WKU News

May 23, 2025 (Bowling Green, KY) – The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University honored more than 300 students for outstanding academic achievement Friday at Van Meter Auditorium.

The Talent Identification Program of Kentucky (TIP-KY®) provides opportunities for students to take above-level assessments, tests that were designed for older students. Students in grades 7 and 8 took the ACT, a test usually given to college-bound high school juniors and seniors. Students who met the ACT benchmark for college readiness in any subject area were invited to Friday’s recognition ceremony. Sixteen students received Grand Recognition for a composite score of 29 or higher.  

Students in grades 4-6 were honored for their performance on I-Excel, a test designed for eighth-grade students. Those who scored in the top 10 percent on any subject area were eligible for recognition. Students invited to the ceremony came from a total pool of about 1,100 participants.

“Among the students in this auditorium today are the world’s future leaders: the scientists who will push mankind’s frontiers of knowledge, the innovators who will help solve our planet’s biggest challenges, the government leaders who will bring us together, the visionaries who will capture the essence of how we are all connected,”  said Julia Link Roberts, Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies at WKU.

“We are very happy to celebrate academic excellence.”

Associate Dean Jennifer Klemm of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences welcomed students and families to WKU, and Kentucky Representative Robert Duvall provided the keynote address and presented each student with a medal.

Duvall, of Bowling Green, sponsored House Bill 190 during the 2025 legislative session. The bill promotes advanced educational opportunities across Kentucky. “This bill is a major step forward for education in the Commonwealth. It is my hope that HB 190 will create desire and confidence within students to reach higher than they ever thought possible.”

What is TIP-KY?

The Talent Identification Program of Kentucky (TIP-KY) offers above-level testing to assess where students are academically in order for educators and families to guide students to relevant resources, appropriate enrichment programming, and other services that will challenge and encourage growth. Learn more at wku.edu/tipky. 

For more information about the ceremony or TIP-KY, please contact Jennifer Wilson, Program Coordinator for TIP-KY, at jennifer.wilson@wku.edu or 270-745-2742.