MOUNT VERNON — Gifted students from around the county — Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, Fredericktown and Mount Vernon — and their parents gathered at the Alcove Restaurant on Sept. 13 to celebrate the 2012 Ohio Summer Honors Institutes.
Coordinated by John Jurkowitz, gifted coordinator with the Knox County Educational Service Center, the summer institutes offer students the opportunity to spend a week at an Ohio college or university exploring a chosen field of study with other gifted students and discovering what college life is like.
This year, 15 students were able to attend institutes at Ohio Northern University. Eleven received local scholarships, and, because of the number of students from Knox County, Ohio Northern University provided two additional scholarships.
“Each student was instructed by a college professor in a field that he/she had chosen,” said Jurkowitz. “The fields included chemistry, engineering pathways, physics/astronomy, forensic science, advanced forensics and mock trial. Some of the students learned the field they chose was the right one for them; others discovered another career path might be better.”
Centerburg High School’s Alexis Jarret said she had an unforgettable experience. She took advanced forensics and did DNA testing, luminal testing and excavation of horse bones, among other hands-on activities. She said she made irreplaceable friendships and memories for a lifetime.
“[The institute] also influenced me to start preparing for college,” Jarrett said. “You really get an idea of how important education is, as well as how crucial it is to take advantage of every learning opportunity thrown your way.”
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