Whiz Kid: Mitch Van Bree

Each week, Creve Coeur Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week to highlight.

This week, the Creve Coeur Patch Whiz Kid is Mitch Van Bree.

• Sophomore,
• As eighth-grade students, Mitch and Charlie Friedman came up with the idea for Rebel Rock, a battle of the bands style competition that lets aspiring musicians get up on stage and "rock out."
•  This year's event will be held Saturday Feb. 26 at Priory's Kevin Kline Theatre, with things getting started at 6 p.m. Tickets are $7. T-shirts are $10.
• All proceeds go to UrbanFuture, a St. Louis nonprofit agency that works to help educate children in urban areas through programs fostering character development, career preparation and academic achievement. Van Bree's father, Frank, is UrbanFuture's CEO. He said it was Friedman's idea to dedicate the proceeds. UrbanFuture program participants also get a chance to work at the event and take the stage, too.
• Key To Awesomeness: "Look at what happens when you go with your gut and go with your dreams," said Frank Van Bree.