Owen McKennaWith experiences under his belt like representing the U.S.A. in the Pan Am fencing tournament in Mexico and living in Finland for a month in an effort to inspire world peace, it's hard to believe that Owen McKenna is just 11 years old.

Owen, a student at Germantown Academy and fencer at the Bucks County Academy of Fencing, is December's “Happening Kid” of the month.  We were honored to get the chance to ask him a few questions about his impressive experiences and aspirations for the future:

BH: What is your favorite subject?

OM: My favorite subject is history.

BH: How did you begin fencing & what do you like about it?

OM: When I was very little I loved movies about knights and sword fighting.  When I found out there was sport with swords in it, I wanted to try it.  I finally got to start fencing when I was 6.  I love everything about fencing but especially that it is both a mental and physical sport.

Owen McKenna

BH: How did it feel to represent America at the Pan Am tournament in Mexico?

OM: I was very proud, but I was also a little nervous.  When I won my first match, I began to settle down and enjoy it.  The coolest thing happened when I made the final 8 fencers.  All of us got to stand on a raised fencing strip and the crowd cheered for all of us.  At that time I felt that all of my hard work was beginning to pay off.

BH: You had the amazing opportunity to spend 28 days in Finland last summer as part of the Children’s International Summer Village. What was it like to explore a foreign country and spend time with kids from so many different backgrounds?

OM: It was really cool.  Spending that much time with the other kids helped me to learn more about their cultures than if I had just traveled to their country.  I made a lot of friends, we email and facebook all of the time now.  I can’t wait to see them again.

BH: What do you want to be when you grow up?

OM: I would really like to fence in college and beyond.  I’m not sure what I want to do after that, but I have lots to figure it out.

Photo credit: Christy McKenna

Do you know an outstanding kid from Bucks County? If so, nominate him or her to be highlighted as Happening Kid on BucksHappening.com by emailing info@bucks.happeningmag.com with the subject “Happening Kid.”

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