Duke TIP Honors Kentucky Seventh-Graders For Achievement

May 15, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - Some of the most academically talented seventh-graders in Kentucky will be recognized at Western Kentucky University on May 30 for their exceptional scores on the ACT or SAT.

The Duke University Talent Identification Program’s (Duke TIP) 7th Grade Talent Search identifies students in 16 states in the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest who have scored in the 95th percentile on a grade-level achievement test. As part of the program, these academically talented students take above-level college-entrance exams (SAT or ACT) to learn more about their abilities.
  
Duke TIP hosts annual Recognition Ceremonies to honor the seventh-graders who score highest on these SAT or ACT exams. This year, of the 66,198 participants nationally, 21,115 students (32 percent) have been invited to attend State Recognition Ceremonies and 1,804 students (3 percent) have been invited to the Grand Recognition Ceremony.

On May 30, 1,276 Kentucky students who qualified for state recognition have been invited to the Kentucky Recognition Ceremony to be held at WKU’s Diddle Arena.

For 26 years, The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU has sponsored the Kentucky ceremony. This year, The Center welcomes a new partner: Kentucky’s Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) and Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust (KESPT).
 
“KHEAA and KESPT have looked forward to the partnership and participation in the Duke Talent Identification Program’s Kentucky Recognition Program,” said David Lawhorn, KHEAA program advisor. “This was a great opportunity to recognize some of the most distinguished students from all across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. These are some of the brightest young minds in the entire country, and they are the future of Kentucky.”

“The Recognition Ceremonies are inspiring events,” says Martha Putallaz, executive director of Duke TIP and professor of psychology at Duke University. “It is rare that so many gifted students can come together to be honored for their achievements and encouraged by their intellectual peers. The honorees have proven, at this young age, their capacity for great things. We hope they consider their achievement to be an invitation to pursue an ambitious path in life.”

The State Recognition Ceremonies honor seventh-graders who have earned scores equal to or better than half the college-bound seniors who took the tests. Working with host academic institutions, Duke TIP sponsors 34 ceremonies in its 16-state Talent Search region during May and June. Speakers include university administrators and professors from the host institutions, state and government officials, and accomplished former Duke TIP students.

Details about each State Recognition Ceremony can be found at http://www.tip.duke.edu/talent_searches/recognition_ceremonies.

The Grand Recognition Ceremony honors seventh-graders who have earned scores equal to or better than 90 percent of college-bound seniors who took the same tests. The event will be held May 19 at the Duke University campus in Durham, N.C. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Blair H. Sheppard, dean of Duke University’s Fugua School of Business, Chair and Founder of Duke Corporate Education, and an internationally recognized expert on global and corporate education. Kentucky had 135 students qualify for grand recognition.

In addition to the above-level testing experience, all Talent Search participants receive educational materials and resources through the 10th grade to help them develop to their full academic potential. Based on SAT or ACT scores, students may qualify to participate in Duke TIP’s Summer Studies or e-Studies programs. Duke TIP also runs a talent search for fourth- and fifth-graders.

Julia Link Roberts, executive director of The Center for Gifted Studies, said: “The Center has enjoyed 26 years as partners with the Duke Talent Identification Program.  The Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY) was Duke’s first cooperative program, and this summer will be our 25th year. Young people across the country and from other countries come to WKU for three weeks at VAMPY.”
               
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For information, contact Julia Roberts at (270) 745-6323.