Gifted and talented high school students in the Pulaski County School District were given the opportunity to sharpen their skills and explore new interests in the performing arts at EGAT (Exploring Gifts And Talents) Day.
Around 225 students from Pulaski County and Southwestern High schools attended the educational program on March 6 at The Center for Rural Development.
The county district schedules two school day workshops in the fall and spring for elementary, middle and high school gifted students to nurture their gifts in music, leadership, creativity, art, creative writing, dance and/or drama.
Professional and local performing artists are invited to share their talents with students identified as gifted and talented in one or more of the performing arts.
The spring EGAT workshop included 10 “pods” or break-out sessions. Workshop sessions were held on ballroom dancing, Clark Massey, instructor; drama, Dan Welch, director of Walden Theatre; creative writing/poetry, taught by author, poet, educator and performer Allan Wolf; exploration in watercolors, master artist Charles Langford; WRAP (Writing, Reading, Art and Poetry) by Annie Ruth; a second drama class on Greek Theatre Oedipus: the history of jazz; leadership, Greg Thompson, instructor; and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) inspired by activities and competitions from the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Day events, with facilitator Dale Dodson.
Lynn Ashbrook, gifted education specialist for Pulaski County schools, said the workshop experience gives students a chance to broaden their knowledge and abilities in the visual and performing arts as well as explore new talents.
“Some students may not know they have an interest in the arts until they have a broader exposure to that interest area,” said Ashbrook.
She said one of the workshop topics may “spark an interest” and prompt a student to explore a hidden talent.
EGAT Day provides opportunities for students to view performances by professional artists.
Poet and author Allan Wolf of Asheville, N.C., opened the program by encouraging students to “plunge into the world of words” and become immersed in verse.
Wolf is the author of a book about writing poems titled, Immersed in Verse: An Informative, Slightly Irreverent & Totally Tremendous Guide to Living the Poet’s Life.
He has a passion for bringing poetry to the people and tours extensively in public schools and other venues.
Pam Butcher, gifted and talented specialist at Pulaski County and Southwestern High schools, said the program is an outlet for students to realize they can develop their talents into a professional career.
“We want them to know they can pursue their passions as possible career pathways in life,” said Butcher.
EGAT Day is made possible by support from the Pulaski County Board of Education, administration and staff.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Author, poet, educator and performer Allan Wolf of Asheville, N.C., shares a humorous moment with Pulaski County and Southwestern High school students during the opening performance of EGAT (Exploring Gifts And Talents) Day. Wolf is educational director of Poetry Alive!, a national touring company which presents theatrical poetry shows for all ages. He has a passion for bringing poetry to the people and shared his talent with approximately 255 gifted and talented students in the Pulaski County School District at EGAT Day March 6 at The Center for Rural Development. The program encourages students to explore their talents in the visual and performing arts.
March 12, 2008
Pulaski’s gifted-talented students explore their gifts
Local News
- Local News
-
-
Visitors rave about beauty of Lake Cumberland in May
-
Pulaski’s Memorial Day weekend to be packed
- Locally-born Rotary leader Pigman dies at 78
-
Technology summit gets underway
- Local Democrats diss Obama
- Floyd edges incumbent in city council run-off
-
Pulaski carries Girdler to win
In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.” -
Pine Knot man leads law enforcement on chase
-
Tragic accident claims toddler
- Woman with child in car cited for DUI
- More Local News Headlines
-
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
