Fayette County public high schools have 24 students selected to attend the 2015 Governor’s Honors Program on the campus of Valdosta State University June 21 – July 18.
Judges selected the participants based on interviews and auditions of all statewide nominees.
Between 650-690 students are accepted into the program, which has 20 areas of study.
The Governor’s Honors Program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly, so there is no charge for students to attend.
The following students are among the 2015 state finalists: (Fayette County High) Martine Bartley (dance), Brandon James (social studies), Anthony Weaver (music); (McIntosh High) Rachel Anders (music), John Hamlin (social studies), Maxine Hauser (visual arts), Gordon Lai (engineering-design), Daniel “Tyler” Lane (music), Julie Lim (science), Steven Lukehart (music), Jihoon Shin (math), Audrey Landrum (theatre design); (Sandy Creek High) Phaidra Buchanan (math), Heyley Gatewood (math), Arianna Brown (visual arts); (Starr’s Mill High) Maria Curry (social studies), Miguel Gonzalez (Spanish), Anna Hall (dance); (Whitewater High) Lara Barton (communicative arts), Caprice Carrington (German), Derrell Dallas (music), Amber Melton (German), Kirsten Reynolds (theatre), Benjamin Sexton (science).
The Governor’s Honors Program is a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. A function of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, it takes place on the campus of Valdosta State University where students study in their major area of concentration as well as one other area of their choice for four weeks. The curriculum is challenging and engaging, and addresses topics usually not found in the regular high school classroom. The program is in its 52nd year of operation, making it the longest continually running program of its kind in the nation.
The selection process is lengthy and begins in the fall when teachers from each high school nominate students for outstanding performance in particular areas of study. The nominated students advance to county-level interviews where those for state consideration are selected.
