Kinnelon Student Honored as 'Talented Youth'

Matthew Jacko, a student from Kinnelon, was recently honored as one of the brightest young students in the nation at a statewide awards ceremony for gifted children sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY).

The Center honored Matthew, a participant in the 2011 CTY Talent Search, for his exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to academically talented second through eighth grade students. Eight-year-old Matthew, who participates in an accelerated academic learning program through Stanford University’s Educational Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY), and attends a weekend enrichment program for gifted students at Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ, was one of more than 50,000 students worldwide who participated in this year’s CTY Talent Search.

Because of the difficulty of the tests, only a percentage of students who participated earned an invitation to a CTY’s Awards Ceremony where they are individually honored for their academic performance and potential.

“We are so proud of our CTY Talent Search honorees for their exceptional performance on these tests and we are thrilled to take this moment to recognize them for their academic achievements,” said Elaine Tuttle Hansen, executive director of CTY. Students aren’t the only ones who deserve this recognition, she adds. “Our students wouldn’t be who they are today without the parents and educators who have worked so hard to help them develop their talents.”