About Us
Who We Are
The Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program is dedicated to developing the talents of academically advanced middle- and high-school students. The students in our program comprise the most promising minds of the next generation. At the WSGP, bright students have the chance to participate in challenging educational opportunities. They will also find a safe, welcoming circle of peers, mentors, and teachers who understand gifted students and gifted education practices. They will make lifelong friends who share their passion for learning.
History
The Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program was started in 1983 by Dr. Joseph Wiest, a Physics professor at West Virginia Wesleyan College, and his wife, Dr. Jeanie Wiest, a pediatrician. Their two sons had attended gifted programs at Ivy League colleges and they were certain that they could create a program with the same academic rigor and educational experiences, but at a fraction of the cost. West Virginia Wesleyan College is an elite, private, liberal arts college and members of the faculty were eager to teach for the Summer Gifted Program. The first camp was partially funded by the NASA - West Virginia Space Grant Consortium and had only 12 students, but the program grew over the years to upwards of 100 students each summer, requiring multiple two-week camps to accommodate the demand. WSGP students hail from all around the United States and even some international students have attended our program.
Our Leadership
Dr. Joseph Wiest, Program Founder
Dr. Wiest is a professor and former chairman of the Department of Physics & Engineering at West Virginia Wesleyan College. He has taught physics and mathematics to gifted children from third grade to high school. Dr. Wiest teaches Intermediate Computer Science and Advanced and College Prep Computational Astrophysics and Mathematics for the WSGP.
Dr. Tracey DeLaney, Program Director
Dr. DeLaney is an associate professor of Physics at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She began teaching for the Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program in 2010 and became director in 2019. Dr. DeLaney is also director of the West Virginia Wesleyan College planetarium and gives general astronomy shows to audiences of all ages. Dr. DeLaney teaches Elementary Computer Science and Elementary and Intermediate Physics in our curriculum.
Follow this link for a letter from the Director.
Ms. Destiny Cochran, Head Counselor
Ms. Cochran is a senior in our elementary education program at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Our Awesome Campers
Follow this link to meet some of our awesome campers.