Jared Weiss, a fifth grade student at Duggan Elementary School, was recently honored at a statewide awards ceremony for gifted children held by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY).

Weiss was invited to the awards ceremony based on an exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to fifth-through eighth grade Talent Search participants. Seventh and eighth graders took the SAT or ACT - the same tests used for college admissions. Fifth and sixth graders took the PLUS, a test similar to the SAT, scaled for younger students.

The results of these tests give families a better idea of a child's academic talents, particularly in comparison to the thousands of other academically talented students in the Talent Search. Students can also earn recognition at CTY's awards ceremonies, and their test scores may qualify them for CTY's summer programs and distance education courses. Jared Weiss qualified for all programs.

In 2005 alone, over 83,000 students from 19 states and the District of Columbia participated in the Talent Searches offered through CTY. About 30 percent of the 16,500 elementary students tested this winter earned an invitation to CTY's Awards Ceremony.

Weiss credits his success to his little brother Aaron; his teachers at the Duggan School, Mr. Slaver and Ms. Parsons among others; and his previous teachers at The Homestead School.  Jared's parents,  Jon and Beth Weiss, noted how supportive principal Patti Sonnenschein and the entire Monticello school district staff have been throughout the process.

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