Dozens of Hamilton School District students participated in the Midwest Academic Talent Search (MATS) by taking above-grade level tests to measure their intellectual abilities. Three students who took the EXPLORE, ACT or SAT tests were recognized for exceptional performance among Wisconsin students, and two students were noted for their exceptional performance in the Midwest.
Students qualified for MATS based on their scores on the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam. Qualifying seventh and eighth grade students took the ACT or SAT, which are college entrance exams normally given to high school students. Fifth- and sixth-graders who qualified for MATS took EXPLORE, a test normally given to eighth grade students.
Templeton Middle School eighth-grader Paula Myatt and Woodside Elementary School fifth-grader Thomas Diehl earned outstanding scores on the ACT and EXPLORE, respectively, and were invited to the June awards ceremony at Northwestern University. They were among only 525 students from eight Midwestern states invited to the event, which will be on the Evanston, Ill. campus. In addition, Templeton sixth-grader Nathan Goecks was recognized for his high EXPLORE score among Wisconsin students.
Other Templeton students who participated in MATS were: Jasmine Badreddine, Danielle Barbian, Miranda Brown, Cassandera Chiao, Aaron Davis, Kelsey Depue, Allison Ehlert, Sean Fox, Tara Garbe, Sarah Geier, Zachary Herriges, Tyler Hoell, Makayla Imrie, Kelsey Jasinski, Daniel Koepke, Lillie La Marre, Danielle Latt, Nicholas Lehman, Seth Leinbach, AJ Mamerow, Brooke Menzia, Ashley Oelhafen, Matthew Oleszczak, Michael Pellechia, Miranda Simes, Daniel Smith, Rebecca Steiner, Derek Stone, Aleksandar Styles, Marissa Weiman, Kathryn Weinand, Marlee Williams, Lauren Wirsbinski, Michael Yu and Zachary Zarling. In recognition of their achievement, the Templeton Home and School invited each student to a May 11 Celebration Breakfast at school.
Other elementary students who participated were: Conner Ladwig and Evan Rentmeester from Maple Avenue; Bailee Bobert, Craig Bumgardner, Jonathon Joll, Annalise Kluender, Alex Magoon, Jackson Petermann, Kira Welcenbach and Justin Whorral from Marcy; and Rachel Branton, Mackenzie Latt and John Phillips from Woodside.
MATS is a program of Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development that offers testing for academically talented students in grades 3-9. MATS has been serving students in the Midwest and beyond since 1981. Nearly 31,000 students use MATS each year to help them understand their abilities and plan for their future. It is a well-researched and respected program model in gifted education.