Beth Thompson, Director of the Educational Talent Search Program at EKU, and Adam Poff, President-elect of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond hold the team second place state award won by the Educational Talent Search Program's Middle School Academic Team. The Educational Talent Search Program (ETS) is housed at Eastern Kentucky University. The Kiwanis Club of Richmond has been supportive of the program's activities over its 22 years of operation; services to youth is one of the club's main focus.
The 2006-07 Educational Talent Search Program Middle School Academic Team at Eastern Kentucky University won a variety of awards at the February 24th state competition held at Morehead State University. The event was held as part of the National TRIO Day celebrations. National TRIO Day recognizes the educational efforts that TRIO Programs provide. Eastern Kentucky University currently houses four of the TRIO Programs: Educational Talent Search Program, Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program, Student Support Services Program, and the Upward Bound Program.
The competition team members were: LaNeika Baker, Brooke Barbour, Kaylyn Brusseau, Christina Hauck (who won and individual state first place award in spelling), Kelli McCafferty, Brian Tussey (who won and individual state first place award in writting), and Deanna Yocum. Team awards included first place for spelling and first place in the super quiz.
The Educational Talent Search Assistant Director Donna Williams-Clark and three Educational Coordinators, Kristen Koontz, Veronica Nielsen, and Lisa Sons attended the day's events with the middle school students. Kristen Koontz is the coordinator for the academic team project. The students that were selected for the academic team came to the EKU's campus several Saturdays in the fall semester to take written tests to compete for a spot on the team.
