Sharpened pencils in hand, some of Ironton's brightest students sat down to find out who is the best of the best.

The Child Welfare Club's conducted its annual Eddy Test today. The organization describes the test as a scholastic achievement test for selected Ironton Middle and St. Lawrence students.

To qualify for the test, students at Ironton Middle School must do well in the Ohio Proficiency Tests. Standard scores in reading, math, citizenship and science are totaled and ranked at the completion of the tests.

In addition, the students must have a final "B" average in reading, writing, math, science and social studies in the fifth and sixth grade.

For St. Lawrence students, the composite scores from any nationally recognized standardized test that measures scores in all core subjects is used to determine eligibility. This year, 39 students qualified to take the Eddy Test.

The top 25 percent of sixth grade students enrolled at both schools, as of the end of the first semester, are eligible to take the Eddy Test.

Students in the top one-third of all Eddy Test participants will receive an Eddy Award at the banquet later this year.

The test participants from St. Lawrence Catholic School are Payton Blair, son of Dan and Barb Blair; Levi Hopkins, son of Tim and Ruthie Hopkins; Tanner Riley, son of John and Kathy Riley; and Mason Weisgarber, son of Pat and Kathy Weisgarber.

Participants from Ironton Middle School include Jon Stephen Artis, son of Anne Artis; Sarah Elyse Barnett, daughter of Robert and Stephanie Barnett; Alexa Boggs, daughter of Ben and Laura Boggs, Jacob Brown, son of Christi Richardson; Michael Scott Carter II, son of Angela Blankenship; Kelsey Crowe, daughter of Tony and Ruth Crowe; Megan Dalton, daughter of Lynne Dalton and Bob Dalton; Taylor N. Hacker, daughter of Joseph and Rhonda Hacker; Kaitlyn Hackworth, daughter of David and Jewell Hackworth; Andrew Hicks, son of Steve and Nichole Hicks; Leslie Hock, daughter and Gerry ad Rhonda Hock; Andy Holtzapfel, son of Larry and Kim Holtzapfel; Kara Hopper, daughter of Carolyn and Glen Scott Hopper; MacLean James, son of Mike and Mary James; Emillie Kincaid, daughter of Michael and Sherri Kincaid; Sara Lambert, daughter of Ed and Janie Lambert; Caitlin McKnight, Daughter of Nonni McKnight and William Dickerson; Adam Moore, son of Ben and Lisa Moore; Ryan David Morgan, son of David Morgan and Cassandra Morgan; Cody Nunley, son of Christy Potter and Garrett Nunley; Michael B. O'Bryant, son of Mike and Kathy O'Bryant; Robbie Pemberton, son of Deana Kerns and Rob Pemberton; Sean Poole, son of Mike and Leslie Poole; Pierce Reeves, son of Danny and Michelle Allen and Earl Reeves; Luke Sanders, son of Sheila Sanders; Alex Shope, son of Jim and Melissa Shope; Haley Snyder, granddaugther of James and Marjorie Jackson; Courtney Stamper, daughter of Mark and Michelle Stamper; Michael Staton, son of Teresa Staton and Randy Staton; Audrey Stewart, daughter of Kent and Becky Stewart; Adam Stumbo, son of Greg and Lee Anne Mullens and Steve Stumbo; Kelli Jo Thacker, daughter of Brian and Melissa Thacker; Brian Warner, son of Todd and Lynn Warner; Hanna Wilkes, daughter of Alissa G. Wilkes; and Jessica S. Williams, daughter of Cynthia L. Layne.