Program at the at the Washington State Legislature.

Keys to Awesomeness: Will, a 9th grade student attending International School, got the opportunity to learn firsthand about state government as a page for Sen. Rodney Tom. As a page, Will delivered mail, ran errands, presented the flag and learned parliamentary procedure firsthand.  He also got to help draft a bill for a mock session. During the mock session, Will helped write a bill to mandate vehicle emissions testing in Washington State.

“I enjoyed getting involved in government,” Will said. “I liked learning about who is representing me in Olympia.”

Following high school, Will would like to attend college at a business school on the east coast or in southern California. In school, his interests include track, model UN and studying German.

Do you know a kid or a program that everyone in Bellevue should know about Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to venice.buhain@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's Name
• Nominator's E-Mail
• Whiz Kid's Name
• Whiz Kid's Age
• Whiz Kid's School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you about getting a photo of the young person or team. For questions, e-mail venice.buhain@patch.com.