Top students recognized for academic achievement

Warwick — Gina Farruggia and Abigail Hintermeister, students from Warwick, were honored at a statewide awards ceremony for gifted children held by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY). Gina and Abby, now eighth graders at the Warwick Valley Middle School, joined other award recipients at the state ceremony, and were individually honored by Johns Hopkins for their academic performance and promise. The girls were invited to this awards ceremony sponsored by CTY (www.cty.jhu.edu) based on an exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to fifth through eighth grade Talent Search participants. Gina and Abby each took the college entrance ACT tests and scored higher than the average college-bound high school senior. About 25% of the over 30,000 seventh and eighth grade testers scored high enough to earn an invitation to an awards ceremony. “In hosting these awards ceremonies, we want these bright children to have their day in the limelight for their academic talent and to celebrate their abilities, just as we celebrate excellence in athletics or the performing arts,” said Lea Ybarra, Ph.D., CTY’s executive director. “Many students recognized at our awards ceremonies already know that ‘being smart is being cool.’ But there are others for whom their abilities come as a surprise to them and their families. We at CTY take great pride in helping all these deserving young people gain recognition at the state level for their academic potential.” Ybarra also credits parents and educators for sharing in the honored students’ accomplishments. “Parents who make academics a first priority for their children, and teachers who inspire their students to achieve their best, create engaged young people who are well-prepared to lead and shape tomorrow’s world.”