Ceremony at KU will honor state's brightest youngsters on June 2

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LAWRENCE -- More than 900 of the state's brightest seventh-graders and their families have been invited to be honored at a special ceremony June 2 at the University of Kansas. About 500 are expected to attend.

The students, who scored in the top 5 percent on college entrance exams while still in middle school, will be recognized at the state ceremony for the Duke University Talent Identification Program, or TIP, a nonprofit education program dedicated to the cultivation and education of talented American youth. The program is in its 22nd year. This is the fourth year that KU has served as host for the state recognition efforts.

"We are honored to have so many outstanding young students on the KU campus," said Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, associate provost and one of the organizers of the events at KU. "These students will be the future generation of National Merit Scholars and high-ability students in Kansas. We hope their visit to KU will give them and their families a taste of what it would be like to pursue their education at KU in a few years."

The recognition ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at the Lied Center of Kansas.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway will welcome the students, and Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor for university relations at KU, will moderate the ceremony. Donald W. Steeples, the Dean A. McGee distinguished professor of applied geophysics, will deliver the keynote address. Lori Dunn, a Winchester junior majoring in piano, will perform for the students and their parents.

Each student will receive a certificate of achievement from TIP. Information tables explaining various programs and activities at KU also will be set up at the Lied Center to answer students' questions about the university.

Parents and students interested in next year's program should contact the Duke University TIP office at (919) 684-3847 or go online at www.tip.duke.edu.