Gifted students from West Virginia to Texas will again get a taste of what “real college life” is like this summer.

For two weeks, gifted students in grades 5 through 12 will be participating in the Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College.

For 35 consecutive years, the Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program has offered an unparalleled academic and social experience for gifted and talented students. Students live in an air-conditioned dorm, getting a taste of college life, and attend accelerated classes each day in astronomy, physics, higher math, computer programming, history, and creative writing. These classes are all taught by college professors who have together many years’ experience working with the gifted. The students are closely supervised by experienced counselors, and have the use of the college’s facilities and beautiful campus.

The program also emphasizes fun and recreation, offering fun activities, games, yoga, movies, field trips, athletic pursuits, and a talent show on the last night of the program. April Pierson-Keating has been the administrative assistant with the program for ten years. She says about the program, “For many students, this is the first taste of being around their peers in a safe space, and even getting the academic challenge they need to develop to their full potential. Most gifted students are not challenged or supported in the traditional school setting. This program fills that void.”

This year, the program runs from June 17 – June 30.

To be eligible for the program, students must be identified as gifted, have an IQ of 130 or above, or have scored in the 97th percentile on either the mathematics or verbal section of any standardized achievement test.

All schools in West Virginia and many in surrounding states have received two copies of this year’s brochure. Please ask your school’s gifted coordinator, principal, or administrator about our program, or find us online.

For further information, contact us by phone at 304-642-9436, or send e-mail to sgp@wvwc.edu. Online registration is easy, and further information can be found at https://www.wvwc.edu/academics/special-programs/summer-gifted-program/, or find us on Facebook as the Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program. Applications will be accepted through June 13.