Whiz Kid:Ian Cavanaugh

Year: Eighth grade

School: Commonwealth Connections Academy

Key to Awesomeness: Ian Cavanaugh of Sewickley, an eighth-grader, is already a published author. Ian and co-author Caleb Markovitz, a 10th-grader at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, will host a book signing 4 p.m. Sunday at the Sewickley Library to celebrate the release of their book on leadership.

The teens co-wrote the newly published "What Do You Mean I'm in Charge?" to help kids gain leadership skills through activities that help them define individual leadership roles and goals. The workbook helps young people discover what it takes to be a 21st century leader. Teens learn how to establish a mission and how to motivate a team toward achieving that mission.

Ian and Caleb, of Baden, drew from their own leadership experiences to create the book. Ian has held many leadership roles in the Sewickley community, serving as an assistant senior patrol leader in his Boy Scout troop, an assistant teacher at River Valley Tang Soo Do in Ambridge, and as a first robotics team captain at Commonwealth Connections Academy.

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Do you have a Whiz Kid nomination? If so, email larissa.dudkiewicz@patch.com