EDUCATIONAL
TALENT SEARCH
We s t e r n K e n t u c k y U n ive r s i t y
From the Director’s Desk
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
From the Director
1
New Coordinator
1
Tech Day Pics
2
Fair & Tour Pics
3
Transitions
4
ACT Prep
5
Congratulations
6
The end of another school year is here! The Educational Talent Search staff
would like to thank the students, parents, and our school personnel for assisting us
in making the 2014-2015 school year a successful one!
To our senior class of 2015, congratulations!!! We are extremely proud of you
and all of your accomplishments! Remember our staff is here to assist you with
questions, concerns or issues you might have during the summer months leading
into your freshmen year of college.
To our parents with students currently in grades 8-11, we will be preparing for
the 2015-2016 year soon! We look forward to another great year! Remember, our
office remains open during the summer months. If you should have any questions or
need assistance, please call 270-745-3757.
Have a fun and safe summer!
Jennifer McWhorter
New Academic Coordinator
“Develop a passion
for learning. If you
do, you will never
cease to grow.”
Anthony J. D'Angelo
"Education's purpose is to replace
an empty mind
with an open one."
Malcolm Forbes
Educational Talent Search
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11098
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1098
(270) 745-3757
www.wku.edu/ets
E T S N e w s l e tte r
ETS welcomes a new Academic Coordinator for Caverna, Hart, and Metcalfe high
schools. Rae Collins was born and raised in Mississippi, graduated college from Mississippi State University and received her masters degree from University of Arkansas.
Rae loves helping students at the high school level whether in education or sports medicine. She has been working with high school students for the last seven years. She
lives in Bowling Green with her husband and two children. Rae enjoys spending time
with family and friends, sports, and good food!
Happy Summer ETS Students and Family!
It was great getting to meet with students at the end of this
school year and I am looking forward to our meetings again
this fall! So much wonderful education information to share
with you all to make sure you are a success in school but also
life! Looking forward to our time together!
Mrs. Rae
Mission Statement
Educational Talent Search at Western Kentucky University engages qualified youth
in grades eight through twelve in developmentally appropriate activities that will
encourage persistence in high school, enrollment in postsecondary education and a
lifelong pursuit of learning in order to be productive citizens of a global society.
S pr i ng , 2 0 1 5
Page 2
E duc a ti o na l T al e nt S e a r c h
Tech Day at Southcentral Community and Technical College
Sophomores from Educational Talent Search took part in a tour of SKYCTC on March 20th. The
hour-long tour provided participants with a view of various classrooms, technical equipment, administrative offices and college departments. Following the tour, department representatives provided the students with presentations on financial aid, the benefits of a community college degree/certification and job outlooks for students who graduate from their programs.
Page 3
E duc a ti o na l T al e nt S e a r c h
2015 College Fair and Tour
Representatives from a variety of Kentucky universities took part in this year’s TRIO College Fair
and Tour on April 22nd. Students from both ETS programs as well as Upward Bound took part
in the day-long event which included recruiter tables, university presentations, a tour of WKU
and lunch at Fresh Foods. The recruiters provided the students with essential information concerning campus life, admission requirements, scholarships, housing, majors and much more.
Page 4
E duc a ti o na l T al e nt S e a r c h
7 Tips to Help Teens Successfully Transition to High School
In the next three months thousands of children will take one more step toward a significant rite of passage: they will transition
from being middle school or junior high students to becoming full-fledged high schoolers. This transition for kids is scary – the
fear of anonymity, unfamiliar surroundings and higher expectations all play a central role in the anxiety leading up to the start
of one’s high school career. There are things, however, that parents can do to assist with this transition.
1.
Listen
Parents should not discount their children’s fears by just telling them “it will be all right.” Change can be frightening. Parents
should reassure their kids that they will not be alone in this process. Children at this age need emotional security, support and
a listening ear. Your child is anxious about this transition and wants to know that you are an ally.
2. Get involved
When students are involved with extracurricular activities, such as theatre, art club or sports, it helps promote belonging. Encouraging involvement in organized school activities fosters teamwork and a sense of place, which ultimately leads to confidence. And confidence comes with inclusion.
3.Help your child learn the ropes
Many school districts have freshman orientation programs that allow time for incoming freshmen to get oriented to the physical plant. Schools, for example, usually allow students to come in and try out locker combinations, locate classrooms and get
comfortable with their new surroundings. For students who have their schedules, parents can suggest that they walk through
the building as if they were coming and going from classes.
4.
Eliminate stress by focusing on details
The more attention that parents pay to small details, the easier things will be for a student on day one. For example, most
schools mail students their new schedules over the summer. Parents should look over their child’s schedule to ensure it appears to be correct. No matter how much little Billy tries to coerce his parents into believing he is supposed to have three gym
classes, he shouldn’t. Scheduling mistakes do happen, and if there is a problem counselors are usually available a couple of
weeks prior to the start of classes to get these issues resolved. Addressing any scheduling errors early can save your child from
waiting in line and missing classes while his/her schedule is changed.
5.
Prepare for the summer brain drain
Almost every student loses a little ground over the summer. However, if your child has done poorly in a subject, you should try
to help him/her find a related enrichment activity over the summer. This will increase your child’s self esteem and help prepare
your student academically for the start of the school year.
6.
Adjustments to curriculum take time
The higher academic standards of high school and increased competition will take some time and adjustment. Often students
earn their lowest GPA freshman year, and then begin to figure things out. When I interview students and ask the question “if
you could start high school over again, what would you do differently?” many students answer that they would take freshman
year more seriously. Some freshmen don’t even understand that their freshman grades are part of the high school transcript
that is submitted when they apply to college.
7.
Know when to seek help
After the first couple of weeks, if your child is having debilitating anxiety or is abnormally worried about school, parents must
seek help and get an intervention. Many students will exhibit uneasiness and a decrease in self-esteem, but adjustment problems lasting longer than a few weeks may require special help. Parents know their children and know when they are having
drastic mood swings or acting uncharacteristically. If you notice a change in your child’s eating or sleeping habits, it’s time to
talk with someone. During this time never forget to love your children unconditionally. While they are crossing over into adulthood, understand that change is hard and their fears are real. Students today are more stressed out than they have ever been.
It’s a reflection of what is going on in our communities and our society. We have so many complex problems – including
heightened economic pressures, changes in family structure, persistent violence, cyber-bullying, etc. – but there are also more
resources to deal with these problems than we had 20 years ago. Parents, teachers, counselors and school leaders need to
work collaboratively to help promote a favorable school adjustment. Nobody can do it alone.
By Bonnie Rubenstein
Page 5
E duc a ti o n a l T a l e n t S e a r ch
Top Ten Ways to Prepare for the ACT
A good ACT score can help you get into your top college choices, as well as qualify you for college
scholarships! So where do you start your ACT test prep? These ten ACT test prep tips will help you start
your study plan off right.
1. Buy at least 2 reputable study books
Start studying with the ACT Official Guide and the material on actstudent.org. Books from reputable
companies such as Kaplan or McGraw-Hill are excellent supplemental materials. Look for books (or free
online materials) with a lot of practice tests!
2. Use the entire time for each section
Even if you are naturally a fast test taker, make sure to use the entire given time. If you finish a test early, go back and review the questions, slowly “re-taking” them and checking for simple mistakes.
3. G ET I NSIDE T HE H EADS O F T HE T ESTMAKERS
Try to develop an understanding of what the test makers “prefer” in terms of the answer choices. For
example, after studying the ACT English test for some time you’ll notice how the ACT test makers prefer
concise answers. This kind of understanding will help you make better educated guesses on harder
problems.
4. Learn the most frequently tested concepts
For the ACT English and the ACT Math tests, there are a finite number of tested concepts: grammar, algebra, geometry, trig, etc. You will need to figure out what you already know, and what you need to
work on. The good news: the questions are predictable! If you learn these concepts, you’ll see them pop
up over and over again.
5. Plan out a reasonable study schedule
Create a study schedule that you can reasonably complete between now and your test. Be realistic with
yourself. How much time can you commit each week to ACT practice questions? It’s better to study 2030 minutes a day than 4 hours once a week. Aim to work on ACT material at least four days a week.
6. Pinpoint your weaknesses and attack them
Are you a slow reader? Is your ACT Math knowledge so-so? Grammar got you down? Know going in to
your ACT test prep what areas need more work, and plan to address them first. You’ll need more time
for the weaknesses. Don’t put off studying for a section just because you dread it! Just learn
the strategies, and you’ll begin to answer these questions with confidence!
7. Remember that test taking is a learned skill, not an inherent gift
Some people may seem to be “naturally” good at the ACT, but even if you’re not one of them, you can
still learn how to score highly! Think positively, and focus on your progress in your ACT test prep. Recognize that making mistakes is necessary for improvement. Incorrect practice ACT questions help you
hone in on areas that need more work, so welcome them!
8. Do some timed practice to check in on your pacing
The ACT is comprised of five tests: English, Math, Reading, Science, and the Writing (in that order).
These sections have different challenges regarding pacing, with different numbers of questions and different time limits. You will need to develop a pacing strategy for each unique test, and practice so you
are confident you can finish within the allotted time.
9. Memorize the instructions for each test
Don’t waste valuable time on your ACT test day reading and re-reading instructions. Each test has its
own set of directions. Familiarize yourself with them now.
10. Spend some time with the free resources at actstudent.org
This is the official website, and yet it’s amazing how many students take the ACT without ever having
visited it! This should be your first stop in your ACT test prep journey.
From: http://magoosh.com/act/2014/top-ten-ways-to-prepare-for-the-act-exam/
C ONGRATULATIONS S ENIORS
ALLEN COUNTY H.S.
ANDRIA ADAMS
HADAN BENNETT
AMBER BERRY
CORA DOBRING
ALYSSA ETHRIDGE
DEMETRIA HANNER
BRADLEY HAYES
CORRINA JENKINS
JESSE KATZMAN
EMILY KEY
BRANDON MESKER
CORY RADCLIFF
MAC TOLLEFSON
BUTLER COUNTY H.S.
TRAVIS ANSPACH
HUNTER CARDWELL
RYAN CARDWELL
REBECCA DAUGHERTY
ZACH DEWEESE
MATTHEW EMBRY
AMBER FELTY
RAVEN GRUBB
AARON JARED
WHITNEY JENKINS
ALLISON KURFISS
JESSICA LEGRAND
KEESHA PEDIGO
DOMINIQUE PERRY
TRISTAN PHELPS
BRITTANY QUALLS
HANNAH RENFROW
ASHLEY SMITH
CAVERNA H.S.
COURTNEY CARROLL
CODY DANIELS
TREMEKIA DICE
BRODY HARPER
TRAVONTE JENKINS
MONTAZIA MARTIN
BJ NUCKOLS
ANTHONY PHILLIPS
LAUREN REED
BRADLEY RODEN
KAITLYNN STALLARD
TREVOR STEPHENS
IVOR TOSCANO
SIERRA WAGGONER
AUBRIANNA WOCKENFUSS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY H.S.
WILLIAM ARMS
JAMES BOOHER
BROOKLYN BRANHAM
JOSHUA BURNS
BOBBY CARY
SARAH CARY
DARCY FRANKLIN
DANIEL HALE
STACIE HENSEL
AARON JOHNSON
KELSIE KEY
DEMI MARLOWE
TREVOR OWSLEY
KENDRA POLSTON
CANYON ROACH
JOSHUA SCOTT
EMILY SPEARS
KAYLA WAID
JEREMY WRIGHT
EDMONSON COUNTY H.S.
THOMAS ALVEY
COLE BEDWELL
BRENT FOLEY
AMBER HAGAN
REBEKKAH HOLCOMB
MADISON HURLEY
SETH KEOWN
TREVOR NORRIS
NORMA PATEL
COREY PIERCE
AUSTIN SALLENG
REBECCA SANDERS
JULIE SULLIVAN
JADE WAGONER
CEIRRA WHITMAN
RACHEL WILSON
HART COUNTY H.S.
ANN-MARIE DENNIS
JACOB GARDNER
LUKE GARDNER
WILLIAM TREY JOHNSON
TAYLOR LOGSDON
DARREN LYNN
RYAN MISTELSKE
ZACHERY NICHOLS
TYLER PHELPS
HADLEY PHILPOT
BREANNA RAGLAND
SPENCER RIGDON
ABIGAIL ROGERS
MEGAN SANDERS
KAILY SCOTT
LUKE SIMS
TEAL SKILLERN
ROSS THOMPSON
MADISON UNDERWOOD
KENDALL WEST
CLAY WILSON
LOGAN COUNTY H.S.
DUSTIN BAILEY
KELSEY BOBBETT
ANDREW GREGORY
WHITNEY GUFFEY
JOSEPH HUST
CHRISTIAN HUTCHESON
DEJA LEBLANC
ZACH MILLER
COREY MIMBS
SAVANNAH MOHR
ASHLEA MUNDAY
WESTON PLUMLEE
BETH POWELL
MICHAEL SMITH
DANA STUCKER
DAWSON WHITE
ALLIE YATES
METCALFE COUNTY H.S.
JESSICA CRAVENS
MAKENSEY EDWARDS
LAUREN FROEDGE
FAITH GIVENS
KATHERINE HUFFMAN
ALEXANDER MCMULLEN
GENESIS NICKSON
SAMANTHA PERRY
KAYTLYN SHARP
MIRANDA SHAW
ANNA SHOCKLEY
TYLER THOMAS
JESSICA WESLEY
BETHANY WHEELER
MONROE COUNTY H.S.
MICAH CROSS
SAMANTHA ELLIS
DONOVAN GENTRY
BRITTNEY HAMMER
BAILEY HULL
BAYLEE SCOTT
ELIZABETH SMITH
GIBRIL SUMMERS
BRANCESEN TADE
KELSEY TURNER
DUSTY WALKER
CODY WATKINS
LAUREN WATSON
BRILEY WELCH
ETHAN WHEELER
JAMES WIGINGTON
RUSSELVILLE H.S.
TAVAIZHA BOYD
CHRISTINA BRADLEY
III TREY CAGE
BRIAN CLINARD
TA'CORIAN DARDEN
LA'CHELLE GATEWOOD
XAIVER GRAINGER
RAVEN HALE
TAELOR INSCO
WILLIAM OAKLEY
DESMON QUARLES
MYKAH WILKERSON