Contact: Kimberly Lohrfink
410-735-6236 (voice)
410-735-6200 (fax)
ruralconnections@jhu.edu

BALTIMORE January 27, 2012 -- High achieving students living in rural areas now have a new opportunity to enrich their love of learning through Rural Connections, a new scholarship program from the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY). Applications are being accepted now for rolling review starting February 15, 2012.

Rural Connections expands access to CTY’s challenging residential summer programs to rural students. Students selected for the program will receive a full scholarship to attend a CTY summer program in summer 2012 and will receive advising and support before and after the program.

Students in CTY summer programs spend three weeks on a college campus living and learning with other exceptional students from around the world who share their interests and passion for intellectual pursuits. The nearly 100 courses students can choose to take include “Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences,” “Cryptology,” “Mystery and Suspense in Literature and Film,” and “Principles of Engineering Design.” CTY has summer program sites throughout the United States, from Carlisle, PA. to Seattle, WA. Since 1979, more than 185,000 students have enrolled in CTY’s summer programs.

In order to be eligible for a Rural Connections scholarship, students must: Currently be a 7th to 9th grader who lives in a rural community; achieve qualifying test scores on an above-grade-level test such as the SAT-I, ACT, or SCAT; and have a family income less than $45,000. Applicants who have not previously attended a CTY summer program are preferred.

To apply for a Rural Connections scholarship, students must complete a CTY Summer Program Application, CTY Financial Aid Application, and a Rural Connections Application. Review of candidates will begin on February 15, 2012. Later applications will be considered as space is available.

The Rural Connections program has been made possible by funding from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

For more information about Rural Connections, please contact Kimberly Lohrfink at 410-735-6236 or e-mail ruralconnections@jhu.edu. To learn more about CTY, go to www.cty.jhu.edu