By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – A seventh-grader at the Barkalow Middle School has been named a finalist in a national competition.
Emma Duke was named a finalist in the 2017 180 Student Awards, a national competition sponsored by learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH). As a finalist, Emma received $100.
The Freehold Township K-8 School District Board of Education recognized Emma for her achievement at a meeting on May 9.
According to a press release from HMH, the 180 Student Awards honor students who have overcome personal and academic challenges such as learning disabilities, heath issues or language barriers to achieve success in the classroom.
Students who participate in the competition are seen to have made significant gains in their reading and math abilities through learning intervention programs READ 180, MATH 180 and System 44, according to the press release.
Emma, who is part of a READ 180 classroom, was recommended to the competition by resource language arts teacher Laura O’Brien.
“As her teacher, I am very proud of her determination and efforts,” O’Brien said.
According to a letter O’Brien submitted to HMH, Emma has faced reading issues since the first grade. In addition, her mother has recently been battling an illness.
“Even with all this against her, Emma has triumphed,” O’Brien wrote. “Everything she has achieved, she has done truly and solely on her own. She has taught herself how to compensate for her … issues while reading.
When Emma enters the eighth grade, she will be placed in a mainstream language arts classroom, according to her teacher.
“As a resource language arts teacher, it is often challenging to motivate my students in order to read,” O’Brien wrote. “However, every once in awhile, a student emerges from the crowd and reminds me just how rewarding it can be to not only teach reading, but to see the love of reading in action.
“Emma is the type of student who goes above and beyond each and every day, whether it be in my READ 180 classroom, within the walls of Barkalow Middle School or in the community. Emma meets every demand put upon her within the class rotations, whether that be completing her software segments efficiently, taking a leadership role during small group activities or reading independent novels from her own library.”
According to O’Brien, Emma is the only classified student selected to the district’s National Junior Honor Society, which is in its inaugural year, and she was one of 76 students who were selected out of 132 applicants.
Emma plays flute in the school band and she is an active Girl Scout who formed a reading club for younger members who may be reluctant readers, according to her teacher. She has earned her Girl Scout Bronze Award and is currently working towards her Silver Award, according to Pamela Duke, her mother.
“As Emma’s READ 180 teacher, I am in awe of her daily commitment to advance herself both academically and socially,” O’Brien wrote. “Her quest to improve is evident in everything she does, whether it be here at the Barkalow Middle School, in the community, or, perhaps someday, when she gets out into the ‘real world.’
“She has decided that she would like to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I have no doubt there will be some very fortunate animals in her very capable hands one day.”