Center for Gifted Education

Thank you for visiting the Center for Gifted Education!

We are excited about the wonderful LAgniappe program plans for the Fall, Spring, and Summer of 2025-2026.

Center Mission Statement

The Center for Gifted Education has the mission to support the needs of gifted and talented students and those with gifted potential. The Center is an instructional, research, and service center. It offers professional learning opportunities for teachers and schools, summer enrichment programs for children, and consultation services for parents. We facilitate and support gifted education advocacy efforts, providing research-based information about the needs of gifted & talented students to all stakeholders. We aim to build relationships with those who impact gifted students as well as the public.

Center for Gifted Education and Destination Imagination® (DI)

Would you like to learn more about Destination Imagination^®? DI teaches students the creative thinking process. The DI activities are grouped into team challenges and instant challenges. When students learn the creative thinking process, they learn to ask better questions and learn to work collaboratively in groups to address the problem that is presented, and to find solutions. Students learn that failures are an important part of learning. DI is a true STEAM program.

Click here to see the DI Process Letter.

Announcing the Center for Gifted Education's Spring 2026 Programs

Thank you to everyone who signed up for, the first through third grade Math Circles Program! We look forward to seeing you this month!

Parent/Guardian and Child Pop-Up

Parents/Guardians with students rising into the 7th through 9th grades in the fall of 2026.

We welcome you and your students to join us for an investigation into the world-renowned creative, thinking, and training program, Destination Imagination^®, at this Parent/Guardian and Child Pop-Up!

March 25, 2026
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Maxim D. Doucet Hall
Room 108
1401 Johnston Street
Lafayette, LA 70503

Through Destination Imagination, students develop creative and innovative thinking skills. DI can “…inspire young people to imagine and innovate today so they become the creative and collaborative leaders of tomorrow.” Our programs continue to incorporate Destination Imagination challenges. These challenges are designed to
strengthen critical and creative thinking. Through DI, the students were engaged, learning more about innovative and critical thinking, and building relationships.

Registration for this FREE event is required.

Please share with those who have rising 7th through 9th-grade students in the Fall of 2026.

SP26 Imaginarium Club: Where Conversations Come Alive!

We invite current fourth through sixth-grade students to join us for the CGE ~ SP26 Imaginarium Club: Where Conversations Come Alive!

Dive into short stories that highlight the beauty of selfless acts and inspiring characters.In the Imaginarium Club, we read to understand the world around us and our roles in it. Come and join this thought-provoking conversation about how selflessness can impact our lives and our communities. Whether you love reading, writing, drawing, or just dreaming big, you will have the opportunity to create products reflecting your ideas about selflessness and helping others.

We look forward to seeing you all on both session dates:

April 18, 2026
AND
May 2, 2026

From:

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (both session dates)

Registration for both session dates is $10.00.

Payable by Check or Money Order ONLY.

Payable to:

UL at Lafayette

Mailed to:

Center for Gifted Education
P.O. Box 43648
Lafayette, LA 70504-3648

The Center for Gifted Education's SU2026 Programs include programs for Children and Adolescents!

Rising Innovators ~ Students rising into PreK4-K in the Fall of 2026.

Innovators on the Rise ~ Students rising into the first through sixth graders in the Fall of 2026

Future Innovators Unite ~ Students Rising into the seventh through ninth grade students in the Fall of 2026!

The Center for Gifted Education's SU2026 Program for Administrators, Counselors, Educators, and Parents!

The LAgniappe Educator Conference is the South’s premier conference for educators and parents of high-potential/gifted learners. This annual conference offers an opportunity for in-depth learning from the leaders in the field of gifted education. LAgniappe is targeted to the understanding of the unique needs of high-ability, gifted, and talented individuals. High-ability learning is not just for those students who are gifted, but also to develop the talents of all students and to help them reach their potential.

The 2026 LAgniappe Educator Conference ~Welcome Administrators, Counselors, Educators, and Parents!

2026 Speaker's Strand Titles and Descriptions

We hope to see you June 2 and June 3, 2026, in Lafayette, LA.

We want to gratefully acknowledge our generous hosts:
Episcopal School of Acadiana
721 E. Kaliste Saloom Rd. | Lafayette, LA 70508

Registration of University Undergraduate/Graduate Students.
Registraton of One to Four Individuals
Registration of Five or More Individuals

Payments postmarked by April 16, 2026, will be processed as Early Bird Discount.

Payments postmarked after April 16, 2026, will be processed as Regular Registrations.

Please enjoy these links:

Check out our Original Curation from The Center:
Are You Stressed Out - For Children and Teens

Check out this week's Online Resource
Self-Advocacy

Admission to the Center for Gifted Education

We do not require GT Identification to participate in the Summer Programs presented by the Center for Gifted Education. A Mandatory Qualification is required to participate in the Summer Programs presented by the Center for Gifted Education.

All new participants must submit a one-time, non-refundable, $25.00 Application for Admission. The Screening Window for Admission to the Summer Programs presented by the Center for Gifted Education is currently OPEN.

The application fee covers the review of the parent/guardian and teacher checklists, GT Paperwork, and any standardized test scores by Dr. Bruce-Davis. She will determine student qualifications for participation in the Summer Programs presented by the Center for Gifted Education.

Upon submission of the application fee, the parent/guardian and teacher (named in the application) will receive identical parent/teacher checklists to complete. The submitted checklists will be reviewed by Dr. Bruce-Davis, the Director of Children's Programs.

Older students (5th grade and above) who are NOT in a Parish GT Program will require a score review to determine qualification for admission.

If students are in the Parish GT Program, we ask that parents/guardians email either the first page of the most recent IEP, or the first page of the welcome letter to gifted@louisiana.edu.

Identified GT Program students do not need to submit scores for review.

Returning Students:

Students previously accepted into the Center for Gifted Education programs have the status of Returning Students.

Academic Enrichment Program History and Announcements:

The Center for Gifted Education has a long and rich history of educating parents, students, and educators in and around the Lafayette area, the state, and the nation. The center was established in 1982 and is one of only 20 such comprehensive instructional, research, and service centers in the country. It is the only one of its scope in Louisiana. UL Lafayette's Center for Gifted Education strives to focus on the needs of high-potential/gifted/talented learners, parents, and educators. Our academic enrichment programs are designed to support the development of talent in high-ability, gifted, and talented learners. For specific details regarding the Rising PreK through Rising 10th Grade Programs visit our Children's Programs pages.

Visit our Children's Programs pages Rising PreK-K, Rising first through sixth graders, and our Rising seventh through tenth graders programs for specific program informaiton.

Our LAgniappe Educator Conference is the South's premier conference for educators and parents of high-ability/gifted learners. Every year Dr. Briggs offers excellent educational opportunities for parents, educators, administrators, and counselors of high-potential/gifted/talented students by bringing national and international leaders in the field of gifted education. Please visit the LAgniappe page for further details.

Programs for Master's in Gifted Education and Doctor of Education Exceptional Learner Concentration! See below for More Information!

Master's Degree Program in Gifted Education

Learn more about a faster way to finish your Master's in Gifted Education! This Master's in Gifted Education program provides a variety of experiences to support graduates in gaining and understanding the unique needs of gifted and talented students.

Doctorate In Educational Leadership with A Concentration in Exceptional Learners

To learn more the Doctor of Education Exceptional Learner Concentration, please contact:

Dr. Christine Briggs - cbriggs@louisiana.edu

Dr. Donna Wadsworth - dwadsworth@louisiana.edu

For more information regarding the Graduate School application and Educational Leadership program, please contact:

Dr. Sebnem Cilesiz - sebnem.cilesiz@louisiana.edu

Kathleen McIntire, Administrative Coordinator III
Office Address
Cecil J. Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong Learning
200 East Devalcourt Street
Room 266
Lafayette, LA 70506

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 43648
Lafayette, LA 70504-3648

337-482-6701gifted@louisiana.edu

Hosted by
Dr. Christine Briggs, Director of the Center for Gifted Education