KARNES HONORED AT STATE GIFTED CONFERENCE

HATTIESBURG - A professor at The University of Southern Mississippi has been recognized by her peers in the state for her longtime contribution to gifted education in Mississippi.

Dr. Frances A. Karnes, professor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education and director of The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies at Southern Miss, was recently honored by the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children during the annual conference in Biloxi with the Award for Excellence in Gifted Education.

The award recognized Dr. Karnes for her numerous contributions to the field of gifted education, particularly in Mississippi.

"I'm honored, not only to receive this award, but for the opportunities to work with gifted children and to promote gifted education in Mississippi," Dr. Karnes said.

In presenting the award, Lia Landrum, president of the organization, cited some of the contributions Dr. Karnes has made in the state, including her collaboration in 1973 with state legislators to have gifted education included in the definition of exceptional in the state statute.

"It's a recognition she well deserves for her reputation in gifted education and her scholarship and for how important she is to Mississippi and Southern Miss," said Dr. Willie Pierce, interim dean of the Southern Miss College of Education and Psychology.

Dr. Karnes founded the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children and served as its first president for three years. In 1979, the Center for Gifted Studies was established at Southern Miss under her direction, and in 1999, the center was renamed The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies.

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