The Belin-Blank Center, an international leader in educational programs for high ability learners is pleased to present a new program for the enrichment of gifted and talented students from Mexico.
What is the Mexican Scholars Program (MSP)?
How do students apply? How are they selected?
When is MSP scheduled to take place?
Do students need to speak English to participate?
How will students get to and from the program?
Who do I contact if I have questions about MSP?
Can you tell me more about the Belin-Blank Center and The University of Iowa?
What is the daily schedule for MSP?
What is the Mexican Scholars Program (MSP)?
Begun in 2007 with students from Yucatán and Sinaloa, MSP is designed to stimulate, enrich and foster academic competences, personal independence, social skills and universal values for success in a global community.
Who can participate?
Gifted students ages 13 to 14 from across Mexico are encouraged to apply for the program. No more than 30 students will be accepted into MSP.
How do students apply? How are they selected?
Students must complete a number of steps in order to apply to MSP:
- Submit two letters of nomination from teachers recognizing your ability or potential as a talented and gifted student,
- Complete online/downloadable tests, distance interview, and other selection procedures
- Possess a travel visa if required
- Review of materials and selection will be conducted jointly by Dr. Pedro Sánchez Escobedo, UADY and the Admission Committee at the Belin-Blank Center
When is MSP scheduled to take place?
MSP will begin on Sunday, June 29th and conclude on Friday, July 4th, 2008.
Do students need to speak English to participate?
MSP is a bilingual program (Spanish and English), so students are expected to have fluency in both languages. Some of the activities are carried out jointly with gifted American students of similar ages attending other Belin-Blank Center summer programs.
How much does MSP cost?
Each student who is accepted to MSP will pay a fee of $1,200 US dollars directly to the Belin-Blank Center. This fee includes:
- Course tuition
- All class materials
- Residence hall room and meals
- Admission to social and recreational events
- Transportation to and from the airport
- Health insurance
- Certificate of attendance and program T shirt
How will students get to and from the program?
Selected students are responsible for their transportation to and from the program. Travel to Iowa will be on Saturday, June 28th. Return to Mexico will be on Saturday, July 5th. Further information about travel arrangements will be available once students are accepted into MSP.
Who do I contact if I have questions about MSP?
Dr. Pedro Sánchez Escobedo
Profesor Investigador Titular
Universidad Autonoma de Yucatán (UADY), Facultad de Educación
psanchez@tunku.uady.mx
Can you tell me more about the Belin-Blank Center and The University of Iowa?
The Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development empowers and serves the gifted community through exemplary leadership in programs, research, and advocacy.
Read more about the Belin-Blank Center at: www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/
Founded in 1847, The University of Iowa is a major national research university located on a 1900-acre campus and is home to approximately 29,000 students each year. The University of Iowa has world renowned researchers and scientists. It also operates one of the nation’s most advanced and comprehensive university-owned teaching hospitals.
Read more about The University of Iowa at: www.uiowa.edu
What is the daily schedule for MSP?
| Friday, June 27th-Arrival at Cedar Rapids Airport | |
|---|---|
| Saturday, June 28th | |
| 8:00 | Breakfast in Burge Cafeteria |
| 9:00 | Meet in Daum Lobby |
| 9:15 | Getting Acquainted Activities on Pentacrest Lawn |
| 10:00 | Orientation to Daum, Burge and Blank Honors Center |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Farmer’s Market in Downtown Iowa City |
| 11:45-12:30 | Lunch in Burge Cafeteria |
| 1:00-2:45 | Games and Swimming at Community Center |
| 3:00-5:00 | Making "Felted Soap" at Home Ec Workshop |
| 5:15-6:15 | Dinner in Burge Cafeteria |
| 7:00 | Meet in Daum lobby |
| 7:30-9:30 | Movie "Jaws" on Pentacrest Lawn |
| 10:00 | Floor curfew |
| 10:30 | Room curfew |
| 11:00 | Lights out |
| Sunday, June 29th | |
| 9:30 | Breakfast in BHC lobby |
| 10:30 | Go to Coral Ridge Shopping Mall |
| 11:00-12:00 | Shopping in groups with staff members |
| 12:00-1:00 | Ice Skating at indoor skating rink |
| 1:15-2:00 | Lunch at Old Country Buffet |
| 2:15 | Return to Daum Residence Hall |
| 3:00 | Opening Ceremony |
| 4:00 | Tour of Campus |
| 5:30-6:30 | Dinner in Burge Cafeteria |
| 7:00 | Meet in Daum lobby |
| 7:15-9:00 | Walk to Downtown Iowa City for ice cream at Whitey’s |
| 9:00-10:00 | Floor meeting |
| 10:00 | Floor curfew |
| 10:30 | Room curfew |
| 11:00 | Lights out |
| Monday, June 30th | |
| 8:00 | Breakfast in Burge Cafeteria |
| 8:45 | Meet in BHC lobby |
| 9:00 | Natural History Museum Tour with Meghann Mahoney |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch in Burge Cafeteria |
| 1:00-4:00 | Office of State Archaeologist visit with Cherie Haury-Artz |
| 4:00-5:30 | Meet with BSI Student Ambassadors |
| 5:30-6:30 | Dinner in Burge Cafeteria |
| 6:45 | Meet in BHC lobby for evening activities with BSI students |
| 7:00-9:00 | Swing Dancing |
| 9:00-10:00 | Supervised Floor Time |
| 10:00 | Floor curfew |
| 10:30 | Room curfew |
| 11:00 | Lights out |
| Tuesday, July 1st | |
| 8:00 | Breakfast in Burge Cafeteria |
| 8:45 | Meet in BHC lobby |
| 9:00-12:00 | Herbert Hoover Museum Tour with Mary Evans |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch in Burge Cafeteria |
| 1:00-4:00 | College of Pharmacy with Dr. Horacio Olivo |
| 4:00-5:30 | Meet with BSI Student Ambassadors |
| 5:30-6:30 | Dinner |
| 6:45 | Meet in BHC Lobby for activities with BSI students |
| 7:00-9:00 | Acting Class |
| 9:00-10:00 | Supervised Floor Time |
| 10:00 | Floor curfew |
| 10:30 | Room curfew |
| 11:00 | Lights out |
| Wednesday, July 2nd | |
| 8:00 | Breakfast in Burge Cafeteria |
| 8:45 | Meet in BHC lobby |
| 9:00-12:00 | Old Capitol Tour with Shalla Wilson and Kathrine Moermond |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00-4:00 | International Writing Program: Dr. Ampuero and Dr. Merrill |
| 4:00-5:30 | Meet with BSI Student Ambassadors |
| 5:30-6:30 | Dinner |
| 6:45 | Meet in BHC Lobby for evening activities with BSI students |
| 7:00 – 9:00 | Pottery painting at Fired Up |
| 9:00-10:00 | Supervised Floor Time |
| 10:00 | Floor curfew |
| 10:30 | Room curfew |
| 11:00 | Lights out |
| Thursday, July 3rd | |
| 8:00 | Breakfast in Burge Cafeteria |
| 8:45 | Meet in BHC lobby |
| 9:00-12:00 | Occupational and Environmental Health with Nancy Newkirk |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00-4:00 | University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with Dr. Shelly Maharry |
| 4:00-5:00 | Meet with BSI Student Ambassadors |
| 5:00-6:00 | Dinner |
| 6:00 | Closing Ceremony |
| 7:00-10:00 | Dance and Movie with BSI Students |
| 10:00 | Floor curfew |
| 10:30 | Room curfew |
| 11:00 | Lights out |
| Friday, July 4th | |
| 8:00 | Breakfast in Burge Cafeteria |
| 8:45 | Meet in BHC lobby for BSI classes |
| 9:00 | BSI classes: Science, Math, Social Sciences, Global & Cultural Studies |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00-4:00 | BSI classes: Creative Writing, Invention, Visual Arts, Performing Arts |
| 4:00-5:00 | Meet with BSI Student Ambassadors |
| 5:00-6:00 | Dinner |
| 5:45 | Meet in BHC Lobby to walk to Happy Hollow Park |
| 6:00-8:30 | Wacky Olympics in Happy Hollow Park with BSI students |
| 8:30-10:00 | Fireworks for the 4th of July-Independence Day |
| 10:00 | Floor curfew |
| 10:30 | Room curfew |
| 11:00 | Lights out |
| Saturday, July 5th—Leave from Cedar Rapids Airport | |
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