Raluca Popa, daughter of Drs. Ileana and Ovidiu Popa and a student at Bainbridge Middle School, was among the 500 participants at the grand recognition ceremony held May 23 on the Duke University campus, honoring seventh-graders who have earned scores in the top 3 percent on the SAT or ACT.

Since 1980, the Duke University Talent Identification Program’s Seventh Grade Talent Search identified more than 2 million students across the United States who have scored in the 95th percentile on a grade-level achievement test. As part of the program these academically talented students take above-level college entrance exams to learn more about their abilities.

Greg Jones, Duke University professor of theology and vice-president and vice-provost for global strategy and programs, was this year’s keynote speaker.