PHS Students to Attend Missouri Scholars Academy

Two Perryville High School sophomores have been selected to attend the Missouri Scholars Academy, a three-week academic program for 330 of Missouri's gifted students who are ready to begin their junior year in high school. This year's Academy will be held from June 12 through July 2 at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Each public school district and private school in Missouri is eligible to nominate at least one sophomore student for the Academy. Larger schools have the option of nominating more than one student on a prorated basis according to enrollment. A special selection committee appointed by the University screens and evaluates nominations. Participants are selected on the basis of the following criteria and factors: student scores from selected individual intelligence and aptitude tests, grade point average, student essays, evidence of leadership, creativity, intellectual curiosity, problem-solving ability and initiative, projected benefits to the students for participating in the Academy, and commitment to remain at the Academy throughout the entire three-week experience.

With a carefully selected faculty and staff, a specially designed curriculum that focuses on the liberal arts, and a variety of stimulating extracurricular activities, the academy enables students to be part of a unique learning community. The academy provides a model that all schools can use in building or expanding their own programs for gifted students.

The academy is a residential program held on, and partially funded by, the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Additional funds to support the Missouri Scholars Academy are provided by the Gifted Association of Missouri, the Missouri Scholars Academy Alumni Association, and tax-deductible contributions made by alumni and parents of MSA participants. MSA also acknowledges philanthropic support given by various Missouri businesses and corporations. Now in its twenty-seventh year, the program is administered by University of Missouri officials.