The Center for Gifted Studies

The Center for Gifted Studies will take 25 qualifying students and other interested adults on a trip to learn the history, culture, and people of Venice and Vienna October 4 -12, 2019. This program is designed to provide participants with a carefully structured experience led by experienced program directors.

Student applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Enrollment in the 8^th through 12^th grade;
2. Involvement in high school honors or gifted services; and
3. Two signatures from teachers, counselors, principals, and/or G/T coordinators recommending participation.

Led by Julia and Dick Roberts, who have organized trips for The Center since 1987, the group spends time immersed in the landscape, traditions, art, and language of their destination. Participants in the Venice to Vienna trip will visit such landmarks as the Bridge of Sighs, the Basilica of St. Mark, travel the Danube River, view the extensive Austrian art collection at Upper Belvedere, and explore the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens while also seeing many other notable attractions along the way.

The driving force behind these Travel/Study Tours is to take participants to a selected international city or country of cultural and historical significance. All trips are designed to challenge, excite, and enrich the lives and minds of participants while fostering awareness and appreciation of other cultures. Past tours have travelled to Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Scotland, and Spain. 

Travel offers an important opportunity for gifted and talented young people because it enables them to engage with new viewpoints, gain confidence in exploring the unfamiliar, and discover interests they may want to pursue later in life, whether academically or personally. As Dick Roberts says, “The chance to visit other countries will forever change how you view your own country and its relationship to the world as a whole.”

Susan Summers, a past travel participant and parent to students who have traveled with The Center, said, “Our children have returned home with a new-found confidence and enthusiasm for exploring, and they loved the very hands-on approach to learning about historical places and events. Each adventure was so very well planned and executed yet flexible enough to be able to take in spontaneous events when the opportunity arose. It’s such fun to travel with the students as they explore, learn, make new friends, and experience so many once-in-a-lifetime memories."

For an application and a full travel itinerary, please visit: wku.edu/gifted/travel.

Contact: Jesse Knifley, jesse.knifley@wku.edu or (270) 745-3014.