The gift, named in his honor, will be used by a qualifying high school student from McDowell County to attend the College Prep Program. Upon completion of the two-week program, the 10th or 11th grader will receive two hours of college credit.

Hickam remarked in a letter to the Summer Gifted Program participants, “An author is always gratified when it is clear his work has touched so many people, especially young people. As you study this year, I hope you will take with you the true message of the Rocket Boys in the book and the movie which is this: It is important for everyone to find a passion in life, then work very hard to make it come true. To only dream of a better future is inconsequential. Each of us must take the next steps beyond and learn to map out what must be done to reach our goals. After that, it is easy. All that must be done is to persevere, persevere, and persevere.”

The gifted student will spend two weeks on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College, will have a roommate, live in residence hall, and eat in the dining hall. A day trip is planned for Pittsburgh.

The student will be taught in a small class setting by college professors and will learn astrophysics, mathematics, and literature with other gifted students.

It is not all academics, however, remarks Director Dr. Kwame Boateng. “We will take the students to Meadowbrook Mall for dinner, a movie, and shopping, and to the Upshur County Recreational Park for swimming and a pizza party. They will also participate in dances, a talent show, and a variety of sports on campus.”

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Program. The Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program was founded by Dr. Joseph Wiest, a professor of physics and engineering at West Virginia Wesleyan College, and his wife, Jeanie Wiest, M.D., in 1983. Their goal is to augment the education of gifted children in West Virginia.

Over 1,200 gifted children from 20 states have participated. Graduate of the Program have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, and pharmacists. May have received the highest degree in their field. This year’s dates are June 29-July 12 for grades 5 through 8, and July 13-26 for grades 8 through 11.

To be eligible to attend, a student must be identified as gifted or scored in the 97th percentile on the mathematics or verbal section of a nationally standardized exam.

Brochures are available by contacting: Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program, Box 89, WVWC, 59 College Avenue, Buckhannon, WV, 26201, or you can visit their website at http://www.wvwc.edu/wvwc/gifted/giftcamp.html.