On November 17^th, under twinkling patio lights amidst festive fall d茅cor, a vibrant group of gifted education advocates gathered to support the Institute for Educational Advancement鈥檚 (优蜜视频) programs and services.

优蜜视频鈥檚 annual fundraiser, the Awards Dinner & Celebration, was attended by 90 guests, who enjoyed a cocktail reception featuring music by 优蜜视频 Academy students Calvin Zheng and Cadence and Dante Dam. Over 40 auction packages, including VIP tours, novelty items, specialty artwork, and more, provided excitement for guests who donated over $5,000 through their auction donations.

Cadence and Dante Dam, with parents Jason Dam and Amy Choi, entertained guests on the piano.

Guests perusing the exciting silent auction packages.

Following a three-course dinner and music provided by the JBK Jazz Trio, the program was MC鈥檇 by Dennis Finnerman and included remarks from 优蜜视频 President Betsy Jones, EXPLORE Alumna Kaitlyn Chen and EXPLORE Mentor Dr. Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy. also received awards from 优蜜视频 for their tremendous work to support gifted students: 优蜜视频 Instructor Dr. Tony Travouillon received the Educator Award and Sandy and Jason Roberts of Math Academy received the Community Advocate Award.

Dennis Finnerman delights guests as Master of Ceremonies.

EXPLORE alumni Kaitlyn Chen shares her summer externship experience with guests.

Tony Travouillon received the Educator Award and Jason and Sandy Roberts received the Community Advocate Award.

The event concluded with a 鈥淔und-A-Future鈥� live auction, during which guests donated nearly $7,000 to support 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs and services to serve gifted youth and their families.

Event sponsors, the An family.

Brian Queen, Dick and Barbara Baptie, Karen Connolly and Elizabeth Surman enjoy conversation over dinner.

Volunteer and 优蜜视频 Academy student Gabriel Fergesen, 优蜜视频 Academy student and evening鈥檚 musician Dante Dam, and 优蜜视频 Academy instructor Grayson Kent peruse the silent auction together.

优蜜视频 thanks all event sponsors, in-kind donors, program ad sponsors, guests, speakers and supporters for their event participation. The event鈥檚 digital program can be found here.

It鈥檚 not too late to support 优蜜视频 in 2017! . Gifts of all sizes are appreciated, and go to support those in need of 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs and services.

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Thank you to all the parents and volunteers who devote their time and resources to support 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs and services. Whether it鈥檚 helping decorate our new learning space, facilitating a聽聽meeting or assisting with one of聽, our volunteers help us provide quality programming to gifted students all over the country. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity in giving your time to our organization.

Thank you to everyone who has聽contributed to 优蜜视频 financially聽this year. Your support is essential to ensuring every gifted child has the resources to reach their full potential. Financial gifts of all sizes allow us to provide programming, materials and services to gifted students, as well as their parents and teachers. A special thank you to those who sponsored our Awards Dinner & Celebration:

Seoung Jin An & Ha Yeon
Peter & Jennifer Burke
Dennis & Nancy Finnerman
McDonell Family
Hap Deneen & Jennifer Yount
Becky & Peter Knell
Seong Sik Jeon & Joo Eun Bae
Chris & Abby Newman

Thank you to everyone who has shared information about our programs and services, contributed a blog post and helped us advocate for gifted children. You are building a brighter future for gifted students across the country.

Finally, thank you to all the gifted children who inspire us daily with their passion, creativity, ingenuity and readiness to learn and be challenged. You are the reason we continue to work diligently to provide a space for intellectual, creative and personal growth.

Thank you to everyone who has supported 优蜜视频 this year!

Would you like to support 优蜜视频? Gifts of all sizes are welcome and appreciated.

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Happy ! Every year, American Education Week celebrates individuals and organizations that ensure every child receives a quality education. Whether you are a parent, student, educator, or other supporter of learning, there are things you can do to honor those making a difference in the lives of students from all backgrounds. At 优蜜视频, we will be celebrating this week by gearing up for our Awards Dinner this Friday, where we will honor three local stars of gifted education. This event also helps us raise funds that will go toward scholarships, professional development, teaching resources, and other areas that increase the quality and accessibility of the programs we offer. This year, American Education Week is focused on honoring high-quality public schools and individuals that make them great (like two of our honorees, ). However, regardless of your educational background or involvement, there are numerous ways you can participate this week to recognize excellence in education!

Here are ideas of ways you can celebrate American Education Week:

• Post on social media about someone who made a difference to your or your child鈥檚 education using the hashtag #AEW2017. (If the person is part of 优蜜视频, tag us or use the hashtag #优蜜视频gifted to make sure we see it!)
• Parents, ask your kids different questions about their school day: What do you wish you learned more about? What does your teacher do that helps you learn at your best?
• Students, thank your parents or other adults who have spent time searching out programs that fit your specific interests and needs. Be open with your parents about your school day and specific ways they can help you achieve your learning goals.
• so we can continue to offer scholarships that guarantee no child is ever turned away from our programs for financial reasons.
• Show your appreciation for an 鈥� this includes office administrators, cafeteria staff, counselors, bus drivers, janitors, and others who keep schools and education centers running at their best in behind-the-scenes ways.
• Thank someone personally for the work they do in increasing access to quality education: this could be a policymaker in your area, an individual here at 优蜜视频, or someone else you know.
• Think about the opportunity for impact you possess, and then use it! You may be able to advocate for policy changes in your public school district, donate supplies or electronics to a program in need, or recommend 优蜜视频鈥檚 services to a newly identified gifted student in your child鈥檚 class.

However you choose to support the mission of American Education Week, thank you for doing so! Even after this week ends, continue to keep your eyes open for ways to guarantee all children receive an excellent education. All of us at 优蜜视频 will be doing the same!

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On Friday, November 17^th, the Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频) will honor three tremendous individuals who have worked to address the needs of gifted education in our community. Here鈥檚 a little bit more about them.

Raising the Bar for Gifted Students: Jason and Sandy Roberts

Jason and Sandy Roberts, recipients of this year鈥檚 Community Advocate Award from 优蜜视频, have worked diligently to ensure that the needs of highly able learners are met in Pasadena Unified schools. Initially coaching elementary and middle school students in mathematics, Jason and Sandy launched to provide mathematically gifted middle school and high school students with the skills and insight needed to excel in honors math and science programs at the most elite universities in the world.

Math Academy partners with Pasadena Unified School District in reaching students starting in the 6^th grade, and offering them sequenced mathematics coursework that culminates in completing Calculus in the 8^th grade. But while the Roberts remain dedicated to serving students in Pasadena, they envision being able to expand Math Academy to other districts. 鈥淥ur belief is that once enough parents become aware of what鈥檚 being achieved at a struggling, under-resourced district, they鈥檒l have no choice but to pressure their respective school boards to follow suit, which will mark the beginning of a sea change in mathematics education across America,鈥� Jason told Pasadena Now this past summer.

And enabling large-scale change is nothing new to the Roberts family. Jason designed and developed much of Uber鈥檚 original real-time and global 鈥渁ir traffic control鈥� technologies. With a mathematics degree from the University of Chicago, Jason has also launched technology startups and built high-frequency trading systems. Sandy is no stranger to effecting change, either. With a degree in economics from University of Chicago, she also shares her love of math by teaching at the Math Academy and raising funds to support the new organization. Sandy has spent the last ten years on nonprofit boards, holding leadership positions with the Junior League of Pasadena, Young & Healthy and the Pasadena Educational Foundation.

Parents to three children, the oldest of whom is a student in Math Academy, Jason and Sandy exemplify the values that 优蜜视频 holds dear, namely helping every child reach their potential and providing them with the skills and tools to flourish intellectually, creatively, socially and emotionally.

Photo courtesy of Sandy and Jason Roberts

Inspiring Joy in Gifted Youth for Science and Math:聽 Tony Travouillon

Physics. Electrical Circuitry. Astronomy. These are not typical topics covered in elementary and middle school. But thanks to Tony Travouillon, Ph.D., our fortunate 优蜜视频 student community gets to explore the universe and learn how to build electrical circuits through our Academy program. Beloved by 优蜜视频 students and parents, Tony will receive this year鈥檚 Educator Award at our Awards Dinner & Celebration next month.

Since 2011, Tony has been delighting gifted young minds through his 优蜜视频 Academy classes, held in the Pasadena area. According to one parent of a student in Tony鈥檚 Astronomy class, 鈥淢r. Tony inspired my child with his passion and knowledge of science and made learning fun.鈥�

An astrophysicist, he is a System Scientist at Thirty Meter Telescope Observatory, where he conducts experimental research on atmospheric turbulence and its repercussions for astronomy, image degradation, adaptive optics and interferometry. Since receiving his Ph.D. in astrophysics and undergraduate degrees in Physics and Astronomy at the University of New South Wales, Tony has remained devoted to sharing his knowledge and experience with others. In addition to teaching at 优蜜视频, he holds a Visiting Associate position at Caltech and is an Adjunct Professor at College of the Canyons.

Tony鈥檚 passion for teaching is evident in the classroom, and on the inquiring, curious faces in his classes. 鈥淚n 优蜜视频 I found the perfect place to teach the way I want to teach,鈥� said Tony. 鈥淚 can take full advantage of the small classes to really cater for each individual, adapting to the need of every student and offer an experience that is tailored to my audience.鈥�

Photo credit: Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/News/SCNG

Join the Celebration!

Join us on November 17^th at our Awards Dinner & Celebration, to be held at The University Club of Pasadena, and show your support of these and other exceptional advocates for gifted education.

To sponsor and/or purchase tickets or a program ad, click .

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