Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Local To Attend Vanderbilt Summer Academy
Courtney Grace Watson of Lawrenceburg, 
Tennessee has been accepted to attend the 2011 Vanderbilt Summer Academy, a program for gifted students in grades 8 through 12 hosted by Vanderbilt University’s Programs for Talented Youth.
Students who attend VSA are among the brightest in the country, scoring in the top tier on academic achievement tests such as the SAT and ACT.
“VSA classes develop students’ critical thinking skills, encourage intellectual exploration, and teach them how to thrive in a college classroom setting,” says PTY Director, Dr. Tamra Stambaugh. “Students are able to push their intellectual limits alongside friends who also appreciate the sheer joy of learning and discovery.”
VSA consists of one-week, two week, and three-week sessions, each featuring challenging courses taught in university classrooms and laboratories by Vanderbilt scholars. The caliber of VSA’s teaching staff and students’ access to university resources make VSA unique among summer academic programs for gifted youth.
Courtney has chosen to study Special Topics in Math.
Vanderbilt University’s PTY seeks to identify and aid academically talented youth from diverse educational, racial, and economic backgrounds by providing academic enrichment and challenge, balance, and healthfulness in their lives.
In addition to VSA, PTY provides engaging and intellectually appropriate educational opportunities to precocious young students and their parents and educators year-round through various research projects, Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University, Saturday Academy at Vanderbilt University, parent support groups, and professional development opportunities for educators.
Parents, students and educators interested in any of PTY’s programs are encouraged to contact the PTY office at (615) 322-8261 or visit its website at pty.vanderbilt.edu.
