{"id":31117,"date":"2025-04-29T17:33:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T21:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=31117"},"modified":"2025-04-29T17:33:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T21:33:47","slug":"students-participating-in-the-talent-search-program-at-tusculum-university-finish-first-in-state-and-regional-competitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/students-participating-in-the-talent-search-program-at-tusculum-university-finish-first-in-state-and-regional-competitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Students participating in the Talent Search program at Tusculum University finish first in state and regional competitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

ATLANTA<\/strong> \u2013 Seventh and eighth graders from Cocke County who participate in the Educational Talent Search<\/a> program at Tusculum University<\/a> showcased impressive knowledge as they compiled first place performances in recent statewide and Southeast region academic competitions.<\/h3>\n
\"Team

Team members show their trophies and medals at the conclusion of the Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel\u2019s Academic Bowl in Atlanta.<\/p><\/div>\n

On Saturday, April 26, the Tusculum team won the Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel\u2019s Academic Bowl in Atlanta. In addition, Julia Richmond, an eighth grader at Grassy Fork Elementary School captured first place as the highest individual team scorer.<\/p>\n

The team, which is part of Tusculum\u2019s TRIO programs<\/a>, also finished first in two components of the Academic Bowl in Atlanta \u2013 the written exam and super quiz. Tusculum was second in the spelling competition. The Tusculum group competed against teams from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese outstanding boys and girls performed exceptionally in this competition,\u201d said Dr. David Smith, director of TRIO programs at Tusculum. \u201cAs we watched them compete against their peers, we were so proud of their extensive knowledge and hard work that produced this win. They represented Tusculum and their schools extremely well and earned this victory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Julia

Julia Richmond holds her award for being the top individual scorer at the conclusion of the Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel\u2019s Academic Bowl in Atlanta. She is also holding the team trophy for finishing first overall.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Talent Search program serves students whose parents or guardians have not received a bachelor\u2019s degree at a higher education institution or who are income-eligible. Like the other TRIO programs at Tusculum, Talent Search is funded through a federal grant. Tusculum has two Talent Search programs, with the first starting in 1976 and the second beginning in 2002. The winners in this competition come from the Talent Search West program.<\/p>\n

The Tusculum team\u2019s path to compete in Atlanta was paved by winning the statewide competition in Tennessee in February. That enabled the students to represent Tennessee in the regional competition.<\/p>\n

The regional event is a quiz-style tournament where teams compete in general knowledge, spelling and quick recall competitions. All of these categories are part of SAEOPP’s scholastic initiatives to offer students an opportunity to demonstrate their academic abilities.<\/p>\n

The Tusculum team consists of students from Cosby Elementary School, Grassy Fork Elementary School, Parrottsville Elementary School and Smoky Mountain Elementary School. The team members for the state and regional competition were:<\/p>\n