<p>"Nanney is a top student with a perfect SAT test score of 1600. Nanney is a Presidential Scholar, Siemens Westinghouse Semifinalist, Intel Science Talent Search Finalist, National AP Scholar, was named to the USAToday All Academic Second Team, and participated in a six week research project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through the Research Science Institute program… </p>
<p>He also participated Quiz Bowl, Texas Junior Academy of Science, Texas State Math League, science fair, Texas MathWorks Summer program, Plano Youth Advisory Commission, Congressional Youth Advisory Commission, Future Business Leaders of America, Economics Challenge Team, and the Spanish Club. Nanney will study computer science at Harvard University…"</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, what do these kids “research?” Certainly they’re smart but they aren’t even in college yet. Surely, these aren’t groundbreaking
scientific discoveries to any degree so what exactly are they “researching” that hasn’t already been done?</p>
<p>^^High school kid research usually involves working with a prof at a local university on his/her reseach. They are usually given one line of enquiry to pursue, and they are closely trained and followed by a grad student or other experienced member of the research team. At the end the student writes up the findings and conclusions. If they are lucky it will get incorporated into a publication on which they would be a co-author. It could actually be “ground-breaking” if they are lucky enough to work on a ground-breaking project.</p>
<p>Almost all research these days is a team effort, sometimes done by a BIG team. The days of the lone-wolf researcher toiling away alone are pretty much gone. It would be very hard if not impossible for a high school kid to set him/herself as a solitary researcher. But it is certainly feasible to join an existing team.</p>
<p>I don’t know about the specific schools in the district. I know Plano East has an excellent forensics team - note, not just debate. They have some of the best extempers in the state, along with some really great debaters and congress people. At state, it always seems that Plano dominates the top few ranks in a lot of events.</p>
<p>he seems really smart but i’d be more impressed by a kid who succeeded after coming from a not-so-wealthy background. smart rich educated kids from good families are great but you know wut i mean?</p>
<p>hmm not really. If you knew the guy and everything he accomplishes you’d be impressed. While Jeff has had many opportunities, he’s earned most of them and never did anything lame like enroll in an SAT prep class. Besides, while we’re probably all upper-middle class, we’re not on the filthy rich side of town.</p>
<p>I went to school with Jeff the past four years, and he is definitely the smartest person I have ever met. However he is also very cool and tries to keep it to himself. He’s very charismatic, talks about sports, girls love him, and he’s very friendly to most everyone. Yes he is incredibly smart but an incredible person as well personality wise and people (including me) respect him for that and wish him the best of luck at Harvard. You got a star Harvard.</p>
<p>Jeff certainly has many accomplishments, but he is also a very sociable and understanding person. You guys are very lucky that he is going to Harvard…I tried to lead him toward Stanford. Obviously I failed :)</p>
<p>In addition to the valedictorian from Plano, the captain of the football team will also be in the Harvard Class of 2010.</p>
<p>Ryan Burkhead</p>
<p>Before Harvard:
Three-year starter at defensive end at Plano HS … Also saw action at tight end … Two-year varsity baseball player … Captained football team as a senior … Two-time first team all-district and all-county in football … Earned honorable mention all-state accolades as a senior … First team academic all-state pick … Helped team go from an 0-10 season as a sophomore to a 13-1 senior year that ended in the fourth round of the state tournament to the nation’s top-ranked team … National Honor Society member … Winner of AP art award and Excellence in World Geography award … Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee.</p>
<p>Personal:
Father, Rick, was a three-year starting fullback at Eastern Kentucky and signed free agent contracts with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles … Hobbies include playing guitar, drawing, reading, fishing and exercising … Plans a career in sports medicine.</p>