Kansas City's Incredible Kids

We, at KCParent.com, want to celebrate Kansas City's Incredible Kids! Meet great kids who are making a difference in our community using their creativity and talents to help others. Do you know an Incredible Kid we should consider for a future article? You may submit nominations for consideration.

Regan Getman: Little Girl with a Big Heart

Regan was born with a Congenital Heart Defect, she had open heart surgery at birth to correct her heart. Her mother says, “She made it thru surgery with flying colors, so early in her life, we instantly knew she was a fighter and a very brave girl!” Now, Regan and her mother want to help others with heart defects and diseases, so they volunteer for the American Heart Association often, attending breakfasts, lunches, and participating in fund-raising and news interviews to promote awareness and raise money for the American Heart Association. Regan has been chosen to be the “Kansas City Start! American Heart Association’s Heart Walk Child for 2010.” Her mother describes her as funny, caring & artistic. Currently, Regan's Daddy is currently serving his 2nd overseas deployment in Afghanistan. Regan is a support to everyone around her with her caring and positive attitude!

Isis Perez: Outstanding Volunteer

Isis volunteers at the John Wornall House Museum, where she is a Young Docent and gives tours. She helps with a multiple events at the Wornall House including Candlelight Tours, the visit with Father Christmas, parades, and public relations (she often puts on a costume and passes out leaflets at conferences). Isis is a great student, earning straight A’s in school . She is mature, intelligent, and motivated. Kandice Walker, Director of the John Wornall House Museum, says, “Isis is one of our best volunteers!” Isis is also active in Cure of Ars Catholic Church, taking Christian Education classes, and just received training so she can be a Mass Alter Server in the fall. She is in both Math Club and Art Club after school at Briarwood Elementary School and is a Courtesy Guard on Friday after school helping children get into their parents vehicles and getting traffic through quickly. Her heroes and heroines are Madame Marie Cure, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mark Twain, Clara Barton, Albert Einstein, and "her parents", John and Patricia Perez.

Mary Riddle: Musician and Volunteer

Mary Riddle is taught at home with her nine younger siblings. Mary is very active in the community and volunteers at our local food bank on a regular basis. She knits hats and donates them to the clothes closet which operates in conjunction with the food pantry. Her love for others is contagious, and Mary, along with her sister, Abigail, formed a club with several of their friends meeting twice a month to discuss and fulfill charitable activities that benefit the community. Their latest project was sewing pillow cases to donate. Mary also has a deep love of literature and music. As an avid bagpipe player, Mary competed in her first Scottish Highland Games when she was eleven. She was the youngest competitor and was awarded a medal and several ribbons. Her mother Erin says, “Mary has a loving and generous spirit.”

Isabella Mynatt: Helping those in Need

Isabella Mynatt, age 7, is homeschooled and is a very bright girl. She is active in Prims and Bible. In late October her Prims group at church had a food drive. Following another girl’s lead, Isabella went door to door with a wagon, her 2 year old brother, and her mother collecting food for the food drive. After that experience Isabella really started to think about the homeless and their needs. She even felt concerned for homeless pets! She came up with an idea to have a spa sleepover party and in order to attend, her guests had to bring at least 1 canned good. Whoever brought the most canned goods would win a prize! She ended up collecting 3 bags full of goods at this party to donate to Harvesters. Isabella is a bright, caring little girl. She loves to help others and will give away everything she owns if she thinks someone needs it. Isabella loves others and wants to help those in need and we think THAT is incredible.

Kayla Schweisburger: Budding Artist

As a Junior in High School Kayla is an excellent student in all subjects yet she excels in the creative studies. She has an affinity towards languages (Russian, Spanish, and Chinese; she is trying to teach herself Japanese, too!), music, fashion design, apparel (sewing) and Graphic arts. At 16 years old Kayla has already used her passport to go on a missions’ trip where she shared her creative talents with children in Guatemala. Kayla would like to be a Manga Artist when she grows up. She is currently starting her own business with the help of KCArtistlink so she can sell her art work and do caricatures over the summer. She has taken classes at the Kansas City Art Institute as well as scholarship classes at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Her artwork and sketchbooks have taken over her bedroom and the living room; she spends

hours working with her laptop to hone her Anime skills. Some of her work has been used in the church gallery as well as the weekly flyer which sports a 5 minute sketch she did when she was 12! Kayla really cares about the people in her life. She understands that the people in her life will translate into her artwork which in turn is a reflection of her life experience. Caring deeply about people makes her a better artist. One Sunday when Kayla was about 8 years old she found her Mother after Sunday school with a pensive look on her face. When asked what she learned that morning and she proceeded to say God is the greatest artist ever because He created everything. She went on say that we’re made in His image, which she knew to be true because she loves to create and is going to be a great artist someday too!

Jenna Collins: Mom’s Best Caregiver

In October, Jenna’s mom was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. It turned their world upside down. But, Jenna, at just age 6, was truly an incredible kid. She maintained a beautiful attitude despite being asked to help out in ways many six year olds wouldn't be able to handle. She plays with her 3 year old brother, helps clean the house and even helps fold laundry and clean bathrooms! Jenna is just a loving girl who is always thinking about others. Her mother Tonia says, “Jenna will come to me just to let me know she loves me, never asking for anything- just to be with me, snuggling, and lifting my spirits. During my illness, she has been asked to help with her brother and many chores! Big stuff for a 6 year old! But she has done it all with a smile on her face, all while asking me how I was and telling me she loved me. Her hugs and kisses, and her help have been the best medicine of all. I have had the strength to fight this cancer and go through the treatment because of my sweet girl.”

Brooklyn Werstein: Super Citizen

Brooklyn Werstein is only 10, but she is already a Super Citizen. As a member of her school’s student council, she has volunteered with Harvester’s bagging and sorting food for food drivesd. She also helped to organize an Art Sale to raise money for Haiti through her school. Brooklyn is active in her school where she serves on Student Council, Media Club, and the Birthday Book Club for the past four years, a club at her school where members choose books to be donated to the school library in their name. Brooklyn is a giving and hard-working girl and one of Kansas City’s incredible kids.

Bree Dennis: Super Volunteer

For the past year, Bree Dennis has donated over 135 hours of her time to volunteer activities. Some of these hours include volunteering as a helper at VBS at a church that she does not attend. Then at the end of the week she volunteered to help their youth group earn money by babysitting for them. She works in Children’s Church and volunteers at the food pantry at our church. She volunteers for a hospice service, and did a 30 hour fast and food collection for World Vision. Bree not only volunteers many hours whenever she sees a need, but she also plays volleyball, softball, and basketball, and piano. She baby-sits between 3 ½ and 10 hours a week, attends and has received many awards at AWANA, and does balloon art and face painting. Most amazingly is the fact that she did all this while she was just 12 years old!

Do you know an Incredible Kid we should consider for a future article? You may submit nominations for consideration.