Happy Birthday, Dr. Karnes!

There are amazing things happening on campus at Southern Miss. We are excitedly awaiting the final stages of construction of our brand new space for the Karnes Center. While we wait, we are celebrating all the good things that are to come and all the good things that make up our past.

Dr. Frances A. Karnes established the Center for Gifted Studies in 1979. We have been striving to serve the needs of gifted and talented students from all backgrounds for the past 43 years.

Our efforts and offerings include:

• 2 Day programs in the summer featuring engaging, advanced curriculum for students with intellectual and academic gifts and talents
• 2 one-week long residential programs for students with academic, intellectual, or leadership gifts and talents
• 1 two-week long residential program for students with academic talents
• 2 month-long Saturday programs during the winter months for students with intellectual or academic gifts
• A parenting workshop series hosted in the winter months
• The Fall Day of Sharing for Teachers
• The Gifted Education Strand at the Making Connections Conference each spring

And there is more on the way! We cannot make an official announcement just yet, but be on the lookout for advanced levels of Professional Development, new ways to partner with us while working at your school, and year-round, online offerings for teachers and students.

None of these things would be possible without the original vision and mentorship of our dear Dr. Karnes. Her ability to find the gift in everyone she meets, and her desire to push each person to their own potential set the tone for the Center that now bears her name. Each and every day we seek opportunities to help students discover their gifts and reach their potential. Thank you, Dr. Karnes, for leading the way. We are grateful for your leadership and wish you the best birthday ever!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Karnes! We can’t wait to show everyone our new space: Coming Soon!

Save These Dates

Tentative Dates for Summer Programming at the Karnes Center for 2022

1/2 Day Programs

Young Gifted Students Program

• Students who have finished PK through students who have finished 3rd Grade
• June 6-10, 2022
• 9:00 AM – Noon each day

Summer In the Middle

• Students who have finished 4th Grade through students who have finished 6th Grade
• June 13-17, 2022
• 9:00 AM – Noon each day

Residential Programs

Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth

• Students who have finished 7th Grade through rising high-school seniors
• June 20- July 2, 2022

Summer Gifted Studies Program

• Students who have finished 4th Grade through Students who have finished 8th Grade
• June 20-25, 2022

Leadership Studies Program

• Students who have finished 6th Grade through rising high-school seniors
• June 27-July 2, 2022

Dates are subject to change and will be confirmed prior to applications being made available. More details coming soon!

Give the Gift of Encouragement

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a day that has come to symbolize generosity and the pay-it-forward attitude of individuals who want to help others succeed.

Our goal here at The Karnes Center is to provide each of the students who attend our programs with the encouragement to discover their purpose and the inspiration to make their dreams come true. We welcome gifted and 2E students from around the country to attend online and in-person programs. Updates to our program lineup for 2021 will be announced in mid -January.

Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. During the past summer more than 50% of our attendees were awarded partial or full scholarships through the generosity of donors just like you. If you would like to encourage a child to pursue their best future, please consider giving a gift to The Karnes Center this season.

Here are some of the things that your donation can provide*:

• $2 pays for an individual hand sanitizer bottle for one student.
• $5 pays for a lost dorm key
• $20 pays for shipping materials for an online course to one local student.
• $25 pays for three student meals.
• $30 pays for one registration fee.
• $40 pays for shipping materials for one online course to one student outside of our state.
• $60 pays for a dorm room for one night.
• $150 pays for the materials one student will use during a one-week class.
• $200 pays for one young student (PreK – 3rd grade) to attend the Day Program for Young Gifted Children.
• $500 pays for a Chromebook and all of the software that students use while they are participating in our programs.
• $675 pays for one middle or high school student to attend one-week of Leadership Studies.
• $ 1000 pays for one middle or high school student to attend a week of accelerated academic courses.
• $1500 pays for bus services for field trips to local businesses and cultural activities for an entire class.
• $3000 covers a three-week intensive program for one high-school student.

*Amounts may vary depending on the topics taught in each course. Amounts provided are a average estimate based on the past several years.

These are only a handful of things that we need to make a child’s experience one they will never forget. Salaries and wages for Curriculum Developers, Teachers, Counselors and other workers are not included in these estimates: they need your love too.

Please visit our giving page by clicking here to process your online gift.

All that we give to children comes back to us when we turn the world over to them. Thank you so much for all that you do to support the young people in your life.

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Karnes Center!

REGISTRATION OPEN!

The day has finally arrived! Please review the information below prior to beginning your application (link at the bottom).

Thank you for your patience as we adjusted to a virtual format! PLEASE View the program descriptions for your child on our Pk-12 Student Programs page PRIOR to completing your application. There is nothing quite as sad as a gifted child in a class they aren’t interested in. We also encourage you to meet your teacher through our Staff Page.

Some changes to note:

Price Reductions: All program prices have been reduced to reflect our virtual status. Because we already keep our programs at a break-even range, this means that the traditionally residential programs have seen a much greater reduction than the Day Program. Our teachers are hand-selected to work with our young students, so they do still have to be paid. Your tuition is a reflection of our attempt to provide fair wages to our employees, carefully selected materials you will need, and economically priced shipping options for those materials.

Registration Forms: Due to the volume of other summer camps and programs that are transitioning to a virtual world AND the deadlines we have set here at the university, we are temporarily moving BACK to our MACHFORMS application system. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but want to encourage you that the application is actually shorter than in previous years. We have eliminated most of the health and medication items from the application for your convenience. All programs are utilizing ONE form this year as well. You will still need to complete a separate application for each child. We will move back to CampDoc as soon as possible for future programs.

PK and Kindergarten: Your class is self-paced. You will receive access to a Google Classroom with video lessons and instructions from your teacher; however, we are NOT expecting this age group to meet through Zoom for their lessons. Parents, your participation is very important to help guide little hands through the experiments and activities in a safe manner. Your supervision is required. There will be at least one (and maybe even two) Zoom event(s) that your child can participate in so that they can meet their classmates and enjoy time together.

All Programs and Courses: As part of your tuition, you will receive a package of materials that have been carefully selected to assist with the hands-on experiments or activities that your teacher has planned for you. You will receive a schedule of events on or about June 10 (or once your registration is complete) that will provide you with the times for your Zoom lessons, your access to your Google Classroom, and other social activities that will take place during the dates for your program. Zoom lessons will be staggered for the various age groups to allow siblings of different ages to participate.

Social Events: Part of what our students love about the Karnes Center is the ability to make new friends that think like they do. We will have a variety of social events schedule through Zoom for our participants in all programs – even the Day Program. Our Dorm Directors are busy planning for your engagement, excitement, and entertainment just like they always do.

The Application

Please click the link below to open YOUR APPLICATION!

2020 Virtual Summer Programs – ALL Sessions

We are so excited to see you online this summer!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The work of the Center would not be possible without the contributions of so many of you. From the families who seize the opportunities available to them, to the teachers who give of their time and their knowledge, the counselors who watch over the children and see to their well-being, the university community that opens its arms to serve, the Hattiesburg community that helps us spread the word, and those who give financially to support our students in need, we thank you.

From the bottom of our hearts, we give thanks for all of you and know that without you we would not have the wonderful opportunities to serve that we thrive on. Be blessed in this season and throughout the upcoming new year, knowing that you are part of something bigger than yourselves – something that grows with each gift, each volunteer, each lesson, and each smile on a child’s face. Thank you for making what we do possible.

“From the fruit of their mouths people’s stomachs are filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.”

Proverbs 18:20