Fourteen of Wakefield School’s 7th grade students have qualified

Fourteen of Wakefield School’s 7th grade students have qualified to enter the Johns Hopkins University Academic Talent Search Program for 1987. This program, sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Academically Talented Youth (CTY), attempts through testing to identify mathematically and verbally gifted youth in the 12 to 14-year-old range.

To qualify to participate in the program, 7th graders must have scored in the 97th percentile or better on national standardized testing administered during the past year.

The second stage of the program requires participating youngsters to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Board Examination, which is designed to measure the academic aptitude of collegebound juniors and seniors.

In preparation for these tests which students across the nation will take on Jan. 24, Wakefield’s 7th graders have been attending special Saturday classes at Wakefield where they work practice tests and math and word drills.

According to Wakefield headmaster William Lynn, who has been conducting the Saturday classes, the students are very highly motivated to succeed on the test and are working harder than any previous group he has taught. Each year, he said, Wakefield has had students who were among the highest scorers in the nation. These students were the recipients of scholarships to universities and colleges, and were invited to participate in summer programs sponsored by CTY.

Mr. Lynn said he tells students in the program that they are in special training, like athletes before an event. To do their best, he said, they must be in top shape as well as relaxed and self-confident.

The Wakefield 7th graders participating in the CTY program this year include Tim Andreae, Willie Dangelo-Horvath, Detra Funk, Justin Harrell, Jamie Hutt, Michael Irani, Laura Larimer, Trevor McCall, Alison Martin, Kathleen O’Neill, Bobby Ohlinger, i Samara Sargent, John Viega and Ryan Viguerie.