Mensa and kids

While I didn't quite qualify for membership into Mensa, the national high IQ society that boasts 55,000 members in the U.S., you might be able to qualify. Actually, probably not since only the top 2 percent in the country can qualify, but maybe you have some bright kids who could.

Dan Johnson, 32, of Amarillo has been a Mensa member for 10 years. The financial adviser has unofficially been a member longer than that, dating back to high school.

His interest in Mensa started about a decade ago when a new executive was hired for the company he worked. He was apparently pretty proud of his intellect, and bragged that he was a Mensa member.

"That caught my attention and made me think about getting involved," he said.

He went to the Mensa website and went to a link that listed several qualifying tests. As a matter of fact, there are Some of them are within the Gifted and Talented programs that are in most schools, tests that Johnson remembered taking.

He called his high school, the records were still available, and his score qualified him for membership.

"Had I known at that time, there are scholarships available for Mensa members," Johnson said. "I'd encourage any parent to have their kids tested if they think they might qualify."

It wouldn't look bad on trying to get into a college either.

American Mensa says there are 1,300 children in the club from ages 3 to 18. The youngest member ever is 2 years, 9 months and it's happened twice.