Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

06/13/2026

CTY Donor Spotlight: Barry Leybovich ’03-’08

As a CTY student, Barry Leybovich ’03-’08 began preparing for a career in healthcare software through courses such as Investigations in Engineering. As the son of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, he found a sense of belonging at CTY. Today, he is establishing the Leybovich Family Endowed Scholarship Fund to support CTY Scholars, a four-year academic advising and college counseling program designed to close the opportunity gap among our nation’s brightest students.

“CTY provides a unique environment for intellectual exploration, and I still chat with friends I made at CTY every week,” he said. “I give so that these experiences are available to students of all backgrounds.”

06/12/2026

Help us congratulate Ryan Tiedemann, who will join our staff as a teaching assistant at our JHU residential site this summer! Tiedemann is a member of The George Washington University’s Parliamentary Debate Society, which just won the “Club of the Year” award from the American Parliamentary Debate Association. 👏 👏

Tiedemann (right), who graduated from GWU this spring with a double major in international affairs and philosophy, will work with students in our Laws and Orders: Legal Systems Around the World course this summer.

06/12/2026

✨ CTY Staff Spotlight: Erin Aust ✨

Erin Aust started at CTY as a program assistant in 2008 and has since taught writing courses like Modern Fantasy at CTY sites and online. This summer ushers in two new highlights in her CTY career—opening a new day site and teaching a brand-new course.

“I am so excited to work at CTY at the Woods Academy in suburban Washington, D.C. It is always astonishing to see how quickly the CTY faculty and staff come together to create a site each summer. I am also delighted to help bring the Shaping Our World course to third- and fourth-grade students. Architecture is a rich topic, and this course encourages students to problem-solve across different subjects. They will see the world around them in a whole new light.”

06/10/2026

Celebrating our Sarah D. Barder fellows! 🎉 🎉
CTY hosted the 2026 Sarah D. Barder Fellowship Program annual conference this spring in Las Vegas to induct nine new fellows, who were nominated by CTY students and selected for their exceptional impact. They are:
- Taylor Baumgard, CTY
- Austin James, CTY
- Robin Melanson, CTY
- Melissa Miller, Cabrillo Middle School, Ventura, Calif.
- Sarah Muszynski, The Nueva School, San Mateo, Calif.
- Matt Nuccio, Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest, Ill.
- Victor Shin, Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School, Bowie, Md.
- Darren Wilson, Winston Churchill High School, Potomac, Md.
- Regina Yoong, The Nueva School, San Mateo, Calif.

The workshop portion of the conference focused on “Spotting Academic Ability in the Wild: Recognizing It Where It Happens,” emphasizing how advanced learners often demonstrate ability beyond test scores and formal programs.

New and returning fellows discussed the many ways that advanced learners show up, in activities, assignments, informal interactions, etc., and collaborated on ideas for a guide to talent spotting.

Learn more about research at CTY: https://bit.ly/49Dhwnx

06/09/2026

💡 Question of the Week: Was there a moment when you realized your child learned differently or more quickly than their peers?

Share your story below 💬

06/08/2026

⏰ Last call to enroll in CTY summer courses! If your child is ready to dive into a subject they love, make new friends, and take on a fun learning challenge this summer, now's the time to enroll!

Secure your spot today: https://bit.ly/439S31k

06/07/2026

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06/06/2026

We had a blast celebrating another successful year of hands-on learning and fun with our CTY Baltimore Emerging Scholars! Through our free enrichment program established in 2014, Baltimore City Public Schools students participated in CTY programming all school year, exploring topics like architecture, engineering, and digital literacy. Students and their families joined us on JHU's Homewood campus last weekend to celebrate their curiosity, hard work, and love of learning!

🎉 Read all about it in the JHU Hub: https://bit.ly/4dYBfPK

Center for Talented Youth Baltimore Emerging Scholars celebrated at JHU for their dedication and love of learning

06/05/2026

🎉 THE COLORS ARE IN! 🎉 This summer, our in-person programs students will be rocking aquatopia blue t-shirts with crimson red lanyards.

The cool, confident blue captures the spirit of discovery and endless summer skies while the vibrant red adds a spark of energy and connection. Together, they're a perfect blend of innovation and tradition, just like the CTY experience itself 🤝 🥰

💙❤️ Let us know what you think!

06/04/2026

📢 Extra! Extra! The latest edition of the CTYer is out now! 🎉 Catch up on the news, stories, and events happening across the CTY community—from students and alumni to the people who help make it all possible. https://bit.ly/4ua2ZH9

Educational Travel, Ringel Poetry Reading, ONEHopkins Pi Day The CTYer - Alumni and Friends Newsletter May/June 2026 Edition Alumni and Friends Newsletter News & Updates CTY Research Equips Educators to Identify Advanced Learners The 2026 Sarah D. Barder Fellowship Program annual conference was held...