PACE Reaching for the Stars Thursday Night at OHS

As a parent of two gifted students in , Pam Nagel said there are “significant misconceptions” when it comes to how they learn.

“There is this notion that they’ll succeed regardless of their environment--that they’ll naturally catch on to what they need to know,” she said. “But it isn’t true. They need focused direction, inspiration and guidance to nurture the potential they have. When they’re given the opportunity to experience new ideas, the sky’s the limit.”

This belief led Nagel and other community members to form the Parents and Community for Excellence organization, which recognizes students in District 308 identified as academically talented and gifted, as well as their teachers “who enable them to reach for the stars every day.”

“We are a community of families who support the love of lifelong learning,” Nagel said.

PACE volunteers support students and their families by hosting guest speakers, publishing an e-newsletter and working with state and local government officials to lobby for continued funding for the gifted program, among other initiatives.

This Thursday, PACE’s fifth annual "Reach for the Stars" celebration, coordinated by Nagel, is making its way back to Oswego. The featured presenter will be Fermilab’s “Mr. Freeze” with a cryogenics demonstration. The evening will also include recognition awards for students and teachers, a village proclamation, and drawings for summer enrichment scholarships for students and teachers.

The event begins with registration and refreshments at 6:15 p.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the Auditorium, 4250 Rt. 71.

Nagel said attendance for the "Reach for the Stars" celebration has continued to climb in the last five years.

“In the past attendance exceeded 200,” she said. “This year we’ve already registered 400.”

PACE has expanded the organization's reach to include students in junior high and senior high who opt but are not required to take honors courses.

“We believe support for those students should not end after fifth-grade,” Nagel said.

Walk-ins for Thursday night's event are welcome, but advance registration is recommended.