BRASHER FALLS – St. Lawrence Central High School seniors from 50 years ago are being asked to help with a follow-up study to one they participated in back in 1960.

In 1960, seniors at St. Lawrence Central High School were among 40,000 American high school students participating in a study of the aptitudes and abilities, hopes and expectations of students from across America.

Now 51 years later, those students are being asked to tell their stories once again in a historic follow-up study.

The original study was conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the United States Office of Education.

Large studies that follow people from adolescence to retirement are both rare and extremely valuable. They allow researchers to make connections between early life experiences and later life outcomes. New information gained from a 50 year follow-up study can help researchers and policy makers understand how family and educational background impact the course of life, up to and including retirement. Researchers can also learn why certain people stay healthier and happier and are more able to enjoy their later lives.

“The Project Talent generation is very important in the history of the country,” says Sabine Horner, Project Talent’s Director of Outreach and Communications. “They came of age during an era of great upheaval and they transformed the United States as we knew it. Project Talent is an opportunity to share their perspectives and experiences in a meaningful way that can benefit future generations.”

Members of St. Lawrence Central’s Class of 1961 are being asked to contact AIR to make contact and register their interest for further participation.

Project Talent is also interested about upcoming 50th reunions for the class of 1961.

People can call the project at (866) 770-6077 or send an email to projectalent50@air.org

You can also visit the Project Talent website, www.projecttalent.org