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Middle school students qualify for national and state recognition in talent identification program
Three Grand Island Public Schools students have qualified for national recognition in the Duke University Talent Identification Program Talent Search Test.
Also, 17 of the school districtís students have qualified for state recognition in the Duke University Talent Identification Program Talent Search Test, said Sue Burch, Grand Island Public Schools director of High Ability Learners and Technology.
The students who qualified for national recognition are: Alexandra Vahle from Barr Middle School and Jacob Sattley and Ryan Williams from Westridge Middle School. All of the students are seventh-graders.
The students who qualified for state recognition are: Andrew Brott, Thomas Kinman, Kennedy Martinez, Dylan McInturf, Alexandra Vahle, Brogan Vahle, and Madison Vahle, Barr Middle School; Jillian Hauschild and Walker Roscoe, Walnut Middle School; and Calvin Hehnke, Blaine Morrow, Riley Ostdiek, Keagan Palmer, Kyle Perkins, Meile Rosenlund, Jacob Sattley, and Ryan Williams, Westridge Middle School.
The Grand Island students took the ACT or SAT last fall with high school juniors. Students must rank in the top 25 percent of the Talent Search pool to receive recognition.
Out of 110 Grand Island Public Schools students who were eligible to take the test, 36 students chose to participate, Burch said.
The Duke University Talent Identification Program identifies high-ability learners and provides resources to nurture their development. The program was founded in 1980.
The Talent Identification Program's Seventh Grade Talent Search focuses on the identification, recognition and support of high-ability seventh-graders. The Talent Search identifies academically talented seventh-graders based on standardized test scores achieved while attending elementary or middle school. Candidates are identified and invited to complete either the SAT I: Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment college entrance examination. Participants are provided with comparative information concerning their academic abilities and resources for educational opportunities. The goal is to assist students with excellent mathematical or verbal aptitude.
For more information, contact: Sue Burch, Director of Technology and High Ability Learners, Grand Island Public Schools, (308) 385-5900, sburch@gips.org.
It is the policy of the Grand Island Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, religion, or marital status in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title VI, Title IX, &Section 504.EOE/AA.