(Left to right) Seniors Tiernan O’Neill, Nicole Googe, Seong Hyun Han, Ella Sams and English department teacher David Ragsdale participated in the 2015 Governor’s Honors Program at Valdosta State University. This year, six juniors and seniors were chosen from CCSD to attend. “When I found out I got into GHP, I was honestly so shocked. I never thought I would actually be accepted, I thought I was applying simply for the sake of experiencing the selection process,” Clarke Central High School sophomore and GHP science finalist Neha Mohanty said. “I guess the judges liked me, haha. It’s an honor to have been selected as a sophomore. I still can’t really believe it.” Photo by Jessica Wilson.
By HANNAH GALE – Writing Coach
Governor’s Honors Program is a four-week summer enrichment program located in Valdosta, Ga for the state’s top gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. Six finalists were chosen from the Clarke County School District to attend GHP this summer.
On March 25, the The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement announced the finalists for the 2016 Governor’s Honors Program, a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors at Valdosta State University.
“I think GHP will have a very positive effect on me. I think it’ll help me see many ideas, both in and out of science, in a new light. I think it will help me become a better learner and help me become more excited about science,” Clarke Central High School sophomore and GHP science finalist Neha Mohanty said.
Out of 3,000 nominees from across Georgia, 700 juniors and seniors were invited to participate in GHP, including six finalists from the Clarke County School District.
“I commend our Governor’s Honors Program finalists for developing such a deep intellectual curiosity in their disciplines, and congratulate them for being selected to take advantage of this unique educational enrichment opportunity,” CCSD Superintendent Philip D. Lanoue stated in a press release. “I know these students will be exceptional ambassadors for our district, and they will go on to make a true difference in our state post-graduation.”
The six finalists from CCSD were nominated in categories ranging from fine arts and communicative arts to social studies, science and math.
“I am really excited to work with fellow Georgians who love dance. I am excited to be around people who are superior in their major area. I think this is a real great learning opportunity for me, and this will further my education in dance and in life,” CCHS junior and GHP dance finalist Asela Eatenson said.
Though GHP is an educational enrichment program held on a college campus, students do not receive grades for the assignments taken place in their majors.
“GHP is important to me because I get to be around individuals who are similar to me and have the same interests as me,” Mohanty said. “Even though it’s academic, you don’t receive a grade for it. You are simply taking classes for the sake of learning, which is what I believe school should actually be like.”
