Prospect Heights Whiz Kid: Grace Mulcahy

Name: Grace Mulcahy

Age: 10

Grade: 5th

School: PS 107

Achievements:

Prospect Heights' Grace Mulcahy is a very busy girl.  Depending on the season, she runs track, plays softball, or is doing cartwheels.  She also takes piano lessons and recently started her own Mother's Helper/Babysitting business.  However, a full schedule has not stopped her from getting good grades and becoming a student leader.

Recently Grace performed her favorite artist Alicia Keys's "If I ain't got you" at a recital and she may even sing Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You," something she is both nervous and excited about, at an upcoming school talent show.  She enjoys classical music and pop and being a musician.  "If you really get into a song you like, it can be a lot of fun.  Lots of people play because they have to."

Grace moves beyond her comfort zone athletically as well.  In gymnastics she is best at floor exercises like the cartwheel, front flip, hand stand, and round off but is pushing to master the bars, beam, vault, and springboard.  She is not into competition but takes part because she enjoys it and the workouts makes her feel good and fit.  "It's really fun; it makes me feel a lot stronger."

Grace has also developed speed and endurance from track.  She has run a mile in six minutes (her fastest) and averages a seven- to eight-minute mile.  "In track you can run at your own pace and relax, even though it sounds like it would be tense;  you can just run."

Recently she ran the 3.36 mile Prospect Park inner-loop in 27 minutes as part of a Brooklyn PTA fundraiser for District 15 public schools.  She also ran to support the YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign which ensures that no child or family is turned away from YMCA programs because of the inability to pay. 

Grace also relishes team sports.  She has played softball with the 78th Precinct Youth Council since she was eight years old and has played every position except catcher.  Last year she started pitching and "this year I feel solid."  In her first season she only got one hit but stuck with it and in year two batted .500.  Now she gets a hit almost every time at bat.  She's also a "supersub" for an older team of 11 and 12 year olds who hit the ball a lot harder and are allowed to steal bases.  The level of play is more difficult but she still manages to get some hits and the stiffer competition has helped her game, built her confidence, and prepared her for the big league.

Grace has made time for other interests.  She ran for and was elected to the Student Council and is now responsible for planning and executing fundraisers like bake sales, bowlathons, and movie nights to support the 5th grade senior trip and parties.  Student government has taught her the "importance of being organized and planning ahead."

Another strong interest is literature.  She is one of ten advanced readers in her class that are assigned especially challenging books to discuss.  Her favorites have been"Twelve Angry Men," "Tuck Everlasting," and "The Giver."

Grace herself is a giver.  Every other week for five days she helps out in her sister's kindergarten class, giving up her recess and lunch.  While most kids have dropped out, and she's been tempted to quit too, she's stuck with it which has made her proud.

Grace's teachers are proud of her too.  They nominated her for the Kings County District Attorney, Charles J. Hynes 21st Annual “Citation of Honor” Award which she will be receiving on June 9th at Brooklyn College.

Grace's efforts and hard work have been rewarded in other ways as well.  She recently found out that she was accepted to her first choice MS 51 - William Alexander Middle School. 

Key to awesomeness:

Kimberlly Landman, Grace's fourth grade teacher credits Grace's success to more than her intelligence and natural ability.  "Grace also has a thirst for knowledge.  She has a deep-rooted love for learning, which she seeks out voraciously and actively applies."

Grace's mom, Julie Fissinger, puts it a bit differently.  "She has been a determined kid since she was 1.  She sets her mind to something and is a hard worker.  Also, she's very nice.  She's the best big sister in the entire world."

Know a Prospect Heights Whiz Kid we should feature? E-mail adam.rabiner@yahoo.com.