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<font face="georgia" color="004c87"><em>January 2017</em></font>
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<font size="1" face="Arial" color="#000080"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite#NewInGiftedEd"><font color="000080">What's
New in Gifted Education</font></a> |
<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite#DavidsonNews"><font color="000080">Davidson News</font></a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite#Legislative">
<font color="000080">Legislative & Policy News</font></a> |
<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite#OnWeb"><font color="000080">On the Web</font></a> |
<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite#NewsArticles"><font color="000080">In the News</font></a> |
<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite#Spotlight"><font color="000080">In the Spotlight</font></a></font><font size="1">
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<h2><b>
<a name="NewInGiftedEd"> </a><font size="5" face="calibri" color="#ffffff">What's
New in Gifted Education</font></b></h2></td>
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<font size="3" face="calibri"><b><font color="#2071d3">Summer Program Options for Gifted Students</font></b><br>
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/gifted-summer.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="3">There
are many factors to consider when deciding on a summer program for
gifted students. Where is the program located? How will social/emotional
needs be met? Residential or non-residential? Good summer programs
provide gifted students challenging opportunities they may not have
access to during the school year and meet a variety of interests. See
these Davidson Gifted Database articles for some excellent summer
options:
<ul><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4004/4/">
<strong>Residential</strong> summer programs</a></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4005/5/">
<strong>Day camp</strong> summer programs</a></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4006/6/">Summer programs listed by
<strong>topics of interest</strong></a></li></ul>Browse the Davidson Gifted Database's
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4007/7/">
<strong>entire list of summer programs</strong></a>. Please note that 2017 application deadlines for certain summer programs may be approaching soon.
<br>
<br>
<strong>More on Gifted Summer Programs
</strong><br>
The following Davidson Gifted Database articles provide
comparisons and a good run-down of factors to consider when choosing a
gifted summer program: <ul><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4008/8/">2e-Friendly Summer Camp Listing</a></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4009/9/">A Kick Start to Summer Camps</a></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4010/10/">List of Scholarships for Younger Students</a></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4011/11/">Financial Assistance and Scholarships</a></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4012/12/">Tips for Parents: Summer Enrichment Opportunities - Meaningful Experiences Beyond the School Year</a></li></ul>If you know of a great summer program for academically gifted students, please <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="mailto:admin@davidsongifted.org">contact us</a>.
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<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/think-summer2.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="3"><strong>2017 THINK Summer Institute</strong><br>
Among the most academically rigorous summer programs is the
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4013/13/">THINK Summer Institute</a>,
which runs July
15 through August 5, 2017. Students can earn up to six college
credits at this three-week residential summer program on the campus of
the University of Nevada, Reno. To qualify, students must be 13 to 16
years old during the program and meet the minimum qualifying test
scores.
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4014/14/">Apply today</a> - space is limited and the final application deadline is Fri.,
March 31, 2017!
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<br>
Why choose THINK?
<ul><li>Earn up to six college credits in three weeks.</li><li>
Experience college life while living on campus.</li><li>
Build friendships with like-minded peers from all over the country.</li><li>
Work closely with University faculty in small classes.</li><li>
Pay less compared to other credit programs (financial assistance also available).</li></ul>
<b><font color="#2071d3">New Research Shows Two Measures
Boost K-12 Academic Achievement</font></b></font><br>
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/CTD2.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="3"><font size="3" face="calibri">A recent comprehensive analysis
conducted by researchers at the
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4015/15/">Duke University Talent
Identification Program (Duke TIP)</a> and the
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4016/16/">
Center for Talent Development (CTD)</a> determines that grouping
students by ability and providing opportunities for students to progress
at a more rapid pace can increase overall student academic achievement.
The authors comprehensively reviewed nearly 100 years of research,
which found
the following:<ul><li>
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/Duke.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="3">Students
benefited from within-class grouping, which often involves teachers
assigning students to small homogeneous groups for instruction based on
prior achievement or learning capacities. </li><li>The benefits were even greater when students were grouped
across grade levels for specific subjects and when high-achieving and
gifted students were grouped together for instruction. </li><li>Students who accelerated their learning through various
methods, such as skipping grades or entering school or college earlier,
significantly outperformed their non-accelerated peers.</li></ul>
Read more:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4017/17/">
Summary of study (PDF)</a>,
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4018/18/">Center for Talent Development</a>,
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4019/19/">
Duke Today</a>
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<h2><b>
<a name="DavidsonNews"> </a><font size="5" face="calibri" color="#ffffff">Davidson
News</font></b></h2></td>
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<font color="#2071d3">
Davidson Academy Online High School Designed to be Different</font></b></font><br>
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/Online_Admissions.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="3"><font size="3" face="calibri">
A new
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3957/20/">full-time online high school option</a>
at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/473/21/">Davidson Academy</a>
is opening for the 2017-2018 academic year! The rigorous academic
environment for which the Academy is known will be available both online
and at the free public school for profoundly gifted students located
on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.
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<br>
The Academy is a proven leader in educating our
nations brightest students. Since 2006, the Davidson
Academy has been recognized as an exceptional school for
profoundly gifted middle and high school students already
living in the Reno area and those who can move to Nevada.
For those who cannot move, the new full-time online high school
option reflects the Academys commitment to the profoundly gifted
student population by offering a
unique, supportive online academic environment where these students
can thrive among their intellectual peers.
<br>
<br>
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/Davidson-Online.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="3">The online high school will feature:<ul><li>Accredited courses</li><li>Live sessions</li><li>Small class sizes</li><li>Quality peer interactions</li></ul>
The
Davidson Academy Online High School application deadline is March 1, 2017 and,
if space remains available, late applications will be
considered until April 15, 2017.
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3951/22/">How to Apply
></a>
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<br>
While the application deadline for the
Davidson Academy Reno School has passed, the application for the 2018-2019 school year
will be posted this summer.
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3740/23/">How to Apply
></a><br>
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Like the new
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4020/24/">
Davidson Academy Facebook page</a> for updates about the school!<br>
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<b><font color="#2071d3">2017 Davidson Fellows Scholarship Application</font></b></font><br>
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/fellows.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="0"><font size="3" face="calibri">The 2017
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/1079/25/">Davidson Fellows Scholarship</a> application is now
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3866/26/">available online</a>.
Young people 18 and younger have the opportunity to earn a $50,000,
$25,000 or $10,000 scholarship in recognition of a significant piece of
work in the categories of science, technology, engineering, mathematics,
music, literature and philosophy, or a project that represents outside
the box thinking. The application deadline is Wed., Feb.
8, 2017.<br>
<br>
<b><font size="3" face="calibri" color="#2071d3">Davidson Young
Scholars </font></b></font><br>
<font size="3" face="calibri">The
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3849/27/">Davidson Young Scholars</a>
program provides FREE services designed to nurture and support
profoundly gifted young people and their families, including talent
development and educational advocacy, an online community, annual
get-togethers and the Ambassador Program. Applications are due the first
of each month. For more information, see the
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3850/28/">How to Apply</a> and
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3851/29/">Qualification Criteria</a> pages.
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<a name="Legislative"> </a><font size="5" face="calibri" color="#ffffff">
Legislative & Policy News</font></b></h2></td>
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<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/think-summer.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="3"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3799/30/"><strong>ARIZONA</strong></a>
Officials in the Sahuarita school district will ask the school board
to approve a $90,000/year program designed to give gifted students in
grades 1-5 a head start on learning higher-level critical thinking
skills.
Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4021/31/">Sahuarita Sun</a><br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4022/32/">
<strong>ARKANSAS</strong></a> The Alma School District will start a new summer program for gifted and talented students that focuses on technology.
Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4023/33/">
Times Record</a><br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3877/34/">
<strong>FLORIDA</strong></a> The Seminole school district is
expanding the pool of students evaluated for its gifted programs,
particularly in elementary schools that serve mostly minority students
from low-income families. The district will use a screening tool that
does not rely heavily on early literacy skills. Students who pass the
screenings
will be given an IQ test to help determine if they qualify for
gifted services. Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4024/35/">Orlando Sentinel</a>
<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3805/36/">
<strong>ILLINOIS</strong></a> A 2015 update to the Moline-Coal
Valley School Districts Program for Academically Talented Students
(PATS) is netting academic gains and positive feedback. The new program
mixes high-performing students into regular classrooms with students of
varying abilities at their neighborhood schools. Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4025/37/">Quad-Cities Online</a>
<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4026/38/">
<strong>INDIANA</strong></a> A grant from the Indiana Department
of Education will pay for tests and other tools used to identify gifted
students in the Fort Wayne school district. Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4027/39/">News Sentinel</a>
<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4028/40/">
<strong>IOWA</strong></a> Beginning in the 2017-18 academic year,
middle school students in Sioux Citys gifted program will receive
access to a Personalized Education Plan, placement in cluster groups
with other gifted students and access to Pre-Advanced Placement (AP)
classes. Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4029/41/">Sioux City Journal</a>
<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4030/42/">
<strong>MICHIGAN</strong></a> The Avondale School District will
open the first gifted learning classroom in Oakland County next school
year in Troy. Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4031/43/">Oakland Press</a>
<br>
<br>
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/legis2.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="7"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3809/44/"><strong>MINNESOTA</strong></a>
Due to an increase in the number of students identified as gifted,
the Rochester school district is considering an expansion of its highly
gifted program, nearly a decade after its debut. Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4032/45/">Post-Bulletin</a>
<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3885/46/">
<strong>MISSOURI</strong></a> A recently-signed bill requires the
Missouri
department of education to annually audit state-approved gifted
programs to verify that districts are continuing to serve at least 80
percent of the total number of gifted students as they were serving in
each previous school year. Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4033/47/">The Missourian</a>
<br>
<br>
<strong>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3814/48/">NEW YORK</a></strong>
A proposed change to the gifted program in
New York City's Astoria schools will not be implemented until there
is more input from parents. The Department of Education is exploring
alternatives to the current policy of automatically granting spots to
those already enrolled in gifted elementary schools, as has been the
practice for the last several years. Sources:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4034/49/">DNAinfo</a>,
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4035/50/">QNS.com</a>
<br>
<br>
Starting in the 2017-2018 school year, the Brooklyn School of Inquiry, a
highly sought-after school for gifted students, will set aside 40
percent of its kindergarten seats specifically for low-income learners.
Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4036/51/">The Atlantic</a>
<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3816/52/">
<strong>NORTH CAROLINA</strong></a> Starting this month, the
Guilford school district is adding a new program for gifted
third-graders, which will expand to fourth and fifth grade in following
years. The district is also increasing cutoff scores for those who
qualify for the official academically gifted designation. Source:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4037/53/">Greensboro News & Record</a>
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<a name="OnWeb"> </a><font size="5" face="calibri" color="#ffffff">
On the Web</font></b></h2></td>
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<b><font size="3" face="calibri" color="#2071d3">Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies - Serving Intellectually Curious, Highly Motivated Students</font></b><br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3081/54/">Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies</a>
selects students from around the world to come to Stanford for an
amazing summer experience.
Highly motivated, intellectually curious students have the
opportunity to investigate topics not typically taught in high school.
Students engage in small classes with instructors who are experts in
their fields and passionate about teaching.
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4038/55/">View Summer
Offerings</a> <br>
<br>
<b><font size="3" face="calibri" color="#2071d3">Epsilon Camp - A Challenging Summer Math Experience for Young Students</font></b><br>
Applications are due February 6 for
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3194/56/">Epsilon
Camp</a>, a two-week summer residential camp serving
promising young mathematicians and their families. The
mission of Epsilon is to meet the learning needs of students
ages 7-11 with extreme intelligence and a love of
mathematics by exposing them to suitable content, pedagogy,
peers and mathematicians.
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/onweb1.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="7">Epsilon Camp 2017 will be held at
Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. from July 23 to
August 6, 2017.<br>
<br>
<b><font size="3" face="calibri" color="#2071d3">Featured Articles and Resources</font></b><br>
The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3795/57/">Davidson Gifted Database</a>
features easy search capabilities for articles, resources and state
policy pages to help students, parents and educators pinpoint gifted
information.<br>
<br>
<strong>Articles</strong><br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4039/58/">Parenting in Uncertain Times</a> provides advice on how to curate daily well-being in an uncertain world with positivity and peace.<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4040/59/">Technology in Gifted Education: Annotated Bibliography</a>
provides a summary of research on the use of technology in the field of K-12 gifted education.<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4041/60/">The Time of Our Lives: How Summer Camp Tames Transition Trouble</a>
describes how summer camps can be helpful for students as they
transition to the the college years and the accompanying hardships of
that process.<br>
<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/onweb2.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="7"><br>
<strong>Resources</strong><br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4042/61/">Center for Talent Development (CTD) Backpack for Parents and Students</a>
is a worldwide online community for gifted students and
their families. CTD Backpack helps parents engage with their
peers and experts in the field of gifted education, access
weekly content tailored to the needs of parents of gifted
students, and learn about the latest opportunities provided by
CTD.<br>
<br>
Opening in August 2017, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4043/62/">Threshold School (Broomfield, CO)</a>
is a K12 grade independent school for gifted and creative youth
that aims to give rise to thought leaders and global change-makers.<br>
<br>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4044/63/">Yale Young Global Scholars (New Haven, CT)</a>
is a summer academic enrichment and leadership program that
brings together outstanding high school students from around
the world for intensive two-week sessions on the Yale
campus.<br>
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In the News</font></b></h2></td>
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<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4045/64/">9 Year Old Kid Attends Community College of Allegheny County</a><font size="2">
(University Herald)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4058/65/">Parents play crucial role in cultivating gifted students</a><font size="2">
(Grove City Record)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4047/66/">She's a Harvard PhD and Author of 26 Novels. She'll Also Get Your Kids to Like Math</a> <font size="2">(<font size="2" face="calibri">Washingtonian.com</font>)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4048/67/">How Design Thinking Became a Buzzword at School</a> <font size="2">(<font size="2" face="calibri">The Atlantic</font>)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4049/68/">Quality control in dual enrollment</a> <font size="2">
(Thomas B. Fordham Institute)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4050/69/">Discrimination in Gifted Education Must End</a>
<font size="2">(Education Week)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4051/70/">13-year-old boy on track to graduate high school in May</a>
<font size="2">(SFGate)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4052/71/">How Praise Became a Consolation Prize</a>
<font size="2">(The Atlantic)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4053/72/">States need to do better by their most talented students</a>
<font size="2">(Washington Post)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4054/73/">Peter Thiel tried to prove that brilliant kids dont need college heres what happened</a>
<font size="2">(Business Insider)</font></li><li>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4055/74/">Millions Have Dyslexia, Few Understand It</a>
<font size="2">(NPR)</font></li></ul><font size="2">Discuss these stories and more on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/1025/75/">Gifted Issues Discussion Forum</a>.</font><br>
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In the Spotlight</font></b></h2></td>
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<font size="5" face="calibri" color="#000099"><b>Ellis
Hamilton - 2016 Davidson Fellow</b></font>
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<img alt="" src="http://news.ditd.org/January_17/EllisHamilton.jpg" hspace="10" border="0" align="right" vspace="3"><font size="3" face="calibri"><em>Ellis
Hamiliton of Fort Sam Houston, Tex. will receive $25,000 for his 2016 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/3787/76/">
Davidson Fellows</a> project, "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ditdlyris.davdgrp.com/t/789050/53568/4056/77/">The Music in Me</a>."</em><b><font size="3" face="calibri" color="#2071d3">
<br>
<br>
How did you first become interested in music and what challenges have you overcome?</font></b><br>
The earliest that I remember being interested in music was around age
3, right after watching the movie "Drumline." I was able to act out the
whole entire movie, especially the marching band and drum sequences.
Ironically, though I am primarily an alto saxophonist, I taught myself
to play the drums first. The piano came second, and the alto saxophone
came after the piano. Though I have slowly incorporated other
instruments, I tend to focus on alto saxophone, piano, and drums.
Though I play tenor and soprano saxophones as well, I currently do not
own them, so I look forward to purchasing them in the future. My
challenges mostly stemmed from my birth. I was born a micro-preemie,
almost four months early. I had many physical, mental, and
developmental challenges that threatened my ability to live, walk, talk,
see, or hear. But Praise God, through faith, prayer, and the
dedication of my parents, nothing I face today is as bad as what could
have been. <br>
<font size="1"> </font><br>
<font size="3" face="calibri">
<b><font size="3" face="calibri" color="#2071d3">What are some of your short-term and long-term plans?</font></b><br>
My short-term goal right now is to complete my dual major in Performance
and Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., where I
am getting ready to begin my second semester. My dream is to become a
professional musician, film score composer, screenwriter, director, and
author, but my lifelong goal is to minister to the world through my
God-Given talents in the Fine Arts in the hopes of leading others to
Christ.<br>
<br>
<b><font size="3" face="calibri" color="#2071d3">Please describe your academic setting and some positive experiences with mentors.</font></b><br>
I just finished my first semester at Berklee with A's in all
of my classes and a 4.0 GPA, so I am really excited about
that! I attribute my successes first to God, then to the
love and support of my parents and my two brothers. I also
have two wonderful music mentors: Najee, the legendary
smooth jazz saxophonist and flautist, and amazing
professional saxophonist, Mr. Skip Pruitt. They have given
me great advice and feedback on how to mature and better
myself as a musician, and I am very grateful to them for
that. <br>
<br>
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Closing Thought</font></b></h2></td>
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<i>
<font size="3" face="calibri">
"After looking carefully at 100 years of research, it
became clear that acceleration and most forms of ability grouping can be
powerfully effective interventions. They help increase academic
achievement for both lower- and higher-achieving students.
Moreover, these practices can yield significant academic benefits
without being expensive and can even save schools money."</font></i></div>
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<font size="3" face="calibri"><i>~ Matt Makel, Director of Reseach, Duke TIP</i><i></i>
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