Area students strut their stuff at Governor’s Cup

By CARRIE KIRSCHNER - The Independent

ASHLAND Tue, May 13 2008

— Competition was fierce among students Saturday at the Governor’s Cup regional competition for elementary students at Russell-McDowell Intermediate School
The competition drew more than 100 students from 19 area schools. Students competed in mathematics, science, social studies, language arts and arts and humanities written assessments as well as in quick recall and English composition.
Boyd County High School teacher Danna Powers served as this year’s head official. Powers, a Kentucky Association for Academic Competition board member, has been involved with the Governor’s Cup since its inception in 1984.
She said the hard work the students put into the event make it a success each year.
“It’s fun the kids love it. It’s all about the kids,” Powers said.
“This is like the culmination of their academic year,” Powers said, “They’ve worked on this since school started in August. It’s the highlight of their school year.”
Powers said adding the element of competition to learning is a very effective form of motivation for many students. There is an academic competition within the Governor’s Cup for every type of student, she said.
Students who enjoy team work and are creative tend to gravitate to the Future Problem Solving competition while outgoing highly competitive students are attracted to the quick recall team. Those who may be more shy but are good test takers can tackle any of the written exams, she said.
All of the various assessments test students on material they are required to learn anyway.
“KAAC makes sure that all the competitions are embedded with the CATS academic expectations,” Powers said. “It’s just like a reinforcement of what they are learning in school. This is a showcase for education.”
Debbie Hall, of Ashland, whose fifth-grade son, Zachary, competed in the math assessment and quick recall competition, said she thinks the Governor’s Cup is just as important for students as other activities such as sports.
“Sports are something that may or may not last but academics are what will take them through college to a good job,” she said.
Fred Lester, of Catlettsburg agreed.
“Competition greets success. I think anything you go at makes you try harder,” he said.
His granddaughter, Grey’s Branch Elementary fifth-grader Allison Tracy, 10, said she has certainly been trying harder since joining her schools academic team.
“I want to compete next year in middle school,” she said, adding she likes the competition because “you learn a bunch of new stuff.”
CARRIE KIRSCHNER can be reached at ckirschner@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.