Four junior high school students from the Virgin Islands are among hundreds of middle school students from the nation and other countries who will be taking college courses this summer courtesy of the Center for Talented Youth (CTY) at Johns Hopkins University.
Elena Christian Junior High School seventh grader Habeeba O’Neill and eighth grader Maryam O’Neill, and eighth grader Alyssa Grouby and seventh grader Ryan Hodge of John H. Woodson Junior High School were especially recognized for scoring high on CTY’sTalent Search test administered in March. About 78 other V.I. students also took the test. Award ceremonies sponsored by Johns Hopkins CTY program were held on Monday, May 7 at Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School on St. Thomas and on Tuesday, May 8at the John H. Woodson Junior High School on St. Croix.
“The four students’ scores on the test were similar to that of high school students,” announced Neetu Dhawan-Gray, CTY’s assistant director of school, parent and community relations. The students’ high scores earned them full participation in CTY’s summer program, which offers a close up look at the college environment and the opportunity to enroll in “challenging and inspiring courses”. According to Gray, the students will domicile only with other students participating in CTY’s three-week summer programs at selected colleges.
All territorial students who participated in CTY’s Talent Search test received certificates of participation. The Virgin Islands Top Talent Search students will participate in awards ceremonies in 20 states and will compete for an opportunity to attend a national medal ceremony at Johns Hopkins University.
Each of the four V.I. top scorers on CTY’sTalent Search test will receive an iPadcourtesy of the department.