Four students going to scholars academy

For two decades, gifted students from across the state have given up three weeks of summer vacation in exchange for intensive learning at the Missouri Scholars Academy.

And they do it just for the sake of learning. There's no credit -- college or high school -- offered for attending the academy. It's all about the experience.

The academy, at the University of Missouri-Columbia, will be temporary home to 330 high school juniors this year, including four local students chosen for their academic abilities from some 600 nominees.

The students -- Kyle Sutherlin and Kami Miinch from Jackson High School and Danielle Schumer and Virginia Kuntz from Notre Dame Regional High School -- chose areas of study they were interested in as a major and minor and will spend six days a week in classes during the three-week academy.

"I think it's going to be a good experience. I've always been interested in learning new things," said the 16-year-old Sutherlin, who chose a course on court trials as his major and chemistry as his minor. He is the son of Dirk and Amy Sutherlin of Jackson.

The academy was established in 1985 and is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the university. Each school district in Missouri is allowed to nominate a certain number of students each year based on size of the district.

"For most students, this is a significant academic change in the way they view themselves, their abilities and their need to give back to their schools and state," said David Welch, director of gifted education programs with DESE. "It's an attempt to extend what could be made available at regular high schools for talented, gifted kids."

The students spend three hours a day six days a week in their major course, and one hour a day five days a week in their minor course.

Miinch, 16, said she thinks the academy will give her a taste of what college life is like because she'll be living in a dorm with roommates.

"It's going to be a challenge, but I hope it gives me ideas about what I want to do in college," said Miinch, who chose botany as her major and puzzles, games and probability as her minor.

She is the daughter of Dwane and Diane Miinch of Millersville.

Sixteen-year-old Schumer said she's excited about the chance to meet new people.

"I've heard it's an awesome experience," said Schumer, who chose chemistry as a major and art as a minor. "I thought this would give me a good basis before I have to take it as an actual class."

She is the daughter of Tom and Debra Schumer of Cape Girardeau.

Kuntz is the daughter of Edwin and Gabriela Kuntz of Cape Girardeau.

cclark@semissourian.com

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