slideshow

UNION — Sixteen eighth grade students in Union County have been selected as South Carolina Junior Scholars.

Cindy Langley, director of Secondary Education for the Union County School District, announced Friday afternoon that the following eighth grade students have achieved the South Carolina Junior Scholar Award for the 2012-2013 school year:

Lockhart Middle School

• Ethan Bailey, son of Jeff and Kim Bailey

• Seth Parker, son of Mickey and Shayna Parker

• Elizabeth Parks, daughter of Jay and Casey Parks

• Ryan Vaughan, son of Troy and Shelley Vaughan

Sims Junior High

• Jacob Billings, son of Dale and Candace Billings

• Spencer Boulware, son of Kathy Marino

• Lindsey Fowler, daughter of Jean Fowler

• Nicole McDade, daughter of Joyce McDade

• Cole Rector, son of Tony and Shannon Rector

• Jacob Sanders, son of Jeff and Amy Sanders

• Joshua Sinclair, son of Mitchell and Donna Sinclair

• Shelby Summers, daughter of George and Lisa Summers

Jonesville Middle School

• Courtney Garner, daughter of Mark and Paula Garner

• Elizabeth Genoble, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Genoble

• Claire Pridemore, daughter of Rickey and Tammy Pridemore

• Skylar Garner, daughter of April Garner

Langley said that the students were selected as South Carolina Junior Scholars either by meeting the Duke University Talent Identification Program criteria as seventh grade students or by scoring at or above 50 as eighth grade students on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) in one or more of the following areas: verbal, math, or writing.

As recipients of this honor, Langley said the students will be recognized in local award ceremonies and receive an Award of Merit from the State Department of Education.

The South Carolina Junior Scholars Identification and Development Program, begun in the 1985-86 school year, reflects the growing statewide effort to improve education in South Carolina and responds to the needs of students possessing unique abilities. The purpose of the program is to identify students with exceptionally high scholastic achievement and intellectual ability and to provide opportunities for these students that will facilitate their intellectual growth, broaden their individual interests, and promote their scholastic achievement. Such opportunities are provided during the academic school year or summer following identification in the eighth grade and continue throughout the high school years.