Morgan Polans Morgan Polans, a sophomore and honor student at Hammond School, has been accepted to attend the 2010 Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA), a program for gifted students in grades eight through 12 hosted by Vanderbilt University’s Programs for Talented Youth (PTY).

Students who attend VSA are among the brightest in the country, scoring in the top tier on academic achievement tests such as the SAT and ACT.

“VSA classes develop students’ critical thinking skills, encourage intellectual exploration, and teach them how to thrive in a college classroom setting,” says PTY Director, Dr. Tamra Stambaugh. “Students are able to push their intellectual limits alongside friends who also appreciate the sheer joy of learning and discovery.”

VSA consists of one–week, two–week, and three–week sessions, each featuring challenging courses taught in university classrooms and laboratories by Vanderbilt scholars. The caliber of VSA’s teaching staff and students’ access to university resources make VSA unique among summer academic programs for gifted youth.

Morgan has chosen to study The Chemistry of Everyday Things.