HAFTR Student Named One of "Brightest in Nation"

Justin Zion, a HAFTR Middle School student from Woodmere, was recently honored as “one of the brightest young students in the nation” at a statewide awards ceremony for academically advanced children sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

The Center honored Justin, a participant in the CTY Talent Search, for his exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to academically talented second-through-eighth-grade students, according to a press release.

Justin was one of more than 40,000 students from over 120 countries who participated in the CTY Talent Search. Because of the difficulty of the tests, only 25 to 30 percent of students who participated earned an invitation to a CTY Awards Ceremony where they are individually honored for their academic performance and potential. Most students honored in 2013 CTY Award Ceremonies also qualified academically for CTY's summer courses and online classes.

Seventh and eighth graders take the SAT or ACT — the same tests used for college admissions. These students, along with second through sixth graders, can take the School and College Ability Test (SCAT), an above-level test.

"Today we face critical global problems that require the best minds of the future to solve using discipline, creativity, and innovation," says Elaine Tuttle Hansen, executive director of CTY. "It's inspiring and reassuring to see this group of some of the best and brightest students emerging and to know that they will become tomorrow's thought leaders and innovators."

This spring, some 13,700 CTY Talent Search honorees were invited to participate in 49 CTY Award Ceremonies at 27 sites.

New York's 2013 ceremonies were scheduled at the LIU Post campus of Long Island University on Saturday, June 1; SUNY-New Paltz on Saturday, June 1; Hunter College on Sunday, June 2; and the University of Rochester on Sunday, June 9.