Whiz Kids: Two Teens From Tinley Troop Make Eagle Scout

This week we have two whiz kids, both members of Boy Scout Troop 380, which meets out of in Tinley Park and is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. The pair both made Eagle Scout and were honored by the village board this week.

Sean Connelly

Whiz Kid's Age: 17

Whiz Kids' School: Junior at

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Tinley Park resident Connelly was honored at Tuesday's village board meeting for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Connelly's Eagle project was organizing 30 to 40 volunteers to spend six hours clearing trees from an area the size of a football field by 167th Street and La Grange Road in Orland Park. He worked with Orland Grassland in arranging the project.

Nicholas Salerno

Whiz Kid's Age: 17

Whiz Kids' School: Sophomore at Morgan Park Academy in Chicago

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: This Palos-area resident was also honored at Tuesday's village board meeting for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Salerno organized 88 volunteers and personally raised $800, $225 in cash donations and $2,856.42 worth of donated materials and supplies to re-do the landscaping around his school, Morgan Park Academy.

"He was expecting about 20 to 25 volunteers and he got 88," father Mike Salerno said.

Whiz Kid's Inspiration: Salerno's two older brothers both made Eagle Scout, with his oldest brother, Michael, earning the honor at age 13. It was his next-oldest brother, Jason, whose Eagle project gave Salerno the idea for his.

"My brother Jason did the painting around the school, so I thought I would do the landscaping," Salerno said.

Do you know a whiz kid? Nominate them by sending an e-mail to pauld@patch.com