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Dear Prospective Davidson Academy Students,
I’ve been at The Davidson Academy since it opened three years ago, and I am very happy here. This is a school unlike any I’ve ever attended, and the same
would probably be true for you as well. The most important difference between the Academy and a generic public school is the student body: Everyone is exceptionally smart. Lunchroom conversations move quickly and cover subjects ranging from dating to Nietzsche to air hockey, and nothing stays secret for long. I’ve made some great friends here, and even if you’re moving to Reno from another state, it won’t take you long to do the same.
Another cool thing about the Academy is that we’re literally in the middle of a university campus. If you’re in high school,
the University of Nevada, Reno can offer you many opportunities that simply wouldn’t be available elsewhere. For example, this semester I’m taking a class on the history of the English language (along with the normal stuff like math and Spanish) and I get to play in the University clarinet quartet, which is a lot of fun. Even if you’re not quite ready for college-level classes, you still have access to the University library (it’s really huge) and all the events that happen on campus (i.e., I saw Obama a few months ago).
Anyway, I hope to see you next August!
~
Benjamin Lokshin, Third Year Davidson Academy Student
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Program Updates
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Winter Tour for Prospective Students -
February 19
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Prospective students and their families have visited us for informational monthly tours of The Davidson Academy throughout the entire school year. Seeing the Academy for yourself allows you to get a feel for the learning environment in an entirely new way! Ask specific questions, hear from current students and parents, familiarize yourself with our faculty and staff, and network with others  considering the Academy.
If you can't visit in February, mark your calendar for one of these
other upcoming tours:
- Thursday, March 26, 2009
- Thursday, April 16, 2009
- Friday, Aug. 14, 2009
RSVP is required for all tours. If you would like more information, please email
explore@davidsonacademy.unr.edu.
2009-2010 Academy Application
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Final Deadline
Extended to April 1, 2009
 To allow students extra time to take the SAT and ACT tests before they apply to the Academy, the final date to submit applications for the 2009-2010 school year has been extended. It is recommended that applicants take the SAT by March 14, the ACT by February 7, or the Explore test by February 21 in order to meet the application deadline
of April 1. Those interested are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible as space is limited. If you are looking for an environment to better fit your social and academic needs, the Academy may be the perfect fit for you. We encourage you to apply today!
Applications can be found on the Academy
How to Apply page
and consist of three downloadable documents. The Academy is specifically
designed to meet the needs of profoundly gifted middle and high school students
at the sixth grade level and beyond who score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ or
college entrance tests, such as the ones mentioned above. Please review the
Test Score Criteria page as these scores are mandatory for student eligibility.
Visit the
Application Review Process
page to learn more about the admissions process.
Summer Fun and Inquiry
 It's
not too early to start thinking about your summer plans! Enjoy three weeks of challenging, college-level work while making new friends and living on the University of Nevada, Reno campus! If you will be 13 to 16 years old during the THINK Summer Institute which runs,
July 11 through August 1, you can apply with test results that meet or exceed designated
SAT or
ACT scores listed at
www.DavidsonGifted.org/Think.
THINKers have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the University campus where The Davidson Academy of Nevada is located, along with some of the professors who teach Academy students, and
attend cultural events in the Reno-Lake Tahoe area. Tuition is $2,700 and includes course credits, room and board, and the cost of planned programs and activities. Financial assistance is available based on need. Applications will be accepted on a space-available basis until
April 22, 2009.
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Student Activities |
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It's an exciting time of the year! Davidson Academy students have been busy displaying their diverse talents and interests
at events such as the Geography Bee, Spelling Bee, MATHCOUNTS, a Winter Bash
Dance
and Game Night, and a school play put on by the Drama Club. Students routinely prove that a well-rounded environment is
paramount to the Academy experience.
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Academic Philosophy |
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What makes The Davidson Academy’s approach to curriculum unique from other schools is its utmost concentration on an individualized education for every student. By focusing first and foremost on the student’s interests and adjusting curriculum and subject matter to fit those needs, the Academy takes a much different methodology than the
age-grade lock-step approach of most educational systems. Faculty and staff work with students and their parents to develop a
Personalized Learning Plan for each profoundly gifted middle and high school student.
It is hoped that other schools around the nation will
follow this new model of education because it serves the needs of the student, rather than forcing the student to fit into a stringent, archetypal classroom setting.
Please see our
Academic Overview for more information.
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Cool Spots on Campus - Joe Crowley Student
Union |
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The
Joe Crowley Student Union (JCSU) is one of the newest buildings on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. The JCSU
replaces the former Jot Travis Building as home to the student union. The
Jot Travis Building is now home to The
Davidson Academy. Named in honor of former University President Joe Crowley,
the 167,000-square-foot, environmentally friendly JCSU facility features a
two-story bookstore, a variety of food and drink retailers, a 1,200-seat
grand ballroom, a 220-seat, two-level movie theater and a 2,000-square-foot student organization center, and is home to a number of student clubs and organizations.
 
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Meet Mr. Hallauer and Mr. Hogan, Jazz Band Instructors |
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 Academy students take jazz band classes on Friday afternoons.
Why is music important?
Music is an international language which transcends race, economic status and politics. It is a means to get out creative energy and makes use of untapped parts of the brain.
Why do you think the arts are less important here in America than in Europe?
We never take the time to sit down and relax for a moment. Also, the school systems don’t teach the importance of the arts, making
The Davidson Academy such a great educational setting because of the diversity of classes offered.
What effect does music have on students here at
The Davidson Academy?
These students have such a great need for mental stimulation and a need to get their creative energy out that music is their release at the end of the week. Additionally, we have quite a few very talented musicians and this lets them practice and perform during their regular school day.
Mr. Hallauer
In what ways can music be used?
Music can be used for dancing and relaxing, concerts, therapy, patriotism, religion, advertising, the list goes on and on. There are so many valid uses for music. Music is also a visual art, the visual aspect of seeing music being performed is just as important as the acoustic experience. Music is also an academic avenue students can study with theory, orchestration, and composition being great ways to learn how and why music works.
What
instruments do students play and what music opportunities
are available for them in the Reno area?
Academy students play the violin, piano, trombone, cello, flute, clarinet,
guitar, bass, saxophone and Japanese taiko drums, and perform music with many music groups outside of school, such as: the Reno Philharmonic, the Reno Chamber Orchestra, the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Lake Tahoe Music Camp Symphonic Band and Jazz Band, and Reno Taiko Tsurunokai.
Other students are involved in opera, jazz, alto and soprano
voice performances with the Nevada Opera Youth Chorus, the University of Nevada, Reno’s
Mr. Hogan Chamber Opera, Concert Choir and Women’s Choir.
Roger Hogan taught at Chico State University for five years and was the arranger for the official U.S. Air Force Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Hogan has performed with the likes of Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones and Sarah Vaughn, to name a few. He plays with the Reno Jazz Orchestra and teaches private lessons.
Bryan Hallauer is a Family Consultant at the Davidson Institute for
Talent Development, in addition to his duties as an Academy
Jazz Band instructor. With a background in woodwind instruments, he has studied under top jazz and classical performers on the
West Coast. He played at the Christmas parade in London,
performed at the Outback Bowl halftime show in Miami, and
was a featured soloist with the Boston Philharmonic.
Additionally, he was chosen as the top jazz soloist at the 1999 NEIBA Jazz festival in Des Moines, Iowa.
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In the News |
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Nevada Nonprofit News recently
reported that third-year Academy student Benjamin Lokshin
placed first in the The Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestras’ Concerto Competition. Benjamin
"wowed the judges" with his performance of the 3rd movement
of the Clarinet Concerto #2 in E flat by Carl Maria von
Weber.
Read the story here.
Three Davidson Academy students
are featured in 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF)
television public service announcements (PSAs). Hosted by Gathering Genius, Inc., whose mission is to increase student excellence, competitiveness, and participation in science, technology, engineering and math fields (STEM) in Nevada, ISEF will take place in Reno, Nev., May 10-16, 2009. Join the event as a
judge,
interpreter or general volunteer, or
donate. To view the PSAs, scroll down to the
middle of the ISEF homepage and click on the links titled:
What’s on the minds of young scientists and Marie Sheehan, Paul Dugan and Steve Wells with young scientists.
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"At The
Davidson Academy, I’ve been able to take incredible courses from fabulous
professors, one of whom became my mentor in creative writing...
The Academy, above all, is a community for kids like us."
~ Third-year
Academy student
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