KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED EDUCATION
The Kentucky Association for Gifted Education (KAGE) is pleased to announce that Brigid Claire Neary has been awarded the 2007-2008 Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award from the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education. Miss Neary is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Neary of Louisville. She is a 6th grader at Noe Middle School in Jefferson County. She was recommended by her teacher, Ms. Maddy Smith.
Brigid Neary was recommended for the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award because of "her leadership, intelligence and maturity, and her general disposition of caring for others," according to her teacher, Ms. Maddy Smith. While in the second grade Miss Neary's school sponsored a fundraiser to raise money to help give people with diabetes an easier life. Miss Neary's empathy with those who suffer from diabetes caused her to realize that she wanted to do more to help make a diabetic's life better. By third grade she was committed to fundraising and alone raised $600. Her efforts earned the respect of the school's staff who asked her to give tips and encouragement to other students on how to raise money. Miss Neary has been encouraged by the effect her efforts had on other people. In three years, her school raised $136,000 for juvenile diabetes. Miss Neary had raised over $3,000 of that amount. She continues to raise money by doing Irish dancing, sending letters to family and friends, and going door-to-door. Miss Neary puts a lot of pride and effort into her work and hopes her efforts will improve the lives of people with diabetes. She knows it has greatly enriched hers.
The program was originally funded by the Nicholas Green Foundation and NAGC. The award is designed to recognize a student who has distinguished achievement not only in academics, leadership, or the arts but also made a contribution to the community at a level beyond what is expected of the student's age group. One child per state can be named a Nicholas Green Distinguished Student. The award recipient receives a $500 U.S. savings bond and an NAGC Certificate of Excellence from NAGC and a $500 Entity Account from the Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust (KESPT). The entity account is to be used only for furthering educational opportunities through some form of post secondary education.
The Nicholas Green Foundation was established by Maggie and Reg Green to honor the memory of their seven-year-old son, Nicholas, who was killed in a drive-by shooting while visiting Italy in 1994. The Greens felt it was important to recognize gifts and talents in children who are now at the age that Nicholas was when he died.
last updated 02.29.08