Pete Mahurin said he has long been an advocate of gifted studies, as both his wife and daughter went through gifted studies programs.

And now, thanks to a $750,000 gift from Mahurin and his wife, Dixie, both WKU alumni, the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children is moving its international headquarters to WKU, effective Jan. 1.

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The World Council focuses world attention on gifted and talented students and helps them realize their potential, President Gary Ransdell said.

WKU already has a Center for Gifted Studies, but having the World Council here will “take this program to a new level,” he said.

Edna McMillan, vice president of the World Council, which is currently located at the University of Winnipeg in Canada, said the council is “extremely happy” to be moving to WKU.

“Gifted education is something that many countries are dealing with,” McMillan said. “It’s hard to know how to serve their special needs.”

The World Council has moved around several times, each time leaving behind a strong legacy, she said. WKU will host the World Council for at least five years, and possibly more.

Julia Roberts, director of the Center for Gifted Studies, said relocating the World Council to WKU will extend the reach of the center, which has been around for almost 30 years.

Roberts said the World Council’s headquarters will be in the new Gary Ransdell College of Education building.

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“Julia told me about the World Council and I said, ‘Don’t let that get away from you because of the money, because there will be people willing to donate,'” Pete Mahurin said. “It’s a way to have an impact on the future.”

Sam Evans, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, said he couldn’t be happier to have it at WKU.

“We need not forget the students who are going to make a difference,” Evans said. “They need and deserve our attention.”