Two ISD Students Accepted to Prestigious Summer Academic Program

An unparalleled educational experience awaits ISD high school sophomores Elizabeth Clark from Truman and Connor Jones from William Chrisman- two of just 330 statewide accepted to the prestigious Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) June 12- July 2. MSA is a three-week residential program on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia for gifted students entering their junior year of high school.

Participants were chosen based on several factors including test scores, grade point average, submitted essays and evidence of creativity, initiative and intellectual curiosity. “Congratulations to Truman and William Chrisman high schools for nominating such outstanding candidates,” said Aleesha Coke, MSA representative.

Using a specially designed liberal arts-based curriculum, academy students choose a major and a minor area of study and participate in a variety of stimulating extracurricular activities, creating a unique learning community.

“The academy reflects the state’s desire to strive for excellence in education at all levels,” Coke said. “MSA is based on the premise Missouri’s gifted youth must be provided with special opportunities for learning and personal development in order for them to realize their full potential.”

The 2016 Academy is fully funded by the State of Missouri and all scholars attend free of charge.