Top Students From New Jersey Are Recognized for Academic Excellence

BALTIMORE, MD —Gabriela Compagni and Shane Dolan, students from Mother Teresa Regional School inAtlantic Highlands, was recently honored as two of the brightest young students in the nation at a statewide awardsceremony for gifted children sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY).

The Center honored Gabriela and Shane, participants in the 2011 CTY Talent Search, for their exceptional performanceon a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to academically talented second through eighth grade students.

During the Talent Search, advanced young learners take above-grade level tests designed for older students as a meansof gaining insight into their abilities. Seventh and eighth graders take the SAT or ACT—the same tests used for collegeadmissions, while second through sixth graders take the SCAT, an above-level test scaled for younger students.Gabriela and Shane, students at Mother Teresa Regional School, were among more than 50,000 students worldwidewho participated in this year’s CTY Talent Search. Because of the difficulty of the tests, only 25 to 30 percent of studentswho participated earned an invitation to a CTY’s Awards Ceremony where they are individually honored for theiracademic performance and potential.

“We are so proud of our CTY Talent Search honorees for their exceptional performance on these tests and we arethrilled to take this moment to recognize them for their academic achievements,” says Elaine Tuttle Hansen, executivedirector of CTY. Students aren’t the only ones who deserve this recognition, she adds. “Our students wouldn’t be whothey are today without the parents and educators who have worked so hard to help them develop their talents.”

This Fall some 9,500 CTY Talent Search honorees were invited to participate in Award Ceremonies at 34 sites acrossthe county. New Jersey’s 2011 Awards Ceremonies were scheduled at Seton Hall University on Sunday, October 9, and Sunday, October 23; Rowan University on Sunday, October 23; and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey onSaturday, November 5.

About The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY)A global leader in gifted education since 1979, CTY (www.cty.jhu.edu) is focused on identifying academic talent inexceptional K-12 students and supporting their growth with courses, services, and resources specifically designed to meettheir needs. Education Week called CTY “one of a set of remarkable nonpublic institutions dedicated to the discovery andnurture of the most talented young people for the highest levels of accomplishment.”

CTY draws students from 50 states, the District of Columbia, and some 120 countries.
• CTY provided more than $5.5 million in financial aid to over 11,000 students in 2010-11.
• More than 17 percent of students identified in the 2010-11 CTY Talent Search are from underrepresented groups.
• Gifted students qualifying for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program may join the Talent Search virtuallyfor free.
• For more information about enrolling in the CTY Talent Search, go to www.cty.jhu.edu