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   Student to Student
 
Dear Prospective Students:

Hey, I’m Beemer, and I’m a senior at The Davidson Academy. I came to the Academy during my freshman year of high school, and just like many of my friends and classmates, I was surprised to find not only by far the best educational experience I’ve ever had, but also a place where I could grow and mature with some of the best people I’ve ever met.

But beyond the academics, beyond the social sphere, the Academy still has much to offer its students. This is especially true in terms of extracurricular activities. I am a musician, and many of my experiences in this school have consisted of expanding and improving that part of my life. The community as a whole has continually provided fantastic learning experiences for me. When I first started here, an older student took me under her wing and taught me more about music in the year that we knew each other then I had learned in the entire time I’d been playing. Not long afterwards, I had a spontaneous one-time jam session with two other students which at length became a real band, complete with recordings and original songs and public performances and everything.

I have been allowed to not only experiment and build upon what I know as a musician, but also the opportunity to charge ahead and do things that are totally new to me. During my second year, I decided to fill the position of jazz band drummer despite the fact that I had never played drums before. Like all teachers at the Academy, the jazz teacher, Mr. Hogan, was willing to teach me as soon as he saw that I was willing to learn. That same year I also joined the choir, despite not knowing how to sing, and this year have begun somewhat regularly playing bluegrass during lunches with my math teacher and former history teacher. Davidson AcademyThe ability to constantly experiment with new styles, and having creative and talented people around with whom to do so, has vastly improved my own abilities as a musician.

Lastly, there are the classes. I already mentioned the jazz band and choir, but I have also had the opportunity to take various theory classes at the school as well as move onto other music classes, such as recording, at the University of Nevada, Reno. All in all, the Academy has given me a great place in which to grow as a musician as well as a person, and I sincerely believe that it can do the same for you.

Good luck to you all!

~ Brendan Beemer, Fourth Year Davidson Academy Student


 
   Program Updates
 
Davidson AcademyThe Right Fit for You?
While the deadline to submit applications for the 2012-2013 school year has passed, it’s not too early to think about 2013-2014. If you are looking for an environment to better fit your social and academic needs, The Davidson Academy of Nevada may be the place for you!

If you are interested in applying to The Davidson Academy for the 2013-2014 school year, the application will be posted in July 2012. Please review the Qualification Criteria and How to Apply pages of our website for more information. The Academy is specifically designed to meet the needs of profoundly gifted middle and high school students who score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ or college entrance tests, such as the SAT or ACT. On the Application Review Process page, you will find detailed information about the on-site assessment.

   Academy Accreditation
  
The Davidson Academy of Nevada has been accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), one of the nation's six acknowledged accreditation agencies and a division of AdvancED. The geographic territory of NWAC consists of the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The Davidson Academy was recognized for promoting and maintaining a well-balanced education program and for meeting or exceeding standards considered essential for quality education.

“Accreditation is an important process that legitimizes the mission and intent of the Davidson Academy, particularly our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Colleen Harsin, director of The Davidson Academy.

The NWAC accreditation is a testament to The Davidson Academy's mission to provide profoundly gifted young people an advanced educational opportunity matched to their abilities, strengths and interests.

 
   Meet Ms. Richardson, Academy Drama Instructor
 
What subjects do you teach at the Academy?
I currently teach Performance Acting and Method Acting.

  
What effect does drama have on students here at the Academy?
For many people, public speaking is a huge fear. What I hope to provide Academy students are the tools needed to make the idea of performing for your peers or others less daunting. There will always be pre-show jitters, but having the self-confidence to address them and move on is an invaluable asset. A big part of our classes involve improvisation. Improv directly deals with thinking off the top of your head and less mental censoring.

Academy students are perhaps the most creative thinkers I have ever directed. I started a theatre company in 2005 which offers a youth and teen company as well as an adult company. I feel very fortunate to have Academy students as members of our acting company.

  
What is your favorite part about working with Academy students?
My favorite aspects are their enthusiasm, creativity, and ability to transform themselves into a character.

What are a few of the more interesting projects that you have assisted Academy students within the classroom?
A few that come to mind include staging A Midsummer Night’s Dream with all of the students doubling roles, and performing Goldilocks On Trial with a combined cast from Performance and Method Acting. One performance acting class wrote and filmed a short Murder Mystery Script.

Photo of students - credit: Christian Science Monitor


 
   Student Activities
 
Students Access University Sporting Events
Since The Davidson Academy is located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, students have the opportunity to access sporting events that are only a stone's throw away. As part of a recent Physical Education field trip, students attended a University baseball game.

"It was a really neat experience . . . being on the UNR campus, we get to go to baseball games for free. I really enjoy playing baseball, and getting to see the UNR baseball game was a great way to strengthen my passion for baseball."

~ Justin Stevens, First Year Davidson Academy Student

"I never thought I would be interested in sports, but after a field trip with my PE class to a local baseball game, I learned that there's something more to the game than just understanding the rules and knowing who the players are. Being outside and watching a sports game with your friends and family is a really nice and relaxing way to spend some time every now and then, and it offered me an experience to get away from my more regular, busy life as a student."

~ Elli Tian, Third Year Davidson Academy Student

Student Accomplishments
Congratulations to the following Davidson Academy students for these recent accomplishments:
  • Rebecca Bauer, Elliot Glazer, Ikya Kandula, Min-Soo Kim and Aishwarya Krishnamoorthy received $2,000 from GREENevada for a project on Educational Recycling Posters to post at apartments in the Reno area. The students presented in front of a panel of judges.


  • Claire Evans has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Claire, a graduating senior, was nominated for her exceptional performance on the SAT or ACT. Students are evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership, service, other extracurricular activities and an analysis of their essays. List of semifinalists (PDF).


  • Anna Fuchs placed first on bars at the Gold Country Classic Gymnastics Meet in Oakland and second on bars at the 2012 Nevada State Gymnastics Championship.


  • Ameen Hoamyoon recently participated in the Northern Nevada Music Teachers Association Festival and received a "Superior" rating for his piano performance.


  • Justin Stevens earned fourth place in the Nevada State MathCounts competition and will travel to Orlando in May to compete in the national competition. The Davidson Academy MathCounts team of Jagger Alexander, Joseph Chou, Justin Stevens and Hadley Weiss finished in second at the state competition.


  • Sarah Tacner won first place in the Lemelson Young Inventors Competition (LYIC) for her invention, "Capturing Fire Place Particles to Protect Your Lungs." The goal of LYIC is to promote scientific thinking, creativity, and innovation, and is an opportunity for students to exhibit their creative and critical thinking abilities.


  • Alex Wade came in 13th in the North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad. He will be training and competing for a spot on the American team in the International Linguistics Olympiad in Slovenia this summer.


  • Scott Wade received the Grade K-5 Gold Medal Reach For The Stars Award from the Reno Air Racing Foundation. For receiving the award, Scott and his entire science class will choose from a combination of digital dome presentations and hands-on workshops offered by the Challenger Learning Center of Northern Nevada during a one-day visit to your school.


  • Taylor Wilson is the first four-time Overall Winner in the 45-year history of the Western Regional Science Fair. Taylor won an all expense paid trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair.


 
   In the News
  
National CBS Evening News
Academy student Taylor Wilson was featured in this CBS Evening News “On the Road” with Steve Hartman segment, Teenage physics wonder turns to nuclear safety. In the video, Taylor describes his educational background, exceptional interest in science and experiences at The Davidson Academy.


Reno Gazette-Journal
Academy student Justin Otor was named a winner of the National Achievement Scholarship and a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Source: Reno Gazette-Journal



 

“I love the great classes the Academy offers, and the amazing learning opportunities that I’ve had . . . If we’re interested in doing further research on any topic, teachers are there to help us do it; everyone is genuinely interested in our success and it’s nice to know that there is no limit put on our learning and growth.”

Aishwarya Krishnamoorthy, Third Year Davidson Academy Student

 


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