Two Hurst high school seniors have their essays published in national journals

by PegNews wire

Hurst, Texas—How many high school seniors write essays about world number systems and primate communication? How many 18-year-olds have those essays published in national journals before graduating high school?

Two students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at LD Bell High School have done just that by having their extended essays published in national magazines. Scott Proctor and Kacie Woodward were required to write a 4,000-word essay as part of the rigorous IB program curriculum.

Proctor had his essay, “A Discussion on the Varying Numbering Systems in the World and History’s Influence on the Modern Day Numbering System,” featured in the March issue of the “Duodecimal Bulletin,” which is published by the Dozenal Society of America, www.dozenal.org. Proctor researched the essay for several months, then submitted it to the journal in January.

Woodward’s essay, “Primate Communication and the Use of Language,” was published in the February issue of “The Simian,” published by the Simian Society of America, www.simiansociety.org. Woodward was interested in primate sign language and body language, and she worked on the essay for eight months before submitting it to the magazine in January.

Proctor said he felt privileged about being published in a national journal.

“I saw being published as an opportunity and an honor,” he said. “To be recognized by a national organization makes the work I did seem worthwhile, in the larger scheme of things.”

Similarly, Woodward said she was pleased with her essay.

“Being published has made me feel very accomplished and proud of my work,” she said. “It is also nerve wracking to know that professionals will be reading my work.”

Proctor plans to attend the UT College of Natural Sciences in Mathematics and become a math professor. He has already begun working on another essay, this time on the subject of mathematics as a language.

“Being published will become an important aspect of my mathematics career,” Proctor said.

Woodward will attend Oklahoma State University, with the hope of attend veterinary school to become a primatologist. She also hopes to continue publishing her work.

“I hope to have more pieces of work published, as I learn more in my field of study.”

The staffs of both publications that have used the students’ work have no doubt about their future as published authors.

“I was impressed from the first time I saw it,” Gene Zirkel, associate editor of the Duodecimal Bulletin, said of Proctor’s work. “I was surprised to find that Scott was only a high school student. We like to publish work for newcomers to our society, especially articles that are easy to understand and not full of a lot of jargon.”

Ann Newman, editor of The Simian, was equally impressed with Woodward’s submission.

“I received Kacie’s submission on Primate Communication and thought it would make a resourceful article for our members,” Newman said. “Ms. Woodward provided an articulate, well researched article containing good information in a format in which our members could easily relate and utilize. I wish her the best of luck on future papers,” she said.

Both Proctor and Woodward said that the IB program has given them skills and experiences that will help them the rest of their lives.

“IB and the extended essay have exposed me to the art of time management and the necessary skills for being able to study, volunteer, and complete large projects over time, which is the kind of scheduling that students must learn,” Proctor said.

Woodward said she feels she has a special advantage because of IB.

“IB has helped me enormously,” she said. “I will be prepared for what college work will be like, and having been in IB will set me above my peers in college.”

The school’s IB Coordinator, Judy Chapman, said she is proud of the students’ accomplishments.

“It is rare to be published at age 18, and they’re already talking about being published again,” she said. “These are exceptional students.”

Source: HEB ISD