Whiz Kid of the Week: Daniel Shear

Whiz Kid’s Name: Daniel Shear

Whiz Kid's Age: 18

 Whiz Kid's School: Pikesville

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Recipient of a 2011 Minds In Motion Scholarship given by the Allstate Corporation. He'll receive his $1,000 scholarship at a June 1 luncheon at M&T Bank Stadium.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  He's played three sports, won this award and was nominated for the McCormick Unsung Heroes honor.

Shear is one of eight winners of the Minds In Motion award, now in its fourth year. Marissa Friedman of Owings Mills also was one of the winners.

Those who win it get $1,000 towards post-secondary education. It's given to four female and four male students who go to public high schools in Maryland. 

Debbie Phelps will be the guest speaker at the event. She's the principal of Windsor Mill Middle School, and the mother of swimmer Michael Phelps.

Shear played on Pikesville's football team in the fall and competed on the indoor track team this winter. He was set to play baseball this spring before injuries derailed him.

Shear has been on the varsity baseball team for three years. Pikesville baseball coach Joseph Kramer said that Shear has made a big effort to remain part of the team even though the injuries often kept him off the field this spring.

That's the kind of thing that a leader does.  

"Dan Shear is a great young man," said Kramer. "He understands that baseball and all sports are fun, but he also understands that academics are the most important. He has learned to balance a rigorous academic schedule, three varsity sports and home life."