The Thomas County School System recently announced that four of its middle school students were recognized as a part of the 2017 Duke University Talent Identification (TIP) Program.

Jenaya Coleman, Laura Hiers, Georgia Rose Patton, and Molly Grace White, seventh graders at Thomas County Middle School, were among a select group of students statewide to meet the criteria to be Duke TIP students.

In December 2016 and January of this year, the three took either the  ACT or SAT through TIP. They sat for the exams in Thomasville alongside the usual group of college-bound 11th and 12th graders, and many earned scores that rivaled or surpassed those earned by the older students in the next seats.

Thomas County Middle School’s TIP Club Advisor Retha Lee said, “We are proud of these seventh-grade students for taking on the challenge of exams such as the PSAT, SAT and ACT. The high scores our students received are indicative of the academic rigor of their MERIT courses here at Thomas County Middle School, as well as the students’ intelligence and motivation. We hope the work they’ve done in our Duke TIP Club will continue to serve them well in their academic careers.”

The Duke TIP Club advisors, Lee and Tonya Frare, help students prepare for national tests such as the PSAT, SAT, and ACT by guiding them through sample test questions and showing them online resources for further practice

All four students scored high enough to be eligible for participation in Duke’s Summer Studies programs.

MERIT Program Coordinator, Terry Dukes said, “We are very happy to recognize these young ladies on this wonderful accomplishment.  They are all exemplary representatives of their families, communities, and our schools.  It is exciting to see them earn recognition for their ability and talents at the state level.  Their success is a reflection of their hard work, the support of their family, and the dedication of their teachers to prepare them for success now and in the future.”

Coleman, Hiers, and White have all been invited to attend a state recognition ceremony in May.

TIP identifies 7th graders in sixteen states in the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest who have scored at the 95th percentile or above on a national grade-level achievement test, but several students from TCMS scored higher than the 90th percentile nationally on this assessment. TIP provides participants with suggestions for using their ability more effectively, and a variety of educational materials and publications.