The end of one year and the beginning of a new one always bring about the opportunity to reflect, as well as make resolutions for the future. At the end of 2016, IEA staff took some time to look back our work, our programs, and some of the most memorable moments of the year:

“One of the highlights of the year for me was how quickly and enthusiastically the 30 new 2016 CDB Scholars exchanged e-mails with each other, introducing themselves to their classmates with gusto—and including ME as part of the thread.  It didn’t seem to matter whether a Scholar was an introvert or extrovert; they all dove in and freely talked about their passions in their own unique voices.  It has been a delight to get to know this class and help them navigate their way through each individual high school application process.”

-Bonnie Raskin, Program Manager, Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship

“During the summer, I had the chance to take the lunch shift at Academy, a free hour for kids who take classes all day to eat and play. It was a great opportunity to talk to some bright young minds about their interests, see them interact and develop friendships, and even play some games with them. Since my work at IEA is more behind-the-scenes, I don’t get as many chances to interact with kids in our programs, so that lunch hour was a nice treat in the middle of a hectic season.”

-Nicole LaChance, Marketing and Communications Coordinator

“One of my favorite moments at camp (Yunasa Michigan) this year was participating in a music improvisation workshop led by counselor Chris Jones. Everyone did an amazing job improvising rhymes and singing along. Yunasa is such supportive and inviting community that even the shyest participants loosened up and got into the game.

–Morgan Carrion, Assistant to the President

“I was delighted to receive this note from an EXPLORE parent during the program….”

After going through a year of rigorous academic preparation for various AP and other college level tests, it can be taxing on their curiosity and zeal to learn as college admission requirements weigh heavily on their mind. It is a welcome change to have real life exploration and training which rekindled his intellect and he is thoroughly enjoying the experience.

-Niña Abonal, Program Coordinator, EXPLORE

“One of my favorite times of year is always the staff retreat.  This is the time the team really connects on a deeper level, where lifelong bonds are formed and the direction of IEA is solidified for the coming year.  I sort of think of it as the staff’s own Yunasa.  While each year there is dancing and singing at the end of the retreat, similar to “The Dance” at Yunasa/West, this year I felt that the team got to the heart of something intrinsic in our experience of working at IEA; and that is, the whole reason we do what we do.  We came together and defined the underlying truth behind WHY we are each here at IEA, and I feel we are a stronger team because of it.  I am excited to see this clarity influence all of our actions, efforts and communications with the children we serve and their families, and with each other.  2017 will be an exciting year for all of us!”

-Zadra Rose Ibanez, Director of Operations

These are just a few of the wonderful moments we shared with IEA participants, parents, and colleagues in 2016. As we begin 2017, we resolve to continue to work to provide the highest level of services for gifted youth while strengthening the bonds of the IEA community.

Please share your memorable IEA moments from 2016 or tell us your New Year’s resolutions for 2017!

Like this post? Sign up for our email newsletter to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

I wanted to share with you all a very special experience I had recently!

I just came back from the White House and let me just say AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! Starting Thursday morning and ending Friday night, those were some of the most fantastic 48 hours of my life!

On Thursday morning, my mom woke me up at 6 AM. Obviously, I was very upset. My school didn’t start till 8:20, so why did she wake me up so early? Nevertheless, she exclaimed that it was something I would want to see and put her laptop in my lap. Her email was open. The subject said: “INVITATION: White House Movie Screening.” This itself made my stomach start doing somersaults. As I kept reading, my eyes doubled in size and I started emitting high-pitch squeals. I WAS INVITED BY THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY TO WATCH THE NEW STAR WARS MOVIE IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t believe it!

That school day was a blur of excitement and as soon as I shoved open my front door when I came home, my parents announced that I was leaving that night to go to D.C.! I started jumping around with joy and ran into my room to start packing.

When my aunt Triveni (from Virginia) drove me up to the White House entrance the next day around 3:40. I was still having trouble believing that this was really happening. I told the Secret Service Officer outside the gate that I was here for the movie screening and waited for him to ask me what I was talking about and tell me that there was no movie. Instead, he smiled and led me to the right place to check in. At that point, my brain was exploding. I no longer have any adjectives to describe my excitement when I found out that I was one of the 26 total invitees….. Perhaps spontaneous combustion? Molecular bombardment? Nope. Still not expressing the magnitude of excitement explosions I was going through. :):D

As we started walking into the White House, I saw its complete transformation for Christmas, with all its festive decorations. I was happy to meet the other guests. I talked to Sereia, an adorable seven year old, Milennia, a 16-year old who was super sweet and smiling, and Hazel, who was extremely kind and patient. I also met Nikhil, who was a Broadcom MASTER one year before me (in 2014) and went to the White House Science Fair in 2015. I talked to them, and many more, in a room in the White House for quite a while.

Afterwards, the White House staff led us to another room- the Diplomat Reception Room. This is the room that any foreign official would be greeted in, like Queen Elizabeth, for example. In the WHSF in April, we had lunch in this room. The officials then announced that “Two people are going to be here… make some room….”

After a few minutes of waiting and listening to the private helicopter landing outside, a very familiar voice- one that you’ve probably heard in some speech or the other- boomed through a door in the back of the room and everyone became instantly silent and gasped with excitement. Now we knew who the two people were! President Obama and Michelle Obama walked through the door, followed by three people dressed up as Darth Vader and two Stormtroopers from Star Wars. This was the first time that I met the First Lady! Having heard and read so much about how Michelle Obama does so much to help kids around the world, I was absolutely delighted to be in her presence! She spoke to us so nicely! And I couldn’t be more blessed to get an opportunity to meet with the President again! The President gave a really charismatic and hilarious speech – I wish I could have recorded it! We took group pictures. After spending some time with us, the President and First Lady left the room and went straight to their helicopter to fly to Air Force One and leave for Hawaii.

Then, you ask, where did we go next? To the White House’s PRIVATE THEATER!!!!!!! We got popcorn and cookies on the way and then went to the theater to watch Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. When we got settled in the theater, multiple surprises walked through the door. The directors, producer, and writer of Rogue One, as well as the ONE AND ONLY LUKE SKYWALKER (actor Mark Hamill). This time, people literally gasped aloud and nearly screamed. Being the humorous actor that he is, Mr. Hamill told us that he was most honored and excited to have met the most powerful man in the universe, Darth Vader. And then he said that there was that other guy photobombing the picture — what was his name again? — President Obama!:) It was an amazing honor to watch the movie with them!

After the movie, which was FANTASTIC, everyone went outside and got some Star Wars merchandise, including a T-shirt, notebook, and poster. Mr. Hamill was graciously willing to stay back and take pictures/selfies with us as well as autograph our posters. He was AMAZING!!!

At the end of this once-in-a-lifetime event, I walked outside with a White House staff member to my aunt’s car, shivering in the 19 degree D.C. weather but still grinning. That was one of the most unique, spectacular events I have encountered, and probably ever will. This has been my best holiday gift ever! I will forever thank our 44th president for the opportunities he has provided me and many other children all around the country!

Like this post? Sign up for our email newsletter to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.