Robert Leiser was honored Oct.19 as one of the brightest students in the world at a national awards ceremony sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

The center honored Leiser, a student at Northwestern Lehigh High School, for his exceptional performance as a middle school student on the college SAT as part of the 2013-14 CTY Talent Search.

CTY uses above-grade-level tests (such as the college SAT for middle school students) because they provide a clear picture of advanced students' academic abilities.

Students from 50 states and 67 countries participated in the 2013-2014 Talent Search.

Of the 16,459 seventh and eighth grade participants in the 2013-14 CTY Talent Search, only 960 U.S. and international middle school students scored high enough on their above-grade-level tests to be invited to the ceremony on the Johns Hopkins University campus.

CTY's Study of Exceptional Talent also recognizes students under the age of 13 who achieve a score of 700 or higher on the SAT.

There were 413 students who met SET's qualifications for the 2013-2014 academic year and were invited to the Grand Ceremony.

Students honored at the 2014 Grand Ceremony qualified for CTY's residential summer programs, online classes, and family programs.