BY SARA GOODIE – Web Writer
The Governor’s Honors Program, a four-week long residential program for Georgia’s students, enters its 51st year of existence.
After nominations, applications and interviews, nearly 700 of Georgia’s gifted and talented high school students are accepted into the Governor’s Honors Program and offered the opportunity to study and grow as they prepare for college.
Each summer since 1963, the state of Georgia has offered GHP as a residential enrichment program on the campus of Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga. to provide students with the opportunity to study and grow in a unique environment. This program allows the state’s top rising juniors and seniors to take classes with other students who share their passion.
“Socially, emotionally, this is the first time kids are around people who are just as smart and just as interesting,” Marcie McHugh, Assistant Director for Instruction at GHP, said. “It’s (with) like-minded, similar people. And you just don’t get that in a lot of places.”
In order for a student to be accepted into GHP, he or she must be a sophomore or junior nominated in an area of strength by a teacher or by him or herself, fill out an application and participate in a series of interviews and for some majors, auditions.
McHugh said that even if an applicant does not get in, the experience is still beneficial.
“(The process) makes you ask yourself, why are you interested in this? What do you do above and beyond school required material? What are your future plans? It’s sort of good guidance,” McHugh said.
Of about 7,000 applicants, less than ten percent are named state finalists and invited to spend four weeks at GHP, all-expenses-paid. Last summer, six of the students were from Clarke Central High School.
Participants study a major subject for four hours each day, which is parallel to the area they were selected in. However, though the subject is similar, the method of instruction is similar to that of a college course: mature and offering more freedom than a high school class.
CCHS junior Barrett Binder, a math major this past summer, said that the social components of the program were as important as the academic aspects.
“You could really put yourself out there,” Binder said. “It kind of didn’t matter if you failed because that meant that you learned something. Because everyone knew that you were really good at something. And so, no one was going to judge you.”
Students also attend minor classes for two and a half hours.These classes are more various—ranging from songwriting to video and audio editing to introduction to Greek. They usually require minimal background knowledge but are equally as constructive as major subjects.
“For me, that’s a chance for the students to just fall in love all over again,” McHugh said.
After the minor courses, participants at GHP have time to socialize with fellow students and participate in recreational activities such as Disney Sing-alongs and learning the tango. There are also weekly dances.
Binder suggests that all students who are nominated should take advantage of the opportunity to apply to GHP.
“It was really good because it got me prepared, in different ways than I would’ve expected, for college,” Binder said.
In addition to the preparation of the pre-collegiate experience, CCHS senior Charlie Harris, an agricultural science major of the program this past summer, feels the emotional and social components are enriching, as well. The transition from GHP to home has been difficult for him.
“You definitely get depressed. You shed a lot of tears leaving GHP, and once you step off (the campus), you’re definitely a different person,” Harris said. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
