Whiz Kid: Samantha Becker

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Samantha Becker           

Whiz Kid’s Age: 13

Whiz Kid’s Grade: Eighth grade                       

Whiz Kid’s School: Galloway Township Middle School

Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Samantha Becker is extremely aware of those her age who are in need, as she is active in helping those in the community. She recently completed her silver certificate for Girl Scouts.

Whiz Kid’s Keys to Awesomeness:

At first glance, Samantha Becker is a typical teenage girl at She plays field hockey, lacrosse, softball, basketball, and like many children in Galloway Township, she’s a part of the Atlantic County Rowing Association, with an eye toward taking up the sport in high school.

She’s also a straight-A student, and has a particularly strong eye toward helping those in need.

She also recently received her Silver Certificate as a member of the Girl Scouts for her project designing an accessory closet for in-crisis teens at the Covenant House. The closet provides the extra things teenagers need when going out on a job interview for both boys and girls.

“I like sports and I’m into helping people,” she said.

“She’s very conscious of children who are needy and she does what she can do to help them,” Samantha’s mother, Tish Becker said.

Samantha Becker has also worked with Alex’s Lemonade Stand, given clothes to the needy as part of school fundraisers, participated in Make a Difference Day, helped with her school’s food drive and participated in various church activities to help the needy.

“I feel it’s important because I know how good I have it, and I want others to experience what I have,” Samantha Becker said.

She’s been exposed to helping those in need since a very early age, tagging along with her mother, a teacher at the Uptown K-8 school in Atlantic City. Her father works for the New Jersey Department of Youth and Family Services.

Samantha would like to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a teacher.

“I’ve always leaned toward the leader side. I’d rather be the one taking control,” Samantha Becker said. “I want to be a teacher and help kids.”

She likes to help children her own age because she can relate to them, she said, but she has done work at Senior Citizens’ homes as a member of the Girl Scouts.

She had previous exposure to the Covenant House, a home dedicated to helping the needy between 16 and 21 years old, so when it came time to come up with a project for her Silver Certificate, she knew just where to go.

“When I brought up the idea for the Silver Certificate, everyone wanted to help. My partner was really into helping,” Samantha Becker said.

She has an older brother who is a sophomore at Absegami High School, where she will be a freshman next year. She also has an older sister who is currently a producer for the TV show TMZ.