The Governor’s Honors Program, known as GHP, is a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. A function of the Georgia Department of Education, it takes place on the campus of Valdosta State University. The 2012 program will be the 49th summer, making it the longest continually running program of its kind in the nation.
More than 2,800 students from across the state will be interviewed and auditioned over three weekends in January and February, and from those nominees 690 finalists will be chosen to participate in the 2012 program. Since the program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly, there is no charge for students to attend.
During the four weeks of the program, students spend the morning in their major area of nomination, exploring topics not usually found in the regular high school classroom. During the afternoons, students choose one of the other areas in which to study. The curriculum in all the areas is challenging and engaging. Evenings are filled with seminars, activities, concerts and performances.
“GHP is such a competitive program that even being nominated is an accomplishment. I congratulate the students of Effingham County School System and look forward to meeting them and their parents at the interviews,” said director Dale Lyles.
He added that many if not most of GHP’s past participants regard it as one of the most life-changing events in their lives.
Effingham County School System’s nominees for the 2012 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program are:
Jordon Bala, South Effingham High — Theatre Performance
Hannah Boyd, Effingham County High — Communicative Arts
Rebecca Button, ECHS — Music/Woodwinds (Flute)
John Cowart, ECHS — Biology
Kirston Cox, SEHS — Music/Brass (French horn)
Christoper Crocker, ECHS — Music/Woodwinds (Oboe)
Jennifer Edwards, SEHS — Communicative Arts
Rebecca Gerdman, ECHS — Agriscience/Environmental Science
Danielle Girardeau, ECHS — Visual Arts
Adam King, SEHS — Music/Woodwinds (Clarinet)
Tyson Neurath, ECHS — Music/Voice (Soprano)
Chandler Pate, ECHS — Music/Voice (Soprano)
Donald Quinones, SEHS — Executive Management
Raoul Rego, ECHS — Mathematics
Megan Spence, SEHS — Social Studies
Natalie Starling, SEHS — Social Studies
Savannah Wagner, SEHS — Communicative Arts
Casie Wilson, ECHS — Music/Woodwinds (Flute)
Justin Wilson, SEHS — Music/Jazz (Saxophone)
John Woody, SEHS — Music/Woodwinds (Flute)
