Jefferson-Whittier Long-Time Participant in MTS

Mary Bird is the MTS coordinator at Jefferson-Whittier School in Pontiac, Michigan. The school's participation in the program has been made possible through her boundless energy and commitment to talent development and to the students in her school. She submitted the following report about Jefferson-Whittier's participation in the Midwest Talent Search.

The staff, students, and parents at Jefferson-Whittier School have had the privilege of participating in the Midwest Talent Search (MTS) for the past three years. It has been a very rewarding experience for our community of learners in many ways.

We are an urban school on a very limited budget, with a predominantly black student body. We have several outstanding students, with supportive parents, who are extremely talented in various ways, including academically. Thanks to fee waivers offered by Midwest Talent Search and ACT, these fine young adults are able to compete. Dreams do come true!
Partly as a result of high scores earned through taking the ACT at a local high school, some of our students have been offered a chance to attend some excellent summer programs at universities both in and out of the state of Michigan. They have also been accepted into other academic enrichment programs. The Midwest Talent Search follow-up materials that accompany the test results are invaluable in helping students plan high school class schedules that will continue to lead them toward excellence.
One of the primary goals of our participation in the Midwest Talent Search is that our students inevitably gain more confidence in themselves and in their test taking skills; so that when the time comes for them to take a college entrance exam that actually counts towards acceptance into a university or leads to possible scholarships, they will go into the testing situation relaxed and knowing that they will excel. The vast majority of our 7th and 8th grade participants are sure to be first-generation college successes.

All of our parents are extremely supportive of Northwestern University's Midwest Talent Search and we look forward to participating each year. From all of us at Jefferson-Whittier School in Pontiac, Michigan, to all of you: "Choose to be a winner! Choose to participate in the Midwest Talent Search!"