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Students having fun at Scholars Academy
COLUMBIA - "I didn't expect it to be this much fun."
However, fun is exactly what Shelby King of Sikeston and two other area students are finding at Missouri Scholars Academy.
MSA, a three-week residential program, is being held June 10-30 on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Three hundred and thirty of the state's top sophomores come together for three weeks of learning and other extracurricular activities with other gifted sophomores from around the state.
Attending from the area are King, the son of Joey and Cheryle King of Sikeston, Garret McKuin, the son of Wayne and Jackie McKuin of Dexter, and Caroline Murray, the daughter of David and Gina Murray, also of Sikeston.
The goals of Missouri Scholars Academy are to help gifted students achieve their full potential, to encourage local schools to improve and expand gifted education programs and to assist in providing the state with experienced faculty and specialized curriculum for such students.
Every high school in the state is allowed to nominate at least one student for the Academy. Academically, students represent the top 0.5 percent of the state's sophomore class.
While no grades or credits are awarded through the program, students find the experience of MSA a reward in itself.
"I've really enjoyed getting to know some other gifted students from around the state. It's nice to know there are other people out there like you," King said.
Murray agreed. "I've loved meeting everyone. I think I've met some people who I'll continue friendships with for a while,"she said.
Students attending MSA are exposed to a wide range of activities as well as to intensive instruction in their chosen areas of specialization. Students choose from 18 "majors" and "minors," with subjects ranging from "The Physics of Superheroes" to "Japanese Language and Culture."
"It's a different learning experience than we get at school. Students have more control -- if anyone has questions or brings something up, the teachers roll with it," said Murray, who is taking an architecture and a history of written letters class.
The faculty is composed of teachers from high schools throughout the state. Along with these classes, guest speakers, performers, discussions and career education are combined with extracurricular and social activities to round out the curriculum. Extracurricular events so far include square dancing and a Holocaust survivor speaking.
By the end of the 2007 Academy, close to 7,500 Missouri high school students and teachers will have participated in MSA since its beginning in 1985. The Academy is supported by state funds and is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in cooperation with the University of Missouri-Columbia.