Davidson Institute for Talent Development
Timeline

1980s and Early 1990s

• Jan Davidson, with the support of her husband Bob, establishes the educational software company, Davidson & Associates. Bob Davidson later joins the company full time.

• Davidson & Associates publishes MathBlaster and ReadingBlaster, along with many other educational software titles that help students be successful learners by individualizing the pace of their education.

• Davidson & Associates becomes a public company (NASDAQ: DAVD).

Mid to Late 1990s

• Davidson & Associates merges with another company, and Bob and Jan Davidson leave the company.

• The Davidsons begin researching philanthropic areas in education to continue their passion of helping students be successful learners.

• After two years of research, the Davidsons decide to focus their philanthropic efforts on helping the underserved population of profoundly gifted students (IQ - 99.9th percentile).

1999

• The first pilot group of 15 Young Scholars meets at Lake Tahoe (Today, there are more than 3,000 Davidson Young Scholars).

2000

• The Davidsons establish the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a 501(c)3
  operating foundation and officially launch the Davidson Young Scholars program.

• 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.

• Davidson Gifted Database, a free, online database with thousands of articles and resources, becomes available to anyone with access to the Internet.

2001

• The inaugural Davidson Fellows Scholarship program is held in Washington, D.C. with nine award recipients.

• The Davidson Institute begins holding annual Summits for Young Scholars.

2003

• The Educators Guild, a free online community for educators, is introduced.

2004

• Partnering with Simon & Schuster, Bob and Jan Davidson, with co-author Laura Vanderkam, publish Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting our Brightest Young Minds.

• The first annual THINK Summer Institute, a three-week academic summer camp for students (ages 13-16) to earn college credits, is held on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. Attendees state this is the first time they have been challenged academically.

2005

• The Nevada State Legislature passes a law allowing for the creation of a “university school for profoundly gifted pupils.”

2006

• The Davidson Academy of Nevada, the first public school of its kind in the nation for profoundly gifted middle and high school students, opens on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.

2007

• The Davidson Institute introduces the Young Scholar Alumni program to help former Young Scholars to stay connected with each other and the Institute.

2008

• The Young Scholar Ambassador Program is established, designed to foster learning and civic engagement through community service, volunteerism and leadership in highly motivated, mature and socially conscious Young Scholars.

• The Davidson Academy moves into its current location in the Jot Travis Building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

2009

• The first class of eight students graduates from the Davidson Academy (Today, nearly 100 students have graduated from the Davidson Academy).

2012

• The first annual Davidson Summer STARS program is held, a weeklong summer camp for Young Scholars between 8 and 12 years old.

• The Davidson Academy is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (now AdvancED).

2014

• Celebrating 15 years of the Davidson Young Scholars program.

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Davidson Institute for Talent Development
9665 Gateway Drive, Suite B
Reno, Nevada 89521
775-852-3483
Fax: 775-852-2184
www.DavidsonGifted.org