Educators and parents often struggle to develop lessons and projects for their gifted youth. All too often, gifted youth are simply given more work than their peers, instead of work that is more challenging for them to accomplish.

The Foundation recently launched a project designed to provide resources to teachers and parents who are looking for challenging lesson plans for their gifted youth. Free, downloadable lesson plans for students from kindergarten through age 12 are now available at www.mensaforkids.org/
teachers. These plans are designed to be completed with minimal supervision, so they are easy for busy teachers to integrate into their classrooms, but are also easy for parents to use as an enrichment activity or in a homeschooling environment.

New lesson plans will be added periodically and anyone may sign up to receive email updates whenever new lesson plans are posted.

This fall, the Mensa Foundation recognized several individuals for their creativity, research and writing. Congratulations to the following award-winners:

— Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Tracy L. Cross, Executive Director of the Center for Gifted Education and a professor at the College of William and Mary, is the recipient of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Cross received the award based on his dedication to research in the field of gifted students over the span of 15 years. His body of research on the psychology of gifted children is extensive, and he has served as editor of at least five different research journals.

— International Intellectual Benefits Award
Mensa Czech Republic member Katerina Havlickova founded the first school for talented children in the former communist bloc and has fought passionately for basic needs for gifted children such as psychological assessment, counseling and individual education.

— Distinguished Teacher Award
Dr. Allan Meltzer was nominated for the Distinguished Teacher Award by Mensa member Bob Beatty of Hilliard, Ohio. In 1958, Dr. Meltzer advised Beatty to become familiar with computers, as they “would play a significant part of our future.” That good advice led to Beatty’s 40-year career in computer programming.

— Mensa Press Award
The Mensa Press Award is designed to encourage reporters and editors to spread the latest news about intelligence to public audiences. Ashley Merryman and Po Bronson won the award this year for their New York Magazine article, “How Not to Talk to Your Kids.”

— Copper Black International Award for Creative Achievement
Dr. Gary Flom, a Mensa member and otolaryngologist in Atlanta, Georgia, won this award for his development of Universal Forceps. This tool will increase patient safety by allowing surgeons to concentrate on their tasks instead of switching between instruments.

In the latest installment of the Foundation’s podcast series, Conversations with Mensa, 19-year-old Mensan Myles Jeffrey interviews member Richard Lederer about his lifetime of evolving interests and pursuits. In “Reinventing Yourself,” Jeffrey talks to Lederer about what it takes to successfully navigate through the process of change. Myles Jeffrey has been an actor since age 5, with more than 30 television and movie credits to his name. Richard Lederer is the author of more than 30 books about language, history and humor, including his best-selling Anguished English series and his current book, Presidential Trivia.

2010 marks the 50th anniversary of Mensa in North America and we’re ready to celebrate! Through Mensa, many members have found lifelong friends, spouses, new interests and careers.

If you’d like to commemorate this special occasion, why not consider a $50 donation (or more) to the Mensa Foundation. Your donation will honor Mensa by helping foster intelligence around the world. Donations may be made at www.mensafoundation.org/donate.

The GenX SIG was at it again in Pittsburgh, hosting its (mostly) annual Mr. Mensa competition, with all proceeds benefiting the Foundation. More than 400 Annual Gathering attendees were on hand as Mensan A.M. Paulos beat out six competitors to become Mr. Mensa 2009. Five of Mensa's finest (and two other guys, as the host put it) competed in four categories: sexy legs, talent, evening wear and interview question.

Mike Whalen and Trebor LeFevbre teamed up with Robert Whearty as "Official Stud Wrangler" and Gary Rimar on piano to put on the extravaganza in which contestants offer dates to the highest bidder. The show and auction raised $2,304 for the Foundation.

Each year, the Mensa Foundation gives out thousands of dollars in scholarships to college students around the world. The scholarships are based entirely on essays written by students regarding their future goals.

The deadline for scholarship applications for the 2010-2011 school year is January 15, 2010. Visit www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships for more information.