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History of Belin-Blank Center and its Talent Searches More than 50 years ago, E. F. Lindquist, a professor at The University of Iowa, and his colleagues designed a battery of tests named The Iowa Every-Pupil Elementary Testing Program.That battery of tests evolved into the current program of Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). The ITBS are a superior measure of academic achievement of the basic skills and are used with students in grades K-8 throughout the U.S. In 1959, Professor Lindquist co-founded The American College Testing Program (now ACT, Inc.). While ACT, Inc., is independent from The University of Iowa, philosophically the ACT testing program is rooted in the measurement program first established by Lindquist. In 1992 the Belin-Blank Center established a Talent Search Program that discovers academically talented students. The Talent Search Program is a 2-step process that incorporates the unique testing tradition of the ITBS at The University of Iowa and ACT, Inc., Step 1 is identification at the students grade level using a grade-level test such as the ITBS. Step 2 involves using an above-level test such as EXPLORE or the ACT Assessment. The Belin-Blank Center is located in the Lindquist Center at The University of Iowa. The Center is committed to the excellent tradition of measurement that Professor Lindquist founded. This is reflected in the extensive interpretation of the results from the Belin-Blank Center Talent Searches. The Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development was established at The University of Iowa by the State of Iowa Board of Regents in June 1988. The Center was made possible by a one million dollar endowment that established the Myron and Jacqueline Blank Chair for Gifted Education. The Belin-Blank Center is one of the few centers that has an endowed chair in gifted education. Dr. Nicholas Colangelo was appointed as the first Myron and Jacqueline Blank Professor of Gifted Education in 1989. The State of Iowa legislature provided matching funds to the Blank Endowment to initiate the Center. In its brief history, the Belin-Blank Center has demonstrated remarkable growth and has established a national reputation for its research, professional development, and service. It is seen as a leader in the field of gifted education. Recently, the Belin-Blank Center has added a focus on education for gifted youth in rural areas. The Belin-Blank Center also coordinates the Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy. The Center is named in honor of Connie Belin, a dedicated leader in education in the State of Iowa, and Jacqueline N. Blank, who, along with her husband Myron Blank, has a remarkable history of public service and philanthropy. Their phenomenal financial support of the Belin-Blank Center has included funding for student programs, technology, and the Endowed Chair for Gifted Education. In 1999, they gave The University of Iowa a tremendous gift that will be used to establish the Myron and Jacqueline N. Blank Honors Center in the heart of the University campus. The Blank Honors Center opened in January of 2004. While there are several other centers in the nation that focus on gifted education and talent development, the Belin-Blank Center is the most comprehensive and has established a reputation as a leader. Our Vision: To inspire and serve the worldwide gifted community of students, educators, and families through exemplary leadership and advocacy programming, and research.