Clarke Central High School students Quinn Pendley, Issac Bergman, Andreas Dillies, Eli Cook (top row), Max Burnman, Liza Larson, Margo McDaniel and Niles Flath (bottom row) pose for a photo outside the CCHS Media Center on Feb. 20. The eight students, a mix of sophomores and juniors, were recognized for their selection as Governor’s Honors Program semi-finalists along with Waylon Vaughn and Kyndal Hunter (not pictured). “I was doing schoolwork (when) I realized semi-finalist (results) were released at five o’clock. I checked, I jumped around (and) was excited,” Vaughn said. Photo by Wyatt Meyer
Ten CCHS students were announced as semi-finalists for the Governor’s Honors Program and will be interviewed at the state level.
As the clock neared 5 p.m. on Feb. 7, 32 Clarke County School District high school students – nominated for the state-level round of the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) – anxiously refreshed their screens for the results that would bring them one step closer to the prestigious summer program.
Minutes later, 16 CCSD students – 10 from Clarke Central High School, six from Cedar Shoals High School – were named semi-finalists.
GHP is a four-week residential summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors identified as gifted. This year, the program will run from June 15 to July 12 at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.
“(Becoming a semi-finalist) feels really good. I’m passionate about visual arts and glad someone noticed that. I get the chance to display that passion on (a) higher level,” CCHS semi-finalist Waylon Vaughn, a junior, said.
This year’s CCHS semi-finalists represent a wide range of interests. Their passions include core subjects such as communicative arts, social studies and mathematics as well as specialized fields like dance, visual arts and engineering
“The (GHP semifinalists) demonstrate that (CCHS’) student body can be recognized and excels at an array of different talents,” CCHS GHP coordinator Jodi Bolgla said. “We recognize and support diversity by sending a population that is true to who Clarke Central is.”
The next phase for the state semi-finalists is an in-person interview on March 1 at GSU, except for music semifinalists, who have their interview on March. 15. Some students will have additional assessments beyond the interview. Communicative Arts prospects, for example, will participate in a group discussion of a literary piece.
“I noticed throughout the program (and) interviews (that GHP) is not looking for just the best in the field, (they) are looking for people (who) are excited about the field and learning,” CCHS junior Noah Kilpatrick, who attended GHP in summer 2024, said.
“The (GHP semifinalists) demonstrate that (CCHS’) student body can be recognized and excels at an array of different talents,”
— Jodi Bolgla,
CCHS GHP Coordinator
For Vaughn, his focus on filmmaking was a stray from the common works of paintings, drawings and sculptures in visual arts, making the application process challenging. His submission didn’t follow a traditional structure for Visual Art applicants and therefore couldn’t fully capture his passion. Now, he looks forward to the interview as a chance to better showcase his work.
“I’m more confident about this (interview) stage than the previous stage,” Vaughn said. “I’ll have the chance to actually talk (and defend myself) to the (GHP) people compared to a digital application.”
