The Kumon Math and Reading Center in Highland Village will honor several students at an awards ceremony on Saturday for achieving something that at one point seemed impossible.

Special awards will be given to students who are studying at a level above their own grade level, and for those students who completed the Kumon program.

Kumon Director Manu Shahi said the event will signify a great accomplishment in these young people's lives.

“The aim is that the kids should do advanced level work,” Shahi said. “Our goal is for kids to reach their grade level first, because when they come to Kumon, they do so because they are not doing well in school or they are just getting bored.

“Most of them are now working six months to one year to two or three years ahead of their grade level. It's just like the piano or soccer. You don't stop playing the piano or soccer once you are good at it. Similarly, we don't stop the kids just because they have reached their grade level.”

The ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. at Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, 6101 Morriss Road in Flower Mound.

Shahi said students at Kumon who are at least six months ahead of their grade levels will be honored by the center with a place on the advanced student honor roll of Kumon.

“We recognize the kids by giving away medals in bronze, silver and gold, and there are 18 kids this year who are receiving trophies, which is the platinum award for working four years ahead of their grade level,” Shahi said.

Kumon is a supplemental, after-school program that works with children from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade, and Shahi said the center has actually helped some adults who have English as a second language.

The event will be hosted by Highland Village Mayor Scott McDearmont, and Shahi said her goal is for students that leave the Kumon Math and Reading Center be prepared to take on the world of academia on their own.

“The big thing for me is that they develop good study habits,” Shahi said. “I also want them to have the confidence that they can achieve more on their own— that they can start setting goals for themselves and achieving them on their own.”

Visit www.kumonofhighlandvillage.com for more information or call 972-317-1320 for a free placement testing.