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» Campus News Bulletin Board | | |
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| Grade School Children
Experience College Life released: 05/04/04 |
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| Some of the
most intelligent children in the state and from across the country will
be experiencing “real college life” for the first time this
summer. The children, some as young as 11-years old, will be attending the 22nd Annual Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon. The two-week academic residential program from gifted children allows students to have the college experience without actually talking the full plunge into full-time academic life. “It’s a sampling of college life, and for gifted students, it offers them an intellectual challenge that they are probably not receiving in the everyday classroom,” said program director Dr. Kwame Boateng. “Students will attend accelerated classes in astronomy, physics, thermodynamics, algebra, geometry, robotics, history, literature, and creative writing that is taught by college professors.” Students in grades 10-12 who attend the College Prep program earn college credit of completion of the program. While on campus, the students will live in college dormitories and eat in the dining hall. In the evenings, they will attend dances, participate in talent/skit night, go to movies, and take trips to the mall. They will also have the opportunity to play tennis, racquetball, basketball, soccer, or any of the recreational facilities at Wesleyan. “The students really are having an abbreviated college experience,” said Boateng. “When they are on campus, even the fifth graders are living like college students.” According to Boateng, the students will be closely supervised. “For many of these students, this will be the first extended stay away from home. It gives them a good idea of what college will be like and helps stimulate their interest in higher learning. I believe it is an excellent experience for the students and one that they will enjoy. Several students return every summer until they graduate from high school and are ready to attend college on a full-time basis. The summer gifted program for fifth through eighth graders will be held from June 27-July 10. Eighth through 11th graders will be able to attend from July 11-24. To be eligible for the program, students must be identified as gifted or score in the 97th percentile on the mathematics or verbal section of a standardized achievement exam. The Summer Gifted Program was founded in 1983 by Wesleyan physics and engineering professor Dr. Joseph Wiest, and his wife Jeanie Wiest, a physician. For more information, contact Kim Howard at (304) 473-8072 or e-mail sgp@wvwc.edu. or visit the gifted camp website. |