KU hosts 59 gifted middle, high school students at Scholar Weekend

LAWRENCE - Fifty-nine gifted students in grades seven through 11 from Kansas and Missouri attended two Duke University Talent Identification Program Scholar Weekend programs in October at the University of Kansas.

The sessions offered intensive courses taught by KU faculty and graduate instructors in six general areas to challenge students academically while allowing a taste of university life.

Scholar Weekends are available to students who are identified as gifted or talented by their school criteria or who have participated in Duke's Talent Identification Program (TIP).

KU is one of six locations nationwide for the fall programs. Besides KU and Duke University in Durham, N.C., others were Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.; New College of Florida in Sarasota; Texas Christian University in Fort Worth; and the Houston Museum District.

Courses for the Oct. 16-17 program, attended by 26 students, were Writing With Diplomacy, Mathematics and Music, and Aerospace Engineering. During the Oct. 23-24 weekend, 35 students explored Communicating Politics and Leadership, Architecture and the Language, and Culture and History of Germany. Two students attended programs both weekends.

The cost for each weekend was $350 with overnight lodging or $300 without lodging.

Dates have not been set for the spring 2005 Scholar Weekends. Updated information will be available at http://www.kuce.org/programs/dtip/ or by calling toll-free (877) 404-5823. The program is sponsored by KU Continuing Education in cooperation with the Duke University Talent Identification Program.

The students, their hometowns and high schools: