Whiz Kid: Jose Antonio Villanueva

Whiz Kid’s Name: Jose Antonio Villanueva

Whiz Kid’s School: 

Whiz Kid’s Accomplishments: Villanueva, a senior, has always been a top student. He maintained a 4.22 grade-point average and earned himself an invitation to attend Stanford University this fall, where he plans to major in civil engineering.

Recently, Villanueva returned from Washington, D.C., where he received a national Math and Engineering Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in front of a crowd of 200 influential businesspeople on Capitol Hill.

In addition to his hard work, Villanueva has participated in several extracurricular activities. He served as the vice president of the Latino Student Union and the outreach coordinator of the Associated Student Body, where he reached out to underserved students in his community.

Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: In his speech on Capitol Hill, as he accepted his award, Jose said, “I am truly grateful to be receiving this honor from ExxonMobil and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. I believe that, just like this organization, it is my duty to give back to the Hispanic community.

"Once I obtain my degree as an engineer, I plan to return to my community to unleash the untapped potential that exists within our Hispanic youth," he said. "I hope to one day inspire others to reach for their dreams.”

Do you know an exceptional kid from Mountain View you'd like to nominate for our weekly Whiz Kid? E-mail submissions to claudiac@patch.com and  to find out what information is needed.