TWELVE SEVENTH GRADERS HONORED FOR ACHIEVEMENT

Twelve seventh graders from L.J. Schultz Middle School have been recognized for academic achievement in Duke University's annual Talent Identification Program.

Students participating in the university's Talent Search take either the Scholastic Aptitude Test or the American College Testing Assessment at the seventh grade level to become aware of their abilities and potential. Top scorers are then invited to national and state ceremonies designed to recognize and encourage their efforts.

Three Schultz students have qualified to attend TIP's grand recognition ceremony at Duke University Chapel in Durham, N.C., on June 8. Josh Arnzen, Elizabeth Kunz and Wade Russell are among 2,243 seventh graders nationwide who qualified by earning scores on the SAT or ACT higher than 50 percent of college-bound high school seniors.

Nine other Schultz students have been invited to attend a state recognition ceremony June 3 at Drury College in Springfield to honor their achievements in the program. Lesley Clarke, Amy Estes, Elizabeth Green, David Linden, Josh Morgan, Kelly Morgan, Trent Redfearn, Beth Shivelbine and Vicki Ventrella are among 585 Missouri seventh graders who scored as well or better than the average college-bound high school senior on the SAT or ACT this year.

Myrnita Grantham, who serves as coordinator of the local program, reports that Duke University has sponsored the Talent Search since 1980. Participants receive a variety of educational materials and publications from TIP, an non-profit educational organization. The program receives support from student fees and donations from individuals, corporations and foundations.

Approximately 61,000 registrants took part in the 12th annual program. The SAT and ACT are designed primarily for 11th and 12th graders considering college, but the tests have shown to be especially efficient in helping assess verbal and mathematical reasoning ability of bright seventh grade students.