Around Crownsville: Indian Creek student scores off the charts

Sawyer Lynch was only in second grade at Indian Creek School in Crownsville when his test scores earned him a place with Johns Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth.

Now two years later, he was one of the students singled out as "academically gifted" at the Talent Search Awards ceremony held last Sunday at the university.

"I was just really excited about getting it, really excited about going to the ceremony," Sawyer said.

The ceremony honored elementary and middle school students who scored exceptionally well on talent search academic tests.

"We're committed to giving these exceptional young people a stage on which to recognize their academic achievements," said CTY's executive director, Lea Ybarra, in a press release.

Cynthia Crawford, Sawyer's mother, said she had never heard of the program until he brought home a note in second grade that said he'd tested so high on standardized tests at IndianCreek that he was eligible to try out.

Second grade is the first grade allowed to take the test.

Cynthia took him to Baltimore, where he took two 45-minute tests, one verbal and one math.

After he was accepted, she signed him up for a summer literature class. He loved the books, so he's continued with the online courses.

"It's challenging. There are kids from around the world doing it with him at the same time," she said.

The classes generally include books from about three grade levels ahead of what the students are generally reading, she said. Sawyer also has to keep up a blog and comment on his virtual classmates' blogs.

"It's very interactive with the other students," she said. "They're learning all these literary devices, it's very challenging."

Sawyer plays lacrosse and football and is even picking up wrestling this year, as well as participating in triathalons.

But in the summer, the literature class is something he can focus on.

"I really wanted to do (the classes) because I was curious about what they did and I was really looking to do something over the summer that was academic," he said.

"I just really liked it."

Sawyer loves reading, especially the seventh book of the "Harry Potter" series.

But Cynthia is proudest of his curiosity.

"It's his best trait. He's a great athlete, a great student, a straight A student, but (I'm proudest of) his curiosity."

Sawyer lives in Annapolis with his 6-year-old sister, Bella, his mother and father, Mike Lynch.

He's attended Indian Creek School since pre-kindergarten.

Bethany Edmondson, Matt Shallow, Anna Kennedy and Daniel Jordan all needed 15 service hours as part of their membership in the National Junior Honor Society, and they wanted to earn them together.

The four students are in seventh and eighth grades at the School of the Incarnation in Gambrills, and each of them play at least two sports.

So the idea of a Halloween 5K run and walk to benefit Special Olympics seemed perfect.

"We thought, 'What better way to raise money?' " Bethany explained.

The students have organized the race as well as handling publicity - such as printing posters - and have prepared T-shirts for participants who registered in advance.

"Probably getting people to get out and run it (has been the most difficult)," Bethany said. "We just tried to get everyone involved."

So far, the students have 200 runners signed up, and have already raised around $2,000. Their goal was to reach $1,000 profit, after their expenses were taken out.

The race begins at 8 a.m. tomorrow at the school, 2601 Symphony Lane in Gambrills, and will continue rain or shine.

Tickets are $15 for children 12 and under, and $20 for adults. Race-day registration is $25.

Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics. There will also be treats after the race, and prizes for best costume and the top three finishers for each age group. Parking will not be available at the school.

The Arundel Instrumental Music Association will begin its latest fundraising drive Monday.

Students from Arundel High School's band, chorus, orchestra and marching color guard are selling fruit to help pay for their spring performance trip to Boston. Sales run through Nov. 17.

The fruit options include naval oranges, pink grapefruit and a mixed variety box, and are available in 10-pound boxes for $15 or 20-pound boxes for $20.

Orders may be made at www.fruitorder.com using the code #318803; fruit may be delivered locally or sent to 48 states as a gift.

Students are also available to take orders; e-mail AIMAholidayfundraiser@gmail.com with contact information and a student will respond.

For more information, visit www.arundelband.org.

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