Selah’s scholars honored
http://www.selahnews.com/articles/428/1/Selahs-scholars-honored/Page1.html
Denise Keller
By Denise Keller
Published on 06/25/2008
A program sponsored by the University of Washington conducts an annual
statewide search for the brightest young students. This year, it found
eight at Selah Intermediate School.
A program sponsored by the University of Washington conducts an annual statewide search for the brightest young students. This year, it found eight at Selah Intermediate School.
The Washington Search for Young Scholars is a regional talent search for students in fifth through eighth grade. Students qualify by meeting score requirements on a standardized test.
Local recipients of the award include fifth grade students Alec Johnson, Noah Minnick, Gator Newell, Taylor Newquist and Megan Rice, and sixth grade students Romessa Ahmed, Tyler Harris and Jacob Mahugh.
Pam Ansingh, Executive Director for Teaching and Learning in the Selah School District, said the selection process is rigorous.
“These are kids that are obviously strong test takers and motivated to do well and we’re really proud of them,” Ansingh said. “We were excited to have this many from our district.”
Qualification for fifth and sixth grade students was based on last year’s WASL scores. Students’ scores in either reading or math needed to be higher than 97 percent of students who took the test. Students who scored in that range could apply for the program.
Statewide, 1,006 students were selected. Program coordinator, Carol Hayes, said there are many more students who simply didn’t know about the opportunity.
Taylor Newquist learned about the program through SOAR, the Intermediate School’s enrichment class for students who excel. He brought home a flyer to his parents, Jason and Katie Newquist.
Taylor’s high math scores on his fourth grade WASL test qualified him for the program.
Taylor and the other award winners were honored at a ceremony last month at the University of Washington. Each student in attendance had his or her name announced, walked across the stage, shook hands with the dean and received a $10 gift card to use at the university’s bookstore.
“He thought it was pretty cool,” Katie said of her son’s experience. “We are used to him doing well, but it was pretty special to see him get recognized like that.”
In addition to the formal recognition ceremony, students selected for the program are eligible to participate in special summer learning programs at the University of Washington.
Students in seventh or eighth grade must take either the SAT or ACT to qualify for the Washington Search for Young Scholars program. Qualifying scores for seventh grade students need to be equal or greater than 50 percent of college-bound high school seniors taking the test. Scores for eighth grade students need to meet or beat 65 percent of test-taking college-bound seniors.
Information about the 2009 Washington Search for Young Scholars program will be available in September.
The Washington Search for Young Scholars is a regional talent search for students in fifth through eighth grade. Students qualify by meeting score requirements on a standardized test.
Local recipients of the award include fifth grade students Alec Johnson, Noah Minnick, Gator Newell, Taylor Newquist and Megan Rice, and sixth grade students Romessa Ahmed, Tyler Harris and Jacob Mahugh.
Pam Ansingh, Executive Director for Teaching and Learning in the Selah School District, said the selection process is rigorous.
“These are kids that are obviously strong test takers and motivated to do well and we’re really proud of them,” Ansingh said. “We were excited to have this many from our district.”
Qualification for fifth and sixth grade students was based on last year’s WASL scores. Students’ scores in either reading or math needed to be higher than 97 percent of students who took the test. Students who scored in that range could apply for the program.
Statewide, 1,006 students were selected. Program coordinator, Carol Hayes, said there are many more students who simply didn’t know about the opportunity.
Taylor Newquist learned about the program through SOAR, the Intermediate School’s enrichment class for students who excel. He brought home a flyer to his parents, Jason and Katie Newquist.
Taylor’s high math scores on his fourth grade WASL test qualified him for the program.
Taylor and the other award winners were honored at a ceremony last month at the University of Washington. Each student in attendance had his or her name announced, walked across the stage, shook hands with the dean and received a $10 gift card to use at the university’s bookstore.
“He thought it was pretty cool,” Katie said of her son’s experience. “We are used to him doing well, but it was pretty special to see him get recognized like that.”
In addition to the formal recognition ceremony, students selected for the program are eligible to participate in special summer learning programs at the University of Washington.
Students in seventh or eighth grade must take either the SAT or ACT to qualify for the Washington Search for Young Scholars program. Qualifying scores for seventh grade students need to be equal or greater than 50 percent of college-bound high school seniors taking the test. Scores for eighth grade students need to meet or beat 65 percent of test-taking college-bound seniors.
Information about the 2009 Washington Search for Young Scholars program will be available in September.