The 优蜜视频 team is thrilled to be able to start seeing our amazing students in person again, but we also want to keep deepening the connections we鈥檝e built with families across the country. Whether you鈥檙e just checking out our offerings for the first time or are a longtime program participant, we invite you to connect with other gifted students across the country by participating in our !

Here are 7 reasons to participate:

1. You鈥檒l connect with like-minded families nationwide.

Our gifted and advanced students from across the country will be submitting their talents to the show. Whether your child submits something or your family just watches, you鈥檒l be able to connect with our community members over your shared interests.

2. Your child will have a project for the first weeks of summer.

Talent submissions are due on June 30^th, but until then, your child can work on choreographing a dance, building a Minecraft world to show off, perfecting a scooter trick, or anything else they鈥檇 like to contribute!

3. You may get inspired to try a new hobby.

Unlike most talent shows, anything is welcome on the 优蜜视频 stage! You may see a student doing something you hadn鈥檛 thought to try. After watching, you may want to take on creative cake decorating, crochet dollmaking, or writing haiku.

4. You鈥檒l learn what 优蜜视频 is up to in 2021 and beyond.

The show will be interspersed with updates from our staff on each of our programs鈥� recent successes and upcoming excitement. You鈥檒l get to see familiar and new faces 鈥� and we may even share a talent of our own!

5. You can update your family and friends.

This is the perfect opportunity to show your child鈥檚 grandparents, teachers, friends, and more what 优蜜视频 is all about, while also sharing your child鈥檚 creative talent with them. whoever you鈥檇 like to view the show so they can learn what your child has been up to.

6. You鈥檒l have an evening of entertainment.

Our student talents range from hilarious to awe-inspiring, but they鈥檙e all entertaining. Make a night of it by popping some popcorn or setting up a screen outside to tune in.

7. You鈥檒l support 优蜜视频.

Though the event is completely free, we hope to use it to connect with new families and raise awareness about the amazing community of gifted learners we support. We appreciate you sharing your talents with us!

To learn more about the event, visit our . To submit a video of your act, click . We hope to 鈥渟ee鈥� you there!

It鈥檚 hard to believe 鈥� but summer break is already upon us. Schools are letting out, vacations are being booked, and myriad summer activities are being mulled over. With that in mind, you may be asking yourself, 鈥淲hy should I choose over other programs, camps and enrichment activities?鈥� Admittedly, L.A. County is flooded with programs that span STEM topics, the arts, sports and nature, but here are 10 things 优蜜视频鈥檚 Summer Academy program provides that makes it stand out from the rest:

• New themes for 2018!: Each of our three two-week sessions have a unique theme this summer. Is your child someone who enjoys learning about different worlds 鈥� worlds under the sea, the World Wide Web, galaxies and the solar systems or the world of food science? Then our Session I Globetrotters is the perfect choice! In Session II, our Systems Sleuths untangle and understand human body systems, the food chain, circuits, and the periodic table, and discover ways in which even seemingly chaotic entities are part of a larger system. And for the tinkerers and visionaries, Session III allows our students to become Inventioneers, taking deep-dives into the worlds of creativity, fantasy, design and the creation of realms and technology. For a full list of classes and schedules, .
• A dedicated home away from home: In 2017, 优蜜视频 acquired our Learning Center on Marengo Avenue, which hosts Academy courses, workshops and family-friendly events. Parents, siblings, friends and babysitters are welcome to sit in our library or on our front porch while classes are taking place. We鈥檝e also got an impressive collection of books, puzzles, Legos and other toys to tinker with 鈥� along with wifi if you need to get work done. If you鈥檝e got errands to run, you鈥檙e in luck: we鈥檙e within walking distance of Whole Foods, Trader Joe鈥檚, Starbucks and much more!
• Explosions, dissections and contraptions 鈥� oh, my!: At Academy, we make, create, design, build, test, mold, sketch 鈥� and sometimes get our hands dirty. We鈥檙e not content to just sit and listen; we鈥檇 rather be launching rockets, making ice cream in a bag, discovering life through a microscope or developing hilarious comedy sketches with our friends. There are no tests here, but you鈥檒l be surprised to discover just how much you鈥檝e learned when class is over.

• Our teachers don鈥檛 just show up 鈥� they dress up!: If you enroll in Ellen Brown鈥檚 King George class, odds are she鈥檒l show up at least once in her Revolutionary War hat. Grayson Kent will be bringing animal bones, fossils and teeth to his Cenozoic Life and Ultimate Guide to Predators You can expect robot races in Chris Bradfield鈥檚 Intro to Robotics with Arduino class, and who knows what else! We鈥檙e so proud of the dedication and energy our Instructors put into making Academy classes fun, engaging, stimulating and a one-of-a-kind experience for students.
• It鈥檚 cool to be smart: Everyone at Academy 鈥� students, instructors, staff and families 鈥� loves to learn and encourages it in everything they do. In fact, we鈥檙e all about getting each other to see things from new perspectives, challenging what we鈥檝e always thought to be true and understanding how different disciplines complement each other to span multiple scholarly fields. Interested in the intersection of art and math? Check out Alessandra Santucci鈥檚 class Mosaic Elements: An Artistic Application of Euclidian Geometry. Do you enjoy studying international relations, medicine, and technology? Sign up for Tristan Murphy鈥檚 class How to Save the World: Problem Solving on a Global Scale.
• Flexibility: Whether your summer calendar is currently carte blanche or you鈥檙e juggling soccer, sailing, scouting and swimming, Academy can meet your needs and fit your schedule. Our two-week sessions provide the ideal amount of time for in-depth discovery, but don鈥檛 take time away from other important summer adventures. Classes meet once a day for 90 minutes and students can sign up for 1-4 classes per session. to see which session best fits your child鈥檚 availability.
• Discounts: Speaking of multiple classes, did you know we offer several types of discounts for Academy families? We offer sibling, referral and multiple-class discounts. The more courses you enroll in, the bigger the savings! We also offer scholarships for qualified families in need. for tuition and discount information.
• Choose Your Own Adventure!: Learning is most fun when you have a say in what you鈥檙e learning and how you鈥檙e learning it. To that end, Academy has created the perfect safe space for students to take control of their learning and help shape their scholarly pursuits. Are you a budding Dungeon Master? Find out just how far your skills and inner strengths will take you in Grayson Kent鈥檚 Dungeons and Dragons Do you enjoy coding and creating your own websites that let you show off your interests and talents? Sign up for Alessandra Santucci鈥檚 Intro to Web Design class. Have you always wanted to design and build an intricate, multi-layered marble run, the likes of which you鈥檝e seen in impressive YouTube videos? Then Rube Goldberg: Machines and Mazes is the course for you!
• Friends, Families and Fun: Academy is not just an academic enrichment program. In recent years, Academy has truly become a community of invested, caring and passionate students, families and educators 鈥� all dedicated to the support and advocacy of gifted and talented youth. When you鈥檙e here, you鈥檒l always find someone with whom to chat, discuss gifted programming , and even just get caught up on current events and goings-on around town. Students quickly make connections and friends with peers who are just as passionate about robots, creative writing, ancient history, the Pythagorean Theorem and galaxies as they are. We get gifted students and we鈥檝e created a community in which your child can thrive, be themselves and soar.

• Just the Beginning: At Academy, you鈥檒l be introduced to exciting, challenging courses taught by outstanding Instructors from CalTech, JPL, the Mirman School, Bridges Academy 鈥� to name a few institutions. Our Instructors also host workshops, mini-lectures and Genius Days throughout the year, extending the benefits of Academy courses well beyond the summer. Additionally, our community board features exciting offerings from other 优蜜视频 programs, gifted organizations, families and gifted professionals. 优蜜视频 is dedicated to providing and making families aware of services and events within all aspects of gifted. You鈥檒l be surprised by how much information we have to share when you drop off and pick up your child each day!

!

Still not convinced, or perhaps want to get a further look at the type of classes we鈥檙e offering? at 5:30pm, where our Academy instructors will be conducting interactive demonstrations of their coursework.

To celebrate the beginning of a new year, we wanted to take a look back at some noteworthy moments from 2017!

优蜜视频 has expanded and bought a house!

Through the generosity of our donors, 优蜜视频 was able to purchase a beautiful craftsman home in Pasadena. The new space houses our programs, Academy classes, and monthly听 Gifted Support Groups. This past December, we hosted a Tree Trimming and Open House where families had the opportunity to take a guided tour, observe Academy classes, meet our dynamic Academy instructors, make DIY holiday ornaments, check out student work and nosh on cookies and hot cocoa.

优蜜视频 released results from a .

We commissioned the first ever national survey assessing the American public鈥檚 views on gifted education which found overwhelming bipartisan public support for increased funding for programs and resources for gifted students. It also indicated that the public recognizes the gifted population is often underserved. As a follow up in September, 优蜜视频 gathered gifted education leaders from across the country in Pasadena to discuss the next steps in advocating for a policy solution championing gifted learners. The gathering included a presentation of the poll results, roundtable discussions, 听and a conversation on how organizations can work together to advocate for our nation鈥檚 gifted students. We are working on to inform and create change.

Students, parents, and supporters gathered for 优蜜视频鈥檚 Summer Spotlight.

In July, over 100 students, parents, and supporters of 优蜜视频 gathered at The Barder House for event where families enjoyed interactive demonstrations of our programs conducted by 优蜜视频 students and Academy instructors, connected with other families with gifted children, and chowed down on a complimentary barbeque dinner and drinks!

Twenty-eight middle-schoolers from across the country were named 2017 Scholars.

From an applicant pool of 386 students, CDB鈥檚 largest-ever applicant pool, 55 Finalists were selected by three Scholarship Selection Committees comprised of a diverse group of school admissions directors, CDB alumni, university personnel and community and business leaders nationwide. Following extensive personal interviews, 28 of the Finalists were selected as recipients of the 2017 scholarship. Congratulations to our !

Twenty talented high school students worked with distinguished Mentors through .

Students were thoughtfully matched with mentors who shared similar passions in their career field of interest and had professional trajectories externs hoped to pursue in the future. These externs conducted college level research and work in fields such as biomathematics, computer science, architecture, pediatric medical research, ethnomusicology and more. Also, as a new component of EXPLORE, students met every Friday to attend educational excursions and workshops geared towards building their college and career readiness.

Yunasa brought together 113 campers for a summer of fun outdoor activities, workshops led by our beloved Fellows, and community-building events.

This year, Yunasa accepted the most campers it has in its 15 years of operation. We welcomed back 77 returning campers and 36 new campers for Yunasa and Yunasa West. The goal of the one week camp is to balance all sides of giftedness 鈥撎齣ntellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical. Hannah, a 4th year Yunasa camper, shares her experience about finding her tribe at Yunasa .

Teacher trainings brought Academy instructors together to share their experience, knowledge and creative ideas.

Academy conducted 3 pre-session teacher trainings to help prepare our instructors to work with our community of gifted learners. Trainings covered such topics as support for twice-exceptional students and guest speakers included Sharon Duncan from GRO Gifted and 优蜜视频鈥檚 very own, President Betsy Jones.

优蜜视频 honored three valued members of the 优蜜视频 community, Dr. Tony Travouillon, Jason Roberts and Sandy Roberts, at the .

In November, we hosted 90 guests at the University Club in Pasadena for our annual fundraiser. The evening brought together program alumni, Mentors, parents, board members, and supporters of 优蜜视频 听and we also honored including Academy Instructor, Dr. Tony Travouillon, who received the Educator Award, and Sandy and Jason Roberts of Math Academy who received the Community Advocate Award. The event raised nearly $30,000 to support 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs for gifted youth! Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this event!

We鈥檝e grown our online presence through our redesigned .

The Gifted Resource Center (GRC) is a free public tool created and curated by 优蜜视频 which serves as an online database of resources for the gifted community. To date, the database has over 450 gifted resources and over 15,000 page views.

优蜜视频 hosted nine free meetings.

During the school year, we offer complimentary monthly talks featuring experts on various aspects of gifted youth and education. These talks are intended for parents and educators of gifted children to provide support and community, a venue for shared discovery, and a space to exchange resources and ideas. Previous topics include Mindfulness and the Whole Child, Gifted Resource Swap, Gifted and Teenage, Homeschooling 101 and Finding the Right School Fit.

Four joined our small but mighty team.

Anvi Kevany, Administrative Assistant
Abby Daniels, Director of Development & Communications
Nicole Endacott, Program Assistant
Hillary Jade, Program Manager

And, most importantly, 优蜜视频 programs supported more than 453 bright young minds!

Needless to say, 优蜜视频 had a lot to celebrate in 2017 and we could not have done any of this without the help of our amazing community!

优蜜视频 continues to receive remarkable support from families who have benefited from our programs, as well as community partners who believe in our mission and work. Thank you to everyone who generously contributed this year, and to our amazing volunteers who assisted in our programming, marketing, and fundraising efforts. Thanks to you, we are able to deliver highly customized programs to more bright and eager learners across the country.

We look forward to an impactful 2018!

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]]> /blog-iea-2017-highlights/feed/ 0 /blog-snapshots-of-summer/ /blog-snapshots-of-summer/#respond Wed, 30 Aug 2017 00:02:08 +0000 https://ieadev.wpengine.com/blog-snapshots-of-summer/ Curated by Ni帽a Abonal, Senior Program听Coordinator

From staff members traveling to conduct interviews, camps teeming with energetic campers, classes bustling with curious learners, and students externing at sites all over Los Angeles, summertime at 优蜜视频 is nothing short of eventful. Not only are all our programs in full swing, but we also host our annual Summer Spotlight to bring families together and celebrate the work of our amazing, gifted students.

In between all the hustle and bustle of programs and events, there are magical moments that make all the preparation and hard work worthwhile. One thing holds true about the staff members at 优蜜视频 is that we genuinely enjoy the work we do and are passionate about the students and families we work with! Below are some favorite moments from this summer from the eyes of our dynamic 优蜜视频 staff members.

“This year鈥檚 EXPLORE cohort exemplified the magic that can happen when passionate, gifted learners find their tribe—they can be their true selves and flourish.听 The culmination of EXPLORE, and frankly any 优蜜视频 program, is filled with happy celebration of the students鈥� accomplishments, but also bittersweet goodbyes from amazing students. With each culminating cohort, I come to realize that even though these students will go their separate paths, they will forever be connected to one another through this unique, shared experience.听 This year鈥檚 closing circle activity, served as a symbol of the various connections students made this summer—with their mentors, 优蜜视频 staff, and peers. Even though they are now alumni, they will always be part of the 优蜜视频 family and, no matter where they go in life, 优蜜视频 will never let go of them until they decide to let go of us.鈥� – Ni帽a, Program Coordinator

“I had many favorite moments this summer, getting to know and experience all of 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs. But a highlight was witnessing the teams of campers at Yunasa build sand sculptures that epitomize an emotion. This picture captures the word 鈥渁cceptance鈥� as two hands are reaching toward one another, with a heart nearby showing that love is part of acceptance. Simple, but brilliant. The campers were truly amazing.鈥� – Abby, Director of Development and Communications

鈥淎t this year鈥檚 Summer Spotlight, Academy teacher Grayson Kent brought a komodo dragon to share with families in our community. It was so sweet to watch families interacting with this amazing animal and learning about him together.鈥�听– Morgan, Assistant to the President

听
“This photo is of 2015 CDB Scholar Amy Cavet and her alpaca friend that was taken on a family summer vacation to England where her parents are from. I love the juxtaposition of the two smiling faces and the obvious JOY of a summer spent with family and travel. The photo is special to me because it came unsolicited from Amy and shows the connectivity of this community with me year round.” – Bonnie, CDB Scholarship Manager

鈥淚 love this photo from our Summer Spotlight event because I think it displays the spirit of 优蜜视频鈥檚 community. A CDB Scholar is showing a young Academy student how to drive a robot he built. It鈥檚 always inspiring to see older students helping younger kids explore their curiosity.鈥� – Nicole, Marketing and Communications Coordinator

“When I think of Yunasa, my heart is filled with joy. Both camps went beautifully 鈥� returning campers demonstrated leadership in welcoming new campers to the tribe, and new campers opened their heart to embrace new ideas and activities. There are many highlights at both camps; one that came to mind is the BBQ and campfire at the beach in Michigan. That evening, campers had a cookout near the waterfront, afterwards, some gathered to play cards, others sat together to make crafts or draw, some played music, and the more active ones played a game of ultimate Frisbee. Some campers were so looking forward to play in the water, so they had a swimming match. The night concluded with camp songs, skits, games and roasted s鈥檓ores over camp fire. It was a lovely summer night!鈥�– Qiao, Program Coordinator

鈥淢y favorite moment was seeing old friends and meeting new people at our Summer Spotlight. Being behind the scenes in admin doesn鈥檛 afford me the opportunity to hang out with our community often, so it鈥檚 always rewarding to spend time with people in involved in our programs.鈥� – Zadra, Director of Operations

To view more memorable moments from each program, visit page to view more photos from all our summer programs!

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优蜜视频鈥檚 EXPLORE program is in full swing! This year, the selection and placement process was especially competitive as students vied for a chance to work with distinguished mentors and sites willing to host only a selected number of students. In addition to meeting site specific pre-requisites, applicants underwent a rigorous application process which included participating in a phone interview and submitting two letters of recommendation, two essays, a professional resume, academic transcripts, standardized test scores, and sample work.

After students were vetted and selected for the program, they were thoughtfully matched with mentors who shared similar passions in their career field of interest and had professional trajectories externs hoped to pursue in the future. In the end, 20 exceptional students were placed to work and conduct college level research at eight mentor sites throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. Each student demonstrated excellence in education, strong leadership skills, a passion for learning, and a desire to continuously challenge themselves. Mentors who saw their extern鈥檚 profile and resume were impressed at how accomplished and adept these young people were, despite only being in high school.

To prepare Cohorts 1 and 2 for their externship experience, students participated in a weekend orientation at . They had an opportunity to get acquainted with their peers, engage in team building activities, including a scavenger hunt around UCLA, and participate in a professional development workshop focused on strengthening their communication, conflict management, and networking skills. Students offered great insights during discussions and contributed their talents and knowledge to various activities throughout the day. Following the orientation students hit the ground running as they delved into their mentor鈥檚 research and worked to develop their final research projects. In a few more weeks, nine students from Cohort 3 will begin their externship experience at the .

As a new component of EXPLORE, students meet every Friday to attend educational excursions and workshops geared towards building their college and career readiness. Workshops not only provide a supportive forum for externs for share their triumphs and challenges from the work week, but they also allow externs 听to learn from experts who share their insights about finding the right college fit, writing personal narratives for college, interviewing and writing resumes, assessing personality and career fit, and developing financial literacy. This addition has proved to be a wonderful way to create a strong sense of community among brilliant, like-minded young people.

With only a few more weeks left, students will soon be culminating from EXPLORE and presenting their final research projects at the EXPLORE Culmination ceremonies on July 27^th and August 11^th. If you鈥檙e curious about the great work these students are doing, please join us in the celebration during 优蜜视频鈥檚 Summer Spotlight event!

EXPLORE would not be possible without the generosity of time, knowledge, and expertise of our dedicated mentors. We appreciate the continued support and dedication of our mentors and would like to extend our gratitude to EXPLORE 2017 Mentors:

If you are a 9^th-11^th grade high school student who would like to gain hands-on experience and study a specific career field of interest, consider applying to EXPLORE next summer! Check out the for updates about deadlines and future mentor sites.

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Walking behind the Barder House on Thursday evening, anyone familiar with 优蜜视频鈥檚 home might have been surprised to see an expansive white tent where a parking lot would normally be, decorated with strings of fluttering red bunting and filled with smiling families gathered around a hearty taco buffet, sharing a laugh in the warm summer evening. Standing at a podium under a collection of faceted stars, 优蜜视频 President Betsy Jones welcomed new friends from near and far, as well as guests from our , , and programs to our annual Summer Spotlight event. Over the course of the evening, attendees were introduced to enthusiastic students representing all of 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs and learned about just a few of the opportunities and challenges that are facing gifted children in our nation鈥檚 educational system.

New Academy student Pablo Delgado and his family traveled across town to be at our event. Reflecting on the early wake-up times, the morning rush to get out the door, and the long drives required to arrive in time for classes, Pablo merely stated, 鈥淚t is all worth it鈥hen I鈥檓 in class I feel happy, excited and ready. When my family picks me up, I have a smile on my face because of the amazing day I had at the Academy.鈥�

Travelling from even further away was David Johnson, a Yunasa West camper from Illinois, and Seth Talyansky, a CDB Scholar from Oregon, both of whom were completing externships in Los Angeles as part of 优蜜视频鈥檚 EXPLORE program. 鈥淚t’s about exploration, it’s about chances and responsibility,鈥� said Seth of his experience. Smiling from behind the podium, he remarked, 鈥淪hakespeare once said that the world’s a stage. Fortunate to be given chances on the stage, I will act and will explore different roles while having fun doing it.鈥�

Also joining us from the EXPLORE program was new 优蜜视频 student, Jessica Huang, who admitted being unsure of what to expect from her experience. 鈥淲hen I first joined the program, I thought I would be filing papers and getting everyone coffee,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淗owever, on my first day, I was greeted warmly at the door by my two Mentors, Emily and Erick. They even offered to get me coffee!鈥� Jessica continued, 鈥淚 learned that coworkers are not always just people I will share an office with. My coworkers could become my friends, my family, and above all, the people I care about.鈥�

Veteran Academy students Liv Bjorgum and Nico Symons-Galassi echoed Jessica鈥檚 sentiments, reflecting on the mentorship and guidance that their teachers provided in addition to their instruction on advanced subjects. Describing the program as 鈥渁 lifeline,鈥� Nico reflected on how his seven years enrolled in 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs prepared him for a new high school and a new life experience. 鈥淭his past spring, you couldn鈥檛 have talked me into going to a sleepaway camp for $100!鈥� he exclaimed. 鈥淚 have always been fearful about going to a sleepaway camp, but an 优蜜视频 sleepaway camp, that鈥檚 different. It鈥檚 a BIG deal for me to be away from my family for a week, but I feel ready to fly to Michigan and be at Yunasa because I know I鈥檒l have the support I need.鈥�

While our annual Summer Spotlight event highlights the accomplishments of just a few of our incredible students, it is also an opportunity to reflect on 优蜜视频鈥檚 mission to advance public knowledge and understanding of gifted minds and their diverse intellectual, social, and emotional needs. As guests listened to our students discuss the life-changing impact that our programs have had for them and their families, all were encouraged to think beyond our small group to the thousands of children who have yet to experience these types of services 鈥� students who continue to languish in classrooms that are not equipped to enable and nurture their unique talents. With the help of the friends made at our Summer Spotlight event and the families who support 优蜜视频鈥檚 mission, these children鈥檚 voices will grow louder until they can no longer be ignored.

优蜜视频 would like to thank our friends at for catering our event and Costco Wholesale for its听generous donations. As always, our hearts are full of gratitude for our community of educators, mentors, staff, parents, alumni and students for their dedication to serving gifted youth and for making our programs possible. Thank you!

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Ellen Gruber obtained her B.A. in English and Spanish with a minor in Medieval, Renaissance, and Reformation Studies from Saint Joseph鈥檚 University. She has also studied the violin since her childhood and received her accreditation to teach the Suzuki method in 2009. Before her arrival at 优蜜视频, Ellen previously worked as a Development Assistant at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and was an apprentice to Dr. Ellen Frank at the Ellen Frank Illumination Arts Foundation (EFIAF). An avid learner and bookworm, she is thrilled to have found a home among the team at 优蜜视频 that shares her passion for knowledge, discovery and creativity.

We dedicated and named our new home, The Barder House, in honor of Sarah D. Barder, whose generosity and vision have greatly impacted the Institute for Educational Advancement and our nation鈥檚 brightest youth. Ms. Barder鈥檚 family and more than 150 members of the 优蜜视频 community were in attendance.

More than 100 campers attended this year, where they learned to balance the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of their lives.

We had the tremendous opportunity to host three sessions at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, where students and teachers were granted access to the institution鈥檚 wide range of resources.

As part of the continuously growing Academy program, we offered two Genius Days in 2014. During these days of deep learning, students worked with an expert in the field to uncover the contributions of an individual we consider a genius. This year鈥檚 Genius Days studied Galileo and 鈥渇ather of geology鈥� William Smith.

During the summer, 29 high school students from across the country worked with renowned experts in their field of interest through 优蜜视频鈥檚 Apprenticeship Program.

The 2014 Bradley Seminar brought more than 100 Caroline D. Bradley Scholars, parents, alumni, and supporters to Pasadena, California, for a weekend of community, support, and intellectual stimulation.

Many members of our community gathered for 优蜜视频鈥檚 annual Summer Spotlight, an evening of learning, reflection, and friendship.

Dr. Steve Hindle, W.M. Keck Foundation Director of Research at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, delivered a fascinating comparative talk on the English and American Civil Wars at 优蜜视频鈥檚 Autumn Benefit.

We welcomed 30 new , including these bright young minds!

Thank you for helping us make this another amazing year of connecting bright young minds and nurturing intellectual and personal growth! We couldn鈥檛 do it without you.

Here鈥檚 to a successful, prosperous 2015!

鈥淚 am happy to be in a room of too鈥檚,鈥� said Betsy Jones, 优蜜视频 President, as we concluded 优蜜视频’s Summer Spotlight this year. 鈥淲e are all too鈥檚 鈥� too emotional, too smart, too intense鈥�.鈥�

Tuesday, June 8, was a bright evening of community, learning, and friendship as 优蜜视频 and its community gathered at the University of Southern California for dinner and a time of sharing. Eight 优蜜视频 Apprentices, who studied Industrial Design under Stan Kong at Art Center College of Design, displayed their impressive concept design sketches 鈥� pieces of art that would later become final projects. Posters, books, and sculptures created by Academy students, Caroline D. Bradley Scholars, and Yunasa campers were also scattered about USC鈥檚 Vineyard Room, along with plenty of photos of Academy kids at The Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens; Yunasa West campers frolicking in Colorado; and CDB Scholars who convened for the Bradley Seminar in April.

After dinner, 优蜜视频鈥檚 Program Coordinators introduced speakers from each of 优蜜视频’s programs. Min-Ling Li, the valiant leader of 29 Apprentices, began by announcing both Alex T., who is studying shock waves with Dr. Eliasson at USC, and Robert, an Industrial Design Apprentice.

Alex鈥檚 speech was an expounded acrostic he created from the letters of 优蜜视频: I 鈥撯�淚 am Alex,鈥� he began. This is Alex鈥檚 second year as an 优蜜视频 Apprentice, and he thanked the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship program for introducing him to an opportunity that would change his life. 鈥淥nce you are a part of 优蜜视频, you support it, and it supports you,鈥� he said. E 鈥� 鈥淓ager. That is what the students here are,鈥� Alex continued. Finally, A 鈥� 鈥淎pprentice…we are all Apprentices, because every day we learn something new. One thing I learned while I was here is of all the gifted children being overlooked by teachers. 优蜜视频 works to find them and help them come to terms with their giftedness鈥nstitute for Educational Advancement: intelligent, eager, able,鈥� he concluded.

Robert, who came to the Los Angeles-based Apprenticeship Program all the way from Miami, is a first-year Apprentice who described his experience as a time of extremely hard work and the unbelievable opportunity to 鈥渟tudy at a school he hopes to get into in a field he hopes to make a career out of.鈥�

One of 优蜜视频鈥檚 earliest Caroline D. Bradley Scholars, Ryan, spoke next: 鈥淚t鈥檚 much more than a monetary gift 鈥� it鈥檚 a community,鈥� he said of CDB. According to Ryan, CDB helped him develop the confidence to be whatever it is he wanted to be. When it was time to apply for college, the CDB coordinator helped him apply. Ryan opted for Harvard, where he began by pursuing an education in engineering, ended up in neuroscience, found himself in musical theater, and finished his degree in creative arts. Now Ryan produces movies 鈥� Lego movies, of late.

, stood upon a chair to reach the microphone and talked about how, in the past year at 优蜜视频, he has taken a Shakespeare class from a professional actor, advanced his math skills with a teacher who made it fun, made his first short film, painted himself blue using ice and an infrared camera in his first Physics class, and was introduced to the Spanish language for the first time. 鈥淚f that wasn鈥檛 enough,鈥� he said, 鈥溣琶凼悠� has given me this opportunity in public speaking!鈥�

Finally, 10-year-old Alexander A., who also stood on a chair to speak, described Yunasa as a place where he is able to be himself, a place where he feels loved and accepted by all the people around him. At Yunasa and Yunasa West, Alexander has learned practical ways to help him calm down when he feels tense and emotional. He talked about Senior Fellows Patricia Gatto Walden, Ph.D., and Michael Piechowski, Ph.D., who have given him hugs and engaged him in conversations about deep and interesting things. Alexander鈥檚 favorite Yunasa activity is the low ropes course because, he said, 鈥測ou get to work as a team to get through obstacles.鈥�

When the young brilliant pundits of 优蜜视频 finished their enlightening speeches, Betsy Jones told a story of a girl she met at Yunasa West this year. This young lady explained to Betsy that when she feels sad, she spends time with her 鈥淭oo People.鈥� She has always been told that she is 鈥渢oo intense, too distracted, too talkative, too quiet, too much,鈥� so her stuffed animals became a family of 鈥渢oo鈥檚鈥� who provide a safe place where she can exist without feeling chastised. 优蜜视频 has been around for 16 years, and it is still one of the only organizations in the world where, as Betsy said, these young brilliant individuals 鈥渃an grow and learn and be and do whatever it is they want to do.鈥�

Summer Spotlight was an evening of illumination 鈥� a light shone upon a community of 鈥渢oo鈥檚鈥� and the programs that help them to grow, succeed, learn, and feel safe to be themselves.

Take a look at more photos from Summer Spotlight 2014!

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1. We moved into our new home!

Thanks to a generous gift by a longstanding 优蜜视频 supporter and friend, we are excited to be in our new home!

2. was awarded the inaugural NAGC Global Awareness Network Annemarie Roeper Award.

优蜜视频 is the first organization to receive the Annemarie Roeper Award presented at the 2013 National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) National Convention by the NAGC Global Awareness Network. The award, in its inaugural year, is presented to one individual and one program 鈥渨hose efforts further develop global awareness for and by gifted children and those who are concerned with them. Annemarie Roeper, co-founder of the Global Awareness Network, held profound insights into the multifaceted inner world of gifted children and deeply understood the need to foster global awareness to reflect the unique perspectives of gifted children and to respond to their inherent concerns about the world they live in.鈥� We were honored to receive this award and to be in the amazing company of the first individual recipient, Dr. Linda Silverman.

3. 优蜜视频 community members gathered to discuss 优蜜视频鈥檚 strategic plan.

In September, 30 优蜜视频 staff members, board members, parents, and alumni gathered to discuss the direction of 优蜜视频. It was a fun and productive weekend, and we look forward to the next steps in this process as we plan for 优蜜视频鈥檚 continued growth. We greatly appreciate all of those who took time out of their busy schedules to help us with this crucial part of the strategic planning process. Keep an eye out for more information as we continue this process in the coming year.

4. and alumni celebrated a wide variety of successes.

Laura Ball, a CDB alumna from the class of 2006, received the prestigious Thiel Fellowship. Several CDB Scholars were named to the U.S. Math Olympic Team, and several will be on teams representing the U.S. in history, math, and science at an international level. 2013 Scholar Vinjai gave a . 2011 CDB Scholar Anirudh was selected as the winner of the United States Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP). 2010 CDB Scholar Kiran was selected as a Montage Memory Maker for his creation of web-based nonprofit Waste No Food. Fifteen new young students were also named .

5. 优蜜视频 honored two valued members of the 优蜜视频 community, Dr. Henri Ford and Mr. Stan Kong, at the .

In October, we hosted more than 90 guests at the home of 优蜜视频 supporters Kate Duey and Bob Malchione for the Moonlight & Stars Benefit Dinner. The evening brought together program alumni, Mentors, parents, board members, and supporters for a lovely evening celebrating 15 years of 优蜜视频 and honoring Dr. Henri Ford and Mr. Stan Kong for their service to 优蜜视频鈥檚 Apprenticeship Program and the Los Angeles community. The event raised more than $11,000 to support 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs for gifted youth. Thank you to all who attended and all who supported this event!

6. We launched Genius Day, a new initiative for our continuously developing Academy program.

These days of deep learning give students the opportunity to work with an expert in the field as they uncover the contributions of a person we consider a genius. The first Genius Day focused on Charles Darwin, while students in the .

We also offered听15 new Academy classes over the course of 2013 and gained many wonderful new Academy instructors. New classes included: Academic & Personal Strengths Coaching, Chemistry Lab, Egyptian Mythology, the Female Hero in Myth & Literature, , Primary Advanced Language Arts, Primary Advanced Math, Rube Goldberg History & Creation, and many more!

7. The gifted community found new resources and support in 优蜜视频 social media.

Thousands of visitors viewed the 优蜜视频 blog over the past year, with many resources for parents of gifted kids proving helpful and popular. 鈥溾�� was our most popular blog post, as it struck a chord with many who identify with the beloved children鈥檚 book character. On , 优蜜视频 also reached a milestone of 1,000 fans.

8. 优蜜视频 hosted seven free .听

优蜜视频 hosts monthly talks to explore ways to meet gifted children鈥檚 particular needs and learn more about this amazing group of young people. These meetings are intended primarily for parents of gifted children to provide support and community in the midst of the joys and challenges of raising a gifted child. In 2013, speakers included 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden, parent Sharon Duncan, gifted expert Dr. Joanna Haase, 优蜜视频 President Elizabeth Jones, past program participants, and college counsellor Kate Duey.

9. Students, parents, and supporters gathered for .

In July, 115 students, parents, and supporters of gifted education gathered at USC for 优蜜视频鈥檚 Summer Spotlight 2013, an event designed to showcase gifted students and the programs we offer to meet their needs.

10. saw a second successful year in Colorado.

Twenty-four campers from across the country joined us for . This was the second year of Yunasa West, a second location for our pioneering Yunasa summer camps, and it proved to be yet another memorable and magical year!

11. Three new staff members joined our team.

• Lauren Albrecht, Development Coordinator
• Louise Hindle, Academy Coordinator
• Min-Ling Li, Program Coordinator working with Apprenticeship

12. Forty-two high school students from across the country came to Los Angeles to work with eminent Mentors through our .

These students worked in fields such as biomathematics, ethnomusicology, architecture, physics, pediatric medical research, industrial design, and more. Apprentices gained hands-on experience in their area of study. Sneha, a Media Relations and Social Media Apprentice at USC, .

13. And, most importantly of all, 优蜜视频 programs supported more than 200 bright young minds!

As you can see, 2013 was a great year for 优蜜视频, and we could not have done any of this without your support.

Philanthropic support for 优蜜视频 was extremely strong in 2013. We continue to receive tremendous support from families who have benefited from 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs as well as from friends of the work we do. Thank you to all who contributed this year and to the numerous volunteers who assisted in our programming, marketing, and fundraising efforts. Thanks to you, we are able to deliver our unique and highly customized programs to even more bright and eager learners across the country.

Thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to an amazing 2014!

Interested in 2014 programs? Applications and information for all 2014 优蜜视频 programs are now available .