The Mensa Foundation announced that San Antonio journalist Karen Adler has been honored with the 2007 Mensa Press Award. This national award is presented to one individual each year who shows excellence in writing about intelligence and human giftedness. Karen won the award based on her article ”Minority Gifted Kids Left Behind” published in the May 27, 2006, San Antonio Express-News. Members of the South Texas Mensa group presented her with the $1,000 award on Oct. 18, 2007.
“Karen’s article spotlighted an issue that is prevalent all over the United States: gifted children of all races and backgrounds not receiving the proper education and challenges they need because their talents haven’t yet been identified,” said Greg Timmers, president of the Mensa Foundation. “'Minority Gifted Kids Left Behind’ was enlightening, encouraging and it spread the word about the importance of gifted and talented programs. Because of that, we are proud to honor her with the Mensa Press Award.”
Karen Adler was a full-time reporter at the San Antonio Express-News from 2000 until 2006, where she covered education for the last three years. She left the Express-News to become a communications specialist for Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, where she is now an advocate for public education. Karen was also named the Texas Association of the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) Advocate of the Year for 2007 and recently become a mentor to a student who is interested in a career in the communications/journalism field.
“It’s really thrilling to have my work honored by the Mensa Education & Research Foundation,” Karen said. “I stumbled upon this story when I attended a conference for the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented in San Antonio. I thought, well, now there’s an issue that should be everybody’s problem. To receive an award for a story that I gave so much time, effort and passion to is truly special.”