Schools
Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid: BriAnna Berrisford
BriAnna Berrisford heads to the Minnesota State High School League's state speech competition in the creative expression category April 16.
Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: BriAnna Berrisford, 11th grade
School:
Accomplishment: Berrisford placed third at the section contest for speech in creative expression, and is now headed to the state competition April 16.
Find out what's happening in Oakdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Key to Awesomeness: If there were a spoken-word version of a one-man band, BriAnna Berrisford’s award-winning speech performance would be it. Not only did Berrisford write her own script—a humorous story about a man being stalked by a woman—she plays all five of its roles when she performs it for judges at Minnesota State High School League speech competitions. For her work, Berrisford placed third in the section contest—high enough to qualify for the state competition April 16.
“It’s going to be the biggest thing I’ve ever done in anything,” Berrisford said of the state contest, and that’s saying a lot because Berrisford has stayed busy during her years in high school. She has been active in Tartan’s theater department, typically participating in the fall musical, and then a smaller production. This year she’ll be part of the department’s murder mystery dinner. In the band, she plays French horn and mellophone. She’s also part of Link Crew—a team that helps freshmen with the transition into high school—and is on the team planning the opening and closing ceremonies for the Tartan High School Relay for Life.
Find out what's happening in Oakdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I love to stay busy,” Berrisford said.
Each week, Oakdale Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to patty.busse@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 and assign a photographer to take a photo. For questions, e-mail patty.busse@patch.com.