The Gross Family: A Set of Siblings Enjoys Summer Programs Together

By Joe Salvatore, Summer Program Coordinator

While the Center for Talent Development provides opportunities for thousands of gifted and talented children each year, few families have seized the opportunities as enthusiastically as the Gross family of Brownsburg, IN.

The four eldest Gross children, Mary, James, Carol, and Susan, have all participated in the Center for Talent Development’s Summer Program. Mary, the eldest, along with younger twin sisters Carol and Susan, have each taken four CTD summer courses. Their brother James has taken three courses. A
fifth child will participate in the program this summer.

The Grosses joined the CTD family in 1998, when Louisa Gross registered her oldest daughter Mary for the Midwest Talent Search.

"I recognized that my kids had talents that their school couldn’t address," Mrs. Gross said.

Through her participation in the Midwest Talent Search, Mary and her mother learned of CTD’s Summer Program. While other opportunities existed, the Grosses chose Northwestern because of its reputation.

"There are plenty of residential gifted programs in our area, starting as early as third grade," Mrs. Gross said. "Part of the reason we chose Northwestern University was its reputation as an outstanding university."

"It gives parents confidence that the program is well run, safe, and knows what gifted children need in a fun yet hard-working environment," she added.
Mary was accepted and enrolled as a residential student in the Spectrum Program for students who have completed grades 7-9. After taking Algebra II in her first year, Mary took three more CTD Summer Courses, including Explorations in Chemistry, Human Biology, and Research Methods. She believes the CTD Summer Program teachers made a significant impact on her education.

"The teachers really got to know us, "Mary said. "They were a lot more interested in our learning than our grades. And that was true for the students as well." Mary, now a senior at Brownsburg High School, also said the CTD science courses offered her opportunities beyond those at her academic year school.

"We used more technology and participated in more labs than in my regular school," Mary said. "We also visited the different laboratories and the medical library at Northwestern," Mary said. "I didn’t have that opportunity at any other school."

Mary believes her extensive participation in the CTD science courses was a significant factor in her decision to major in Bio-Medical Engineering. She has applied early decision to Northwestern University and will attend in the fall.
Mrs. Gross believes this kind of exposure to a top research university has benefited all of her children. Following Mary’s successful first year in the Summer Program, Mrs. Gross decided to reenroll her and enroll siblings James, Carol, and Susan.

"My children have attended other camps, such as girl scouts, gifted math camps, music camps, and other academic camps," Mrs. Gross said. "CTD is far superior in all areas to these camps. It is not just the class work, but the atmosphere, the diversity of bright children, and the whole social scene, not to mention the exceptional counselors," she said.

Gross also believes the diversity of CTD learners and the program's focus on learning are two critical elements to its success. "What adds to the experience for young children is the diversity of the bright young children you draw from all over the Midwest, as well as the country and world," Gross said. "The summer gives us a great chance to give them exposure to additional ways to think about school and people from all different backgrounds. They get so excited about coming to CTD. They do not stress about the challenge; the way it is run, they look forward to it."

While Mrs. Gross deeply values the academic program, she also sees other benefits to the program. "Part of the ease of sending my younger children is that I know my older ones are there on campus," said Gross, whose family lives just outside Indianapolis.

"Truthfully, they have not had more than a wave over the years, but it makes me feel better to have [the younger children] physically close to the older children."

If the Grosses lived closer to Chicago, she said she would consider sending all seven of her children to the CTD Summer Program. Her two youngest children would be eligible for CTD Leapfrog Program for students in PreK through 3rd grade, but Leapfrog can only accommodate commuters.

In the mean time, they will look forward to their first summer at CTD. And no one is more excited about this than Louisa Gross.

"It helps them to dream what is possible. You never know which thing they will see that will turn into a lifelong dream."