Newtown Students Honored At Statewide Award Ceremony

NEW BRITAIN — Multiple Newtown and Sandy Hook students were honored at the statewide award ceremonies for gifted children held by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth at Central Connecticut State University.

Recognized during two ceremonies were Matthew Auerbach, Jesse Cabral, Genevieve Denault, Leah Nashel, Danelle Chaloux, Kevin Culligan, Lauren Frazzetta, Michael Lally, Anthony Pagett, Siyuan Sun, Sean Watkins, and Raymond Xu.

Based on their exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to second through eighth grade Talent Search participants, 12 area students were recognized. Seventh and eighth grade students took the SAT or ACT, the same tested used for college admissions, and second through sixth grade students took the SCAT, an above-level test scaled for younger students.

The results of these tests give families a better idea of a child’s academic talents, particularly in comparison to the thousands of other academically talented students in the Talent Search program.­