At SIG, students live on college campuses for three weeks and take advanced classes in humanities, math and sciences, visual and performing arts, and fitness and recreation. Students learn through hands-on activities: building rockets, solving mysteries, learning to fence, putting on shows, and learning new languages. Our students make friends from all over the world and gain the experience of a lifetime.

Students selected to attend SIG have scored in the 95th percentile in reading or math on a nationally norm-referenced test. These gifted students choose a college site and create their own academic and recreational schedule. The Carmel Hill Fund Education Program sponsors these students and provides transportation to and from the college campuses.

What they're saying about SIG:

My favorite class was Word Power. Tony, the teacher, made us all feel at home with his unique teaching styles and way of connecting with us. The people I met at Vassar were nice and sweet and I still miss them to this day. I pray to God that I go back next year and reunite with all my friends I met. SIG you’re great!
(Laurelle Shell, Vassar)

I would like to thank Ms. Margie Godwin and The Carmel Hill Fund for making this summer one of the greatest I have ever experienced. You may not ever know how happy you made me for those three weeks, and the time since then. My classes were better than I had expected and I am very grateful for all that I have experienced. Thank you again to everyone who made it possible for me to attend SIG Vassar.
(Hannah LaCraze, Vassar)

My experience at Summer Institute for the Gifted changed the way I think and feel. At SIG, everyone is a teacher. And everyone has something to learn. It’s all about life, love, and finding yourself. That along with the academic experience made participating in Summer Institute for the Gifted the most rewarding and fulfilling thing I have ever done.
(Donna Nelson, Vassar)

At SIG, I took classes like Bioengineering, Fencing, Broadway-style Theatre, and Crime Scene Investigation. We even designed our own bioengineered and genetically modified products. This camp was an amazing experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. I am so glad that we were able to participate in this program with the help of the Carmel Hill Fund.
(Molly Snead, Vassar)

I was only at SIG for three weeks, but they were three of the most interesting weeks of my life. My favorite class was Robot Rendezvous. In this class we built two operational robots. On the first weekend I chose to go to the Coca-Cola factory, the Atlanta Underground, and CNN headquarters. I wouldn’t trade my summer at SIG for anything and would gladly go again if given the chance.
(DeMarcus Jacobs, Emory)

At SIG, I had a class on commercials, a Broadway class, a rocket science class, a super fun sports class, and my favorite class, Going to Court; a class all about law and trials. On each weekend, everyone went on a special trip to somewhere interesting. I went to Alcatraz Island and Paramount’s Great America Theme Park. That trip to UC Berkeley was easily the best of my life, and I really hope I can go again.
(Jake Heflin, UC Berkeley)

Boubacar Bah and Erwin Blanco come face to face with Philadelphia's colonial past

Anyway, I had two roommates. They were neat and friendly. I had a counselor, an academic dean, residential dean and many others. They were all nice and friendly. They were all there for one reason, which was to make this summer the best summer we ever had.

I was not there just for fun, but also to learn. As a student of the campus, I had five interesting classes that I chose myself. Here they are in the order I had them. They are Self-Defense; Spying : Secrets, Surveillance, and Science; Fencing; then after that was lunch, then Chemistry; and last but not least Swimming. During these five classes I learned something new that I would never learn in elementary school.

I also made many friends. Some of them are Taj the talented one; Michael the sensitive one; Erwin the funny one; my counselor Dan the hilarious one; and me, the man with the brain. They were all special to me. They helped me with my weaknesses. They also encouraged me not to give up. They were all loyal to me and loyalty is what I gave them back.

When the last week of SIG finally came I was a bit sad. When the dance came I helped my two best friends Michael and Taj get a date. They both had lovely ladies and had a wonderful night. I stayed with them to make sure nothing went wrong. It was sort of a double date.

Now it's the last day. I packed my bags and said goodbye to my honest friends I made at SIG. It was a wonderful summer and I'm glad I went. I can’t wait to go back next year.

SIG Rocks

Boubacar Bah, SIG participant, Summer of 2007
5th Grade, PS 123 Mahalia Jackson School