June 01, 2001

Gifted Studies Scholarship At WKU Endowed By Modys

Bowling Green, Ky. - Drs. Bharat and Bharati Mody of Glasgow have endowed a full tuition needs-based scholarship for minorities to attend the VAMPY (Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth) at the Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University.

Their donation will ensure that a high ability young person who cannot afford the camp will still be able to benefit from the VAMPY experience.

"We have felt that minority students do not get the same exposure and opportunity as others," said Dr. Bharat Mody. "They have a desire and a will but often do not have the means to fulfill that desire."

The family has a long relationship with the Center. Both Mody daughters attended Center-sponsored camps; Bhavana came to SCATS (Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students) in 1991, and Bhavini participated in SCATS in 1993 and 1994. Also, Dr. Bharat Mody is serving a two-year term on the Center's Board of Advisors. Their donation perpetuates this involvement for as long as the Center for Gifted Studies continues to nurture talented students.

Once the Modys decided to donate a scholarship, the children were instrumental in designating it for minorities.

"I am really glad about the scholarship," said Bhavini Mody. "I enjoyed my time at Western's camps, and I know it's a really good program to help younger students explore different areas. Knowing someone will be able to participate in something and not have to worry about financial burdens is a comforting thought."

"From our daughters' experience, they felt strongly for the need of a minority scholarship," said Dr. Bharati Mody. "They had a good experience and good exposure at the Center. They felt it was a wonderful, inspiring learning experience. They wanted minority students to have the same experience. That way the program will be more diversified and participation by minority students would allow them to feel a sense of pride as well."

The Center will soon be celebrating its 20th year, Dr. Bharat Mody said.

"We are all thankful to the people whose dedication and hard work at the Center make it possible for gifted and talented students to achieve very high goals in education," he said. "We are grateful to educators like Dr. Julia Roberts whose vision brought this Center to the forefront of education for gifted students all over the country and overseas. We hope that the Center continues to have the support from students, parents, educators and politicians that it deserves."

Dr. Roberts, the Center's director, said: "The endowment provided by the Drs. Mody will change lives for years to come by providing scholarships to VAMPY. I want to thank them for providing opportunities for young people and helping build a bright future for the Center."

Note to editors: The Modys have requested that the amount of the gift not be released. For more information, contact Dr. Julia Roberts at (270) 745-6323. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.