Whistler, Morales Honored at Missouri Academy Banquet

Janet Morales

Moberly Mirror

Troy Whistler was a student at Westran High School. Go in early and you knew where he would be — in the library. Troy has an affinity for math and science and even as a sophomore, he felt he needed more in order to be challenged. When history teacher Roy Morales told him to check out the Missouri Academy, he found it to be just what he was looking for.

The Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing is a two-year residential, early-entrance-to-college program for academically talented and highly motivated high school students. Located at the campus of Northwest Missouri State university in Maryville, the Missouri Academy enrolls students who have completed their sophomore year of high school. The Academy replaces their junior and senior years.

The curriculum of the Missouri Academy consists of all college coursework taught by professors at NWMSU and the students are in classes with traditional college students. High school students who complete the program earn an Associate of Science degree as well as a high school diploma.

Troy started at the Academy this fall and feels he is where he belongs. He is taking pre-calculus, biology and composition his first semester there.

The approximately 80 Academy students nominated a teacher who they felt helped and inspired them. Roy Morales, history teacher at WHS, was Troy’s pick. Morales and the other educators were honored at a dinner last Friday at the Maryville campus.

As Morales received his certificate of appreciation, these words by Troy were read to the audience: “He (Morales) promoted my attendance at the Academy and helped encourage me to do well in school. He taught in an interesting way that worked well for me, and taught us many things that were not required. He made class interesting for everybody and encouraged healthy debate about different topics. Not only did he teach history, but he taught many things about the way things work and why things turned out a certain way by including facts not published in a textbook or part of required coursework.”

The featured speaker for the event was Robert Becker, 2010-2011 Missouri Teacher of the Year. A chemistry teacher near St. Louis, Becker used science demonstrations to illustrate important points about teaching. His knowledge of chemistry and humor made him a big hit with the young students and the educators alike.

Zach Lester is another area student attending the Missouri Academy. He was a student at Keytesville R-III High School before going to the Academy. The teacher he nominated to be honored was Lisa Grotewiel, science teacher in Keytesville.

Also attending the Academy is Higbee student Linda Skidmore who nominated math teacher David Roush.