BOONE – Appalachian State University will host a Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) Scholar Weekend April 5-6 for academically gifted 7th-12th graders.

The program is sponsored by Appalachian’s Reich College of Education and Duke Talented Identification Program. It is open to students who have been identified in a Duke TIP search or identified as academically gifted by their local schools’ criteria.

The cost is $265 which includes housing, food, course activities and a limited illness/accident insurance policy.  Registration deadline is March 28.

The program allows students to explore topics that may not be included in the typical school criteria.

“The combination of stimulating instruction by Appalachian faculty, a weekend on the campus, and an opportunity to experience campus life provide powerful recruitment opportunities while also enhancing the knowledge and skills of these students,” said Dr. Charles Duke, dean of the Reich College of Education.

Students will be housed under full supervision at the university’s Camp Broadstone located in Valle Crucis. Classes will be taught on campus.

Students will choose from one of the following classes:

•    Creating for the Stage – a behind-the-scenes look at puppetry. Students will analyze plot structure, review the history of puppetry, research famous puppeteers, and create a puppet performance for the parents at the end of the weekend

•    Digital Photography: Two Days of Fun and Pixels – learn how to tell a more powerful story with pictures through composition, lighting and photo editing

•    Nanotechnology: Experiments and Fundamentals – learn how tiny is tiny with an introduction to the exciting possibilities of nanotechnology in the electronic, medical, and textile realms

•    Politics, Public Opinion and Elections – explore what Americans know (and what they don’t) about politics in order to address how this affects public policy. Students will use a system that allows for instant polling and online assessment tools

For more information, contact Appalachian’s Office of Conferences and Institutes at (828) 262-2944 or visit www.conferences-camps.appstate.edu. For information regarding registration, e-mail Beth Higley at higlyba@appstate.edu.

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