MacKenszee Roberts to attend Scholars Academy

Joplin High School sophomore Mackenszee Roberts, a former South Middle School student, has been selected to attend the annual Missouri Scholars Academy in Columbia. The following news release was issued by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:

Three hundred and thirty gifted students from public and private high schools across the state have been selected to attend the 2008 Missouri Scholars Academy which will be held June 8-28 at the University of Missouri campus.

Established in 1985, the Scholars Academy is a unique and concentrated “summer school” for academically gifted rising juniors. Every public and private high school in Missouri may nominate at least one student for the annual state-funded program.

The Scholars Academy is sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, with support from the University of Missouri which has hosted the academy every year since its inception. Scholars live in university dorms for the duration of the academy.

Participants in the Scholars Academy do not earn grades or academic credit. They select one academic subject in math, science, social studies or the humanities as their “major” topic of study at the academy. The program also features a rich variety of lectures, workshops and guest speakers.

This year, students may choose courses that focus on architecture, religion, the Middle East, Japanese language and culture, marine biology, leadership skills, understanding modern art, understanding Socrates, and many others.