Area elementary school student honored by Johns Hopkins

Jaime Griffin Smith, a student from Mount Olive, was recently honored at a statewide awards ceremony for gifted children held by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. Smith, whose father resides in Sparta, attends Sandshore Elementary School. She joined other award recipients at the recent state ceremony, and was individually honored by Johns Hopkins for her academic performance and promise. Smith was invited to the awards ceremony based on an exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to fifth- through eighth grade students. 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. In 2005, more than 83,000 students from 19 states and the District of Columbia participated in talent searches offered through the Hopkins center. About 30 percent of the 16,500 fifth- and sixth-graders who tested this winter earned an invitation to the 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., executive director of the center. We 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,” she said.