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The Davidson Institute for Talent Development is a nonprofit operating
foundation located in Reno, Nev. founded by former educational software
entrepreneurs, Bob and Jan Davidson, in 1999. The mission of the
Davidson Institute is to recognize, nurture and support profoundly
intelligent young people and to provide opportunities for them to
develop their talents to make a positive difference.
WHO WE ARE
AND HOW WE STARTED
In 1982, Bob and Jan founded
Davidson & Associates Inc., which became a successful educational
software company best known for the MathBlaster™ and
ReadingBlaster™ series. Bob and Jan sold Davidson & Associates in
1997 and decided to launch a significant philanthropic effort to
continue their commitment to make a positive difference in education and
to help all children be successful learners.
WHO WE
SERVE
The Davidson Institute serves
profoundly gifted young people 18 and under. Profoundly gifted
students are those who score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ
and achievement tests. These students often share the following
characteristics:
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An extreme need for constant mental stimulation.
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An ability to learn and process complex information
rapidly.
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A need to explore
subjects in surprising depth.
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An insatiable
curiosity; endless questions and inquiries.
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A need for
precision in thinking and expression-often answering questions with
“that depends...”
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An ability to focus
intently on a subject of interest for long periods of time.
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An inability to
concentrate on a task that is not intellectually challenging,
including repetitious ideas or material presented in small pieces.
WHAT WE DO
The Davidson Institute offers
much-needed support to profoundly gifted young people through the
following programs and services:
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Davidson Young Scholars is a free,
individualized, family-oriented program that supports the
educational and developmental needs of profoundly intelligent young
people between the ages of 5 and 18. This program assists parents
and students with academic support and educational advocacy, child
and adolescent development, peer connections and talent development.
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Davidson Fellows scholarships recognize young
people 18 and under for completing a significant piece of work that
has the potential to make a positive contribution to society in one
of the following areas: science, technology, engineering,
mathematics, music, literature, philosophy, or any other
graduate-level work considered outside the box. Davidson Fellow
Laureates are awarded $50,000 scholarships, and Davidson Fellows are
awarded either a $25,000 or $10,000 scholarship. Since 2001, the
Institute has awarded more than $6.2 million in scholarships to 266
students.
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Davidson Gifted Database is the gateway to gifted
resources on the Internet. Use the easy Google search feature to
find topics of interests in hundreds of articles and thousands of
resources. Plus, each state’s gifted policies are listed with an
easy-to-use click-through map and an events calendar of conferences
throughout the nation – all available free to anyone with access to
the Internet.
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The Davidson Academy opened 2006 on the University
of Nevada, Reno campus as the first public school of its kind for
profoundly gifted middle and high school students. Qualified
students can subject accelerate through required middle and high
school curriculum at their own pace with access to university
courses when appropriate. (www.davidsonacademy.unr.edu)
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In 2004, Simon & Schuster published Genius Denied: How
to Stop Wasting our Brightest Young Minds co-authored
by Jan and Bob Davidson, with Laura Vanderkam. This award-winning
book has generated conversations throughout the nation about the
importance of educating our nation’s brightest students and is
hailed as a “manifesto for change.”
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
The Davidson Institute’s services are based on the following shared
beliefs:
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All young people should be lovingly nurtured in a
safe, supportive environment where each person is accepted and
appreciated as a unique individual.
All young people should have access to an
education where they can learn and achieve at a level appropriate to
their abilities. All young people should have an opportunity to
develop their talents in positive ways to create value for themselves
and others.
Profoundly intelligent young
people should not be denied what we desire for all young people. Their
needs should be recognized and accommodated. Their uniqueness should be
understood and nurtured. Rather than be locked into an age-based
curriculum, profoundly gifted young people should have the opportunity
to be challenged to excel and achieve.
For more information about the
Davidson Institute and its programs, scholarship and services visit www.davidsongifted.org.
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