Whiz Kid: Peter Provenzano is a Hands-On Student

Peter Provenzano

Whiz Kid's Age: 10

Whiz Kid's School: Cherokee Elementary School

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: The Cherokee fifth-grader from Macomb Township has been actively involved with Science Olympiad for two years.

This year Peter continues to hone his skills at Rubber Band Catapult, in which the students construct a device that launches a rubber band. The object of the event is for the rubber band to land in the center of a target. He is competing in two other events as well, one called “A is for Anatomy” where the students learn about the circulatory and nervous systems, and the other event called, “Weather or Not,” where students learn about weather patterns and how they form.

Last year, Provenzano competed in two events: Which Way is North (reading maps) and Rubber Band Catapult. 

Peter’s favorite event is Rubber Band Catapult. He likes the events that are hands on and is most interested in the engineering part of the event. 

“My grandfather always used to let me work with him in his woodworking shop at his home,” Provenzano said. “Over the years I saw him make lots of cool things like a fireplace mantle, my desk and a rocking horse. He got me interested in doing things with my hands. Rubber Band Catapult is an event like that, doing things with my hands.”

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: “Peter is a very intelligent and energetic young man,” said Cherokee Elementary fifth-grade teacher Ruth Cummins. “He helps in the class with his expertise (and) computer skills, helps to run our classroom government smoothly and is kind and considerate to the other students. Peter’s parents are very involved in his education and support him in all of his ambitious endeavors.”