Young Scholars Welcome Weekend 2013: Cohort 12

More than 100 Scholars and their parents/guardians came together at Welcome Weekend 2013 to jumpstart their journey in the Foundation’s Young Scholars Program.

Families and Scholars came from all over the country to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. The newest cohort of Young Scholars took trains, buses, taxis, cars, and planes—some Scholars even flew on a plane for the first time. They came from different hometowns with different dreams and interests, but their collective potential and ambition bonded them as a group of Scholars.

Here’s a quick rundown of an action-packed weekend.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

After arriving in Baltimore and settling in to their dorms at Charles Commons for the weekend, the Young Scholars and their parents/guardians made their way to dinner. They hesitantly entered the pavilion and found their tables and their Educational Advisors, but shortly after conversation and laughter took over.

Young Scholars Welcome Weekend

June 27, 2013–Cohort 12, the newest cohort of Young Scholars, begins their Welcome Weekend with dinner at the Glass Pavilion on Johns Hopkins’ Campus.

After dinner, Senior Manager of the Young Scholars Program Rebecca Cullen formally introduced the Young Scholars Program and the Educational Advisors to the group of rising 9th graders and their families.

Friday, June 28, 2013

The second day of Welcome Weekend was devoted to helping the new Scholars and their parents get to know the program and the people behind it.

Young Scholars Welcome Weekend

June 28, 2013—A group of Scholars, parents, and Educational Advisor Gianina Lockley get to know each other.

Scholars and Parents started their day together learning about the Individual Learning Plan (ILP) and four-year planning techniques. They also had one-on-one meetings with their Educational Advisors.

After lunch, parents and Scholars went their separate ways. Scholars discussed the importance of goal setting and had the opportunity to ask questions of a panel of former Young Scholars. The parents talked about how they could best assist their Scholars a and were able to gain first-hand advice and knowledge from former Young Scholar parents.

The group reconvened for the annual group picture. After the picture, everyone walked down the street to dinner at Gertrude’s at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Young Scholar Welcome Weekend

June 28, 2013—The Scholars gather for the traditional group photo.

Later, the group gathered in the Museum’s auditorium for speaker and Foundation Executive Director Dr. Lawrence Kutner. Dr. Kutner spoke about the importance of taking risks in order to be successful, echoing a quote by Virgil, “fortune favors the bold.” Following Dr. Kutner’s speech, Scholars, parents, and staff enjoyed docent-led tours through the Baltimore Museum of Art.

young scholar welcome weekend

June 28, 2013—A docent at the Baltimore Museum of Art describes a story depicted in a mosaic to a group of Scholars, parents, and staff members.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Saturday morning took a break from the informative sessions and let the Scholars and parents get out and have some fun. The parents went to the Baltimore National Aquarium for a dolphin immersion tour while the Scholars ran all over Johns Hopkins’ campus on a scavenger hunt.

young scholar welcome weekend

June 29, 2013—A  group of Scholars and their Educational Advisors strike a pose for the scavenger hunt.

Saturday also featured workshops with Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, who spoke to Scholars and parents. He highlighted the importance of resilience, how to manage stress, how to raise a gifted adolescent, and how to handle perfectionism and failure.

young scholar welcome weekend Dr. Ken Ginsburg

June 29, 2013—Dr. Ken Ginsburg talks with the Scholars about how they define success. 

In the afternoon, Scholars and parents met separately to evaluate and discuss their personal strengths, values, hopes, and dreams with Educational Advisors.

That evening, everyone came together to watch the Scholar talent show.

young scholar welcome weekend

June 29, 2013—Two Young Scholars and a Resident Advisor came together to perform ‘Titanium.’

The show featured singing, dancing, improvisational acting, and poetry performances. Scholars also played the piano, the flute, the violin, the guitar, and the clarinet.

young scholar welcome weekend

June 29, 2013—The talent show ended with the whole group of Scholars singing ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’

Sunday, June 30, 2013

On the final day of Welcome Weekend, the newest class of Scholars and their parents came together for the closing session.

After spending four days together, the Scholars and parents developed a comforting bond with one another. Families realized that they have a supporting staff to help guide them through the program. Parents learned how to best help their gifted children reach their potential. Students saw that they now have the tools and the guidance to think big and achieve their goals.