Urban Gifted Showcase Huge Success

The first Urban Gifted Showcase was held on Friday, June 2, 2006, at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT, and it was a huge success! Over five hundred students came with their teachers from urban districts all over the state to get together for this celebration and exhibition of their gifts and talents. Too often the spotlight is cast upon the lowest-performing students of our districts while neglecting our high-performing students. But this time, the spotlight was on the many and diverse exceptional students who grace our schools and who will make major contributions to our society.

The day-long event featured performances by students in grades 4-12, in a variety of domains: the humanities; math, science and technology; and the visual and performing arts. Throughout the day, students showcased their unique abilities though art exhibits, round table and poster sessions, drama presentations, instrumental and choral productions, and multi-media presentations. There was a Robotics exhibition, and one on Martial Art. All the kids were amazing!In addition, the day included guest speakers to inspire and serve as role models for some of our state’s most deserving young people.

Kenneth Cormier was one of the guest speakers. Ken attended the Bristol Public Schools and is now in his final year of his doctorate program in English Literature. He gave permission to have his speech reprinted here, so please look for it elsewhere in this issue. He was inspirational for the students, telling them, “What my schooling has taught me is that, if I use my imagination, I can spend my entire career pursuing the things I love. I have never put money at the center of my ambition, and as a result I spend my days doing work that never seems like work—reading, writing, teaching, performing.”

Betty Sternberg, then Commissioner of Education; State Representative Andrew Fleischmann, Co-Chair of the Education Committee in the CGA; State Senator Edward Meyer, Chair of the Select Committee on Children; and Dr. Jack Miller, President of CCSU, also addressed the students. They were all very supportive of gifted education. Rep. Fleischmann said it is “our sacred duty to nurture all children’s gifts and talents” and that we must all work together to this end.

The Showcase was a collaborative effort between the Connecticut Association of Urban Superintendents (CAUS), the Connecticut State Department of Education, and the Connecticut Association for the Gifted. Doris Kurtz, Superintendent of New Britain, and Jeanne Purcell, SDE, were the co-chairs of the UGS committee. Kathy Rodriguez of Middletown handled the logistics and the registration and was a key person in the success of the event. Other committee members were: Katie Augustyn (CAG), June Bernabucci (Hartford), Penny Conti (New Haven), Irene Fisher (Danbury), Laurie Gonzalez (Hartford), Sue Kadin (New London), Emil Kopcha (East Hartford), Tammy Perzanoski (West Haven), Cynthia Reik (East Hartford), John Ryan (Bristol) and Elaine Zottola (New Britain).

We are looking forward to the next Urban Gifted Showcase, which is tentatively planned for the Spring of 2008. Congratulations to all the participants and organizers of the 2006 Showcase!

Students from the New Haven TAG Program exhibit their award-winning science projects

The Show Choir, from Stamford The Clarinet Ensemble, from West Haven