2020s: New Decade, New Work
2020
- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Center takes many steps to ensure that we meet the needs of gifted students, their educators, and their families. We adapt traditional programming, provide offerings that specifically address the pandemic, and look for ways to reach beyond our regular audience in this time of crisis. Specifically:
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- We work on our own and in cooperation with other organizations to create opportunities and gather resources for students, teachers, and parents on our Facebook page, and on websites of The Center and KAGE. Our resources include videos on helping gifted students cope with the stress of COVID-19 with Dr. Ed Amend and psychologist Denise Fleith; learning activities from IdeaFestival Bowling Green; a compilation of resources from around the country; and a free six-week online fiction writing course for middle and high school students in April and May.
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- Although we must cancel the spring break Travel-Study Tour, the Duke TIP Recognition Ceremony, and VAMPY, we hold online versions of SCATS, Camp Innovate, and Camp Explore all virtually. Utilizing Zoom, Google Classrooms, and other online tools, teachers in each virtual camp (for SCATS, all 12 are graduate students in gifted studies doing their practicum) provide quality academic experiences to about half the usual number of students in a shortened schedule. Undaunted by the new environment, campers from 30 school districts in Kentucky and nine other states make the most of the opportunities to learn, discover new passions, and make new friends.
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- The Advanced Placement Summer Institute at WKU takes place virtually and is spread over two weeks. In addition, we add a second institute that was supposed to take place in St. Louis but also meets online. The format allows a broader geographical range of participants. In total, we hold 30 workshops over three weeks with participants from 42 states and 12 countries.
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- The National STEM Scholar Program is postponed from June until August and includes a component on teaching science online.
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- The Center holds Fall Super Saturdays online with two sessions, one in September and one in October.
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- The Update for Gifted Educators, which includes topics related to the pandemic; the Twice-Exceptional Student Seminar; and the Berta Seminar, presented by Dr. Thomas Hébert on the topic Supporting the Emotional Well-Being of Gifted Students in Complex Times, are held online.
- Longtime Friends of The Center Drs. Bharat and Bharati Mody establish the Mody Endowed Fund in Service Learning, which celebrates the Modys’ lifelong commitment to serving their communities by sparking a passion for volunteerism among high-achieving young people. The grant is comprised of the Mody Visiting Lecture Series in Service Learning and Volunteerism, the Mody Community Service Competition in Kentucky, and Mody Microgrants in Service Learning and Volunteerism for participants in SCATS and VAMPY and students at The Gatton Academy.
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