This year marked the 23rd anniversary of the Florida Education Fund, FEF, and its success with pre-collegiate programs at the 2008 Annual Brain Bowl Competition and National Achievers Society Summit. The National Achiever Society was created to serve students who succeed in their academic studies. Both, the National Achiever Society Summit and Brain Bowl celebrate the respect and pride of academic achievements.

This year was the year of accomplishments for the South Florida Center of Excellence, National Achiever Society at Florida International University. At the 2008 State Conference, two of the three math teams placed 2nd in the Math Brain Bowl. The Math Masters A, 11th and 12th grade team, placed second. Along with placing 2nd, they also won the opportunity to choose from a variety of scholarships to several universities in the State University System. The Math Masters C, 6th through 8th grade math team, also placed 2nd , winning gift cards and a trophy.

This year, was the first year that the South Florida Center of Excellence fielded a candidate for the National Achiever Society State President: candidate Tavarus Andrews. Tavarus has been participating in the Math State Brain Bowl since he was in 6th grade. Tavarus won the elections, becoming the new State President for the National Achiever Society for the 2008-2010 presidential term.

The South Florida Center of Excellence has also proven not only to have great math teams but also students, parents and director. At the National Achiever Society Summit, the award for Parent of the Year went to Ms. Lauris Paige, Tavarus Andrews’ mother; the award for Achiever of the Year went to Tracey Pierre; and the award for Director of the Year to Ms. Kathy-Ann Lewis, of the Florida International University Pre-College Programs. The South Florida Center of Excellence of Florida International University Pre-College Programs also received the award for the Largest Contingent attending the event. This year has proven to be a small glimpse of what the South Florida Center of Excellence is capable of bringing to the Annual Brian Bowl Competition and National Achievers Society Summit.