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Student to
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 Hello Prospective Students,
I can say, without hesitation, that moving to Reno to attend
The Davidson Academy was the biggest turning point in my life so far. Coming from suburban New York City, I knew that not only would I be faced with making new friends and learning my way around a new city, I would also be exchanging my fast-paced metropolitan existence for a completely different lifestyle. At first, I was nervous, as anyone moving 2,000-plus miles would be.
But as school started, and I began meeting new people and taking new classes, I quickly acclimated to the western way of life.
Now, having completed my fourth and final year at the Academy, I have taken time to look back and see what about the past four years was so special. The answer is that there is no single answer. It was a combination of the atmosphere of the school, the people I met, and the resources made available to me that made these years both fun and fulfilling. The fact that I had a say in what I was learning made a huge difference to me. Back in my old school, I was lucky if I even knew what I would
be learning ahead of time, let alone have the option to change it to meet my needs and suit my interests. At the Academy, I have taken traditional high school classes, as well as community college and university classes. I have taken advantage of distance learning opportunities and arranged for independent study. The Academy's willingness to take my concerns into consideration not only made my time there more enjoyable, it really helped me recognize what I wanted from my education, and what I felt was important in order to succeed.
At the Academy, the classes are much more than just hour-long sessions of subject learning. They are meaningful conversations between the students and the teacher. The fact that each and every student in class has a desire to learn greatly improves the quality of the experience, and fosters an environment where nobody is bored. In addition, the teachers I have met at the Academy have been some of the best I have seen anywhere, at any level. They not only teach the class, they actually get involved in it and excited about what’s going on. That excitement is infectious and makes all of the classes exponentially more interesting.
On top of my wonderful experiences at the Academy itself, the school’s relationship with the University of Nevada, Reno has been a life-changing additional resource for me. At
the University, I was able to take my interest in science and turn it into a passion. I worked closely with a mentor from the medical school, who helped me get lab space in the animal research facility and assisted me in developing independent research projects. Without such opportunities at
the University, I probably would have had to be content with growing crystals in my basement and other homegrown science experiments. Instead, I now have two years of international award-winning biomedical research on my resume, I have made numerous professional contacts, completed my first manuscript for publication, and have gained the kind of knowledge and expertise that only working as an actual research scientist can provide. As I look forward to my freshman year at college this fall, I feel overwhelmingly prepared to continue with my studies and feel certain of my eventual success in the field of biomedical research, mostly because I have had the kind
of hands-on experience and the access to equipment and experts in the field not usually afforded to typical high school students.
It seems that all of the elements of a great school come together at
the Academy. The school itself boasts a supportive atmosphere, a superb teaching staff, students who love to learn, and a wide array of learning options. The University takes these opportunities and quadruples them, presenting a whole new set of classes to explore and mentors that help students turn their academic goals into reality. With the Academy offering so many educational possibilities, there
is no better place to learn than right here in the biggest little city in the world!
~ Casey Acklin, 2011 Davidson Academy Graduate
Casey was recently named a
2011 Enrichment Rising Star Award Winner
for his accomplishments in science.
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Program
Updates |
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EXPLORE Test to be offered at The Davidson Academy in October
 In conjunction with the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS), The Davidson Academy will serve as a test site for the two-hour
EXPLORE® test on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011. The EXPLORE® test, developed by ACT for 8th graders, is an effective above-level test for younger students (grades 4-6), and provides the opportunity to demonstrate their advanced abilities. An
EXPLORE® test score can be used in the context of eligibility criteria for the
Davidson Young Scholars program as well as
The Davidson Academy. Parents or
teachers of students who are very talented in mathematics can use the EXPLORE scores as part of
IDEAL Solutions for Math Acceleration, which is a web-based system for making decisions about math acceleration.
The goal of BESTS is to discover students who need further educational challenge to fully realize their academic talent. To register, visit
here and click on “Register” under the EXPLORE menu on the left side of the screen. The cost is $58 per student and the deadline to register for this specific test location is Monday, Oct. 3.
 Upcoming Tours for Prospective Students - New Dates
Announced!
The Davidson Academy will be hosting a
public tour the day before the Explore Test, on Friday, Oct. 21.
RSVPs are required.
Attending a tour provides an opportunity to hear from
current students and Academy parents, familiarize
yourself with faculty and staff, network with others and
ask specific questions. If you would like more information, please
contact us at
outreach@davidsonacademy.unr.edu. Here are the Fall
tour dates:
- Friday, Sept. 23, 2011
- Friday, Oct. 21, 2011
- Friday, Nov. 18, 2011
- Friday, Dec. 16, 2011
Planning
Ahead for the 2012-2013 School Year
 While the deadline to submit applications for the 2011-2012 school year has passed, it’s not too early to think about 2012-2013. If you are looking for an environment to better fit your social and academic needs,
The Davidson Academy may be the place for you!
If you are interested in applying to
The Davidson Academy of Nevada for the 2012-2013 school year,
the application will be posted this summer. 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.
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Signing Event for Academy Student to Attend University
of Nevada, Reno |
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One of five Davidson Academy graduates for the 2010-2011 school
year, Erik Jensen has decided to attend college at the
University of Nevada, Reno, taking part in the accelerated B.S./M.D. program. There was recently a
signing event to celebrate Erik's attendance at the University
next year. A 2010-2011 National Merit Scholarship Finalist, Erik
has
been a student at the Academy since it opened in 2006. He
is pictured with University President
Marc Johnson.
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THINK Summer Institute |
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 Some
Academy students are currently attending the eighth annual
THINK Summer Institute, July 9 through July 30. Home to The Davidson Academy
of Nevada, the Jot Travis Building is
also the location of most THINK classes. THINK
allows students to 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 THINK, which runs annually in July, 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 Academy is located, along with
some of the faculty who teach Academy students, and attend
cultural events in the Reno-Lake Tahoe area. Check the
website for current tuition costs, which include course
credits, room and board, and the expense of planned programs
and activities. It’s not too early to start thinking about
next year! Applications for 2012 will be available this
fall.
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Student Life |
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 Academy
DECA Students Excel
Davidson Academy students Christopher Huh and Stephan Kim (pictured, L-R)
were recently recognized by Nevada DECA for their
accomplishments at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida. Stephan placed in the top ten of the entire competition among 15,000 participants. Christopher placed in the top 20 and earned a medal for achieving an exceptionally high score on the Principles of Business Management and Administration written exam.
Following these achievements, Stephan recently participated in
Nevada Boys' State and had a fantastic experience,
serving as a mayor and finishing with the highest score on
"city crisis." He was also selected to be one of two
delegates representing Nevada and will attend the annual
Boys Nation
in Washington, D.C. July 22-29, with all expenses paid!
 Academy Student Featured on
PBS NewsHour Extra
Following his recent
success at the 2011 Intel International Science and
Engineering Fair (ISEF), Academy student Taylor Wilson (pictured third from left; photo courtesy of ScienceNews.org), was
recently interviewed about his project on
PBS NewsHour Extra.
At ISEF, Taylor was named the top individual winner and received more than $50,000 for his project, "Countering Nuclear Terrorism: Novel Active and Passive Techniques for Detecting Nuclear Threats."
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“Having the best and brightest students in our classrooms elevates the learning experience for everyone .
. . Our professors begin to teach differently; they have higher expectations and students respond accordingly. We want to show our gratitude and appreciation toward this student, as well as others from
The Davidson Academy, who are choosing Nevada.”
Marc Johnson, President of University of Nevada, Reno,
at Academy student Erik Jensen's Signing Ceremony
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