The Thomas University Pre-College Programs sent a high school and middle school team to the 18th Annual Georgia Association of Special Programs Personnel Student Initiative Leadership Conference (SILC) held at Valdosta state University.

The purpose of the SILC is to develop student leaders and recognize the academic excellence of student participants competing in academic competitions. Students on both teams won in various categories, but the high school team, which competed in the “HI-Q” Academic Competition won against four teams from across the state and will travel to Atlanta to compete in the regional competition this spring.

The specific winners representing the middle school team are: Ariel Anderson of McIntyre Park Middle School who placed first in the Spelling competition and Teri (Alana) McCord, of Bainbridge Middle school who won second place on the written exam. The middle school team won second place in the spelling exam; third place in the Super Quiz and third place in the Written Exam categories. The High School team won first place in the “Hi-Q” competition.

The Pre-College Program helps area youth graduate high school and enter into and graduate from college. Two federally funded programs, through the Department of Education, fall under the Pre-College program umbrella: Educational Talent Search (ETS) and GEAR UP. Currently, ETS serves 580 students in Bainbridge, Cairo, Thomasville and Thomas County. GEAR UP serves a cohort of 7th, 8th and 9th grade students in also in the same school systems. For more information, call Melanie Martin at (229) 227-6929.