Oakville Senior High School student Joseph Ellegood was among 330 students who recently attended the 2006 Missouri Scholars Academy.

Ellegood, son of Rick and Cindy Ellegood of Oakville, attended the three-week program on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus.

He will start his junior year at Oakville Senior High School and plans to maintain his 4.0 grade-point average.

The Missouri Scholars Academy celebrated its 22nd year this summer. The goals of the academy are to help gifted students achieve their full potential and motivate them to use their abilities to attain high standards of achievement, to encourage local schools to improve and expand gifted education programs; and to assist in providing the state with experienced faculty and specialized curriculum for such students. The academy is supported by state funds and is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in cooperation with the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Every public and private high school in the state is allowed to nominate at least one student for the academy.

Academically, students represent the top one-half of 1 percent of the state’s sophomore class. No grades or credits are awarded through the program.

Students attending MSA are exposed to a wide range of activities as well as to intensive instruction in their chosen area of specialization. The faculty is composed of outstanding teachers from high schools throughout the state. Guest speakers, performers, discussions, and career education are combined with extracurricular and social activities to round out the curriculum.

About 7,500 Missouri high school students and teachers have participated in the MSA since its inception in 1985.