Talent Is Everywhere

The Duke Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) was founded in 1980. They had their first talent search in 1981 which only had about 8,700 participants. In 2005 they had over 81,000. The purpose of the Duke Talent search is to provide resources to help develop students' academic gifts. Often students need activities more advanced than what is being offered at school, either because the school does not have the resources or staff to do so. Duke TIP has a wide range of activities to help meet each students needs.  It also allows students to become part of a network of gifted students and their families. "It wasn't very hard, I enjoy the challenges." said Joseph Callaway. Morgan McLain, Maddie Cribbs, and Baylee Rigsby agreed, "We are all so proud that our friends got into Duke TIP."

Many gifted children do not reach their full potential. Some students tend to hide their talents, don't try hard, or have behavior problems. The Duke Talent Search is used to find out how advanced a student truly is. At times, the testing they give at schools cannot test the true abilities of these gifted children. For the Duke Talent Search students take an above-level testing, which is at least two years above the student's current grade, to understand where the child is truly gifted.

 To enroll in the Duke Talent Search, students must have scored 95% or higher on a grade-level standardized test or have scored at or above 125 on an IQ test.  All students who participate receive a certificate, and students with outstanding scores are honored at special recognition ceremonies. "I'm so glad I was accepted. I work my hardest in everything." said Margaret Lloyd.

Recently 15 students from Gulf Shores Middle School took the ACT or SAT.  Joseph Callaway, Seth Clark, Ryan McIntosh, and Emily Taylor qualified for State Recognition. Students who qualified for Academy are Holly Blair, Seth Clark, and Margaret Lloyd.  Joseph Callaway qualified for Center. 

By: Danielle Watts and Ashton Walther; 7th

Joseph Callaway, Ryan McIntosh, Seth Clark,Emily Taylor, Holly Blair, Margaret Lloyd were chosen
 to be in the Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) program
Photo By: Sydney Ayers