11th Annual Gifted Girls Conference

This conference is full and no longer taking registrations.

(7th-grade girls only)

April 30, 2009

Keynote:  Don't Just Let Life Happen to You!

Dr. Sally Dobyns, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Breakout Sessions

Click here for a PDF of the breakout sessions to be offered at the 2009 Gifted Girls Conference. 

 
Make Decisions - Be Proactive
    Dr. Sally Dobyns
This session will be limited to one student from each school represented at the conference.  It will be an opportunity for the selected girls to discuss and participate in Dr. Dobyns’ ongoing research regarding high-achieving young women.

Writing Your Own Story
    Suzanne Frank—Director: Continuing and Professional Education Creative Writing Program, SMU; Author of seven novels
We're each the hero in our story.  Learn what kind of hero you are and how to make the "story" of your life satisfying to you.  You already have all the pieces...

The Future is Nearer Than You Think
    Alan Ramirez and Kerry Schneidewind—SMU Admissions Counselors
College is a time to grow personally, intellectually, socially, mentally, and physically. With over 3,000 colleges in the country, the options for post-high school life are enormous. You are in the driver's seat when it comes to selecting a college. What do you want to study?  What types of classes do you want to engage in and share your opinion?  What goals do you have for the future?  Come learn about how to be successful when making the step towards college life.

Space Exploration and Mars
    Kurt Chankaya— Aerodynamics Engineer, Member of the Mars Society
Come examine how people can go explore, and live, on Mars in the near future. We'll do an overview of what it takes to reach out to, land on, and explore new worlds in outer space, such as rocketry, planetary orbits, and spacesuit design, with the emphasis on the planet Mars. This session will briefly look at the history of the Apollo program, unmanned robots on Mars, what has been found, and what we can hope to find in the future. This is not just for the scientist, but anyone interested in the next new frontier.

What is Leadership?
    Dr. Carol Clyde, Director of Leadership and Community Involvement, SMU
We talk about leadership all the time, but do you know what it really means?  Participants will spend time learning what the word means and how they can apply it in everyday situations.  Girls lead differently – find out how to make the best of it and outshine those around you!

The Cracked, But Not Shattered Glass Ceiling
    Lindsey Martin, SMU Graduate Student; and Matthew Thompson, Political Consultant
This break-out session will be an interactive discussion covering various topics pertaining to the equality of women in America and world-wide. This conversation is purely intellectual and will not be grounded on political or religious ideologies. We will also discuss how some self-acclaimed "feminists" have actually become the biggest roadblock to reaching true gender equality. Some of the topics we will discuss are: (1) choosing between a family and a career; (2) changing your last name at marriage and children taking the father's name; (3) the history of wedding ceremonies (you'll be shocked); and (4) beauty and the brain - they CAN coexist!

 Robots All Around
    Nathan Huntoon—SMU Graduate Engineering Student
Robots have gone from science fiction to reality. Come and learn about how robots are crucial in nearly every aspect of our lives.  We will talk about how robots are used in modern society, and where the future for robots is going.  Special attention will be paid to the amazing advancements in medicine made possible through robotics.

From Abe Lincoln to Avril Lavigne, and Other Mind Blowing Connections
    Dr. Heather McMinn, SMU Instructor, Psychoeducational Consultant and Assessment Strategist
Explore how the brain makes learning connections through association.  Students will gain an understanding of basic neural and brain anatomy using sensory and perceptual cues.  Learning principles, classical conditioning and operant conditioning, will be introduced experientially to help students appreciate the influence of everyday stimuli in their lives.  Other questions examined include: how do you recognize a penny; can you make sense of “gibberish” (yes, you can – but why and how?); what does the automaticity of language mean for you as a learner and thinker, and where does Avril fit in all of this?  Students will enjoy this interactive and lively look at the brain, thinking (the mind), and learning.

Conference Location

The Gifted Girls Conference will be held in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center on the SMU campus. A confirmation letter will be mailed to each participant as reservations are received. Parking directions and map are available on the SMU website.  Space is limited; please make reservations early. 

Conference Fee

The conference registration fee per person is $45. The registration fee for girls who are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program is only $10. The Conference is limited to 7th-grade girls and their sponsors, but each teacher/sponsor who registers five girls will receive a free registration.  Breakfast is NOT provided, and the light lunch (included in the registration fee) is not served until 12:15.

Registration

Complete a registration form for each girl and adult attending (copy the form as needed). All girls must be accompanied by either a teacher or a parent, and there must be at least one sponsor for every ten girls. Notice that the form requires a Guardian's signature for each girl.

No reservations will be made without a registration form for the participant.  Please mail your group's registrations together in one packet with a check or purchase order payable to GSI/SMU.  Sponsor registrations must accompany group registrations.  Registrations and payment information must be postmarked by April 12th and sent to:

Gifted Students Institute
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750383
Dallas TX  75275-0383

Phone: 214-768-4383
Fax: 214-768-3147
e-Mail: gifted@smu.edu