The Center for Gifted Studies

For Immediate Release: September 8, 2023 

Bowling Green, KY – The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU announces 54 schools from 27 school districts in Kentucky and Tennessee participated in Project Launch Plus, a federal Javits grant, this past school year. Eligible sixth-grade students from the following districts and schools were offered an above-level test and research-based informational emails for the families of high-ability learners. Due to the research design, half of the participants came to a weeklong summer residential camp at WKU in July as well as participated in online experiences:

• Boone County: Ballyshannon Middle, Camp Ernst Middle, Conner Middle, Gray Middle, Jones Middle, and Ockerman Middle
• Butler County: Butler County Middle
• Caverna Independent: Caverna Middle
• Cheatham County, TN: Harpeth Middle
• Christian County: Christian County Middle
• Cumberland County: Cumberland County Middle
• Danville Independent: John W. Bate Middle
• Daviess County: Homeschool
• Dawson Springs Independent: Dawson Springs Junior
• East Bernstadt Independent: East Bernstadt School
• Franklin County: Bondurant Middle
• Hardin County: Bluegrass Middle, East Hardin Middle, James T. Alton Middle, North Hardin Middle, and West Middle
• Jefferson County: Meyzeek Middle and Newburg Middle
• Logan County: Adairville, Auburn, Chandler, and Lewisburg Schools
• Marion County: Marion County Middle
• Metcalfe County: Metcalfe County Middle
• Metro Nashville Public: West End Middle
• Muhlenberg County: Muhlenberg North Middle and Muhlenberg South Middle
• Murray Independent: Murray Middle
• Paducah Independent: Paducah Middle
• Robertson County, TN: Homeschool
• Russellville Independent: Russellville Middle
• Shelby County: East Middle, Marnel C. Moorman, and West Middle
• Simpson County: Franklin-Simpson Middle
• Union County: Union County Middle
• Warren County: Alvaton, Briarwood, Bristow, Cumberland Trace, Jennings Creek, Natcher, North Warren, Oakland, Plano, Richardsville, Rockfield, and Warren
• Webster County: Clay Elementary

Project Launch Plus is a federal grant focusing on talent development for young people with high ability who have had few opportunities to develop their talents and who live within three hours of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The grant covers the cost of all above-level assessments, score results and interpretations, the residential camp, and all online experiences. The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU is partnering with Johns Hopkins University to bring this opportunity to students and educators. To learn more, visit wku.edu/gifted/projectlaunchplus.

“The Center for Gifted Studies values the partnership with Johns Hopkins University on Project Launch Plus,” said Dr. Julia Link Roberts, Executive Director of The Center for Gifted Studies. “Involving young people in opportunities to encourage and support advanced learning is important for the young people as well as for the future of communities in which they live.”

For more information about Project Launch Plus or to find out how students from your school may participate, please contact Jennifer Wilson at (270) 745-2742 or jennifer.wilson@wku.edu.