The nominees will interview

or audition for limited (and highly competitive) attendance slots at the

prestigious summer study program, held each year at Valdosta State University.

Dr Peggy Connell congratulated

the students for their nominations, and for their "desire to learn

and commitment to education" which propels them to seek one of the

coveted spots on the state-wide program. Connell also thanked and praised

nominees' parents.

Nominees include:

Northgate - Rachael E.

Collinsworth (music), Andrew B. Kreeger (music), Lauren M. Leschper (comm.

Arts), Rebecca M. Moody (Spanish), Justin Lee Romero (Spanish), Kristle

L. Scanlon (visual arts), Emmanuel D. Thelamour (French), Chloe G. Waddington

(French), Michael Buck Alford (visual arts), Daniel Ray Baker (physics).

Newnan - Kim Michelle

Douglas (drama), Megan Ann McCoy (music), Ava Leisl Blake (chemistry),

Laurie Anne Bond (dance), Erin Rae Toole (art), Leslie Ann Cassells (agriscience),

Laura Ashley Booth (visual arts), Myra Emily Dennis (French), Kristen

Grace Moore (mathematics), Elizabeth Ann Turner (art), Taylor Alan Cash

(Music).

East Coweta - Tarun Dinesh

Patel (chemistry), Phillip Allen Tignor (mathematics), Nicholas Tivy Spears

(social studies), Ashley Kay McKown (comm. arts), Miles G. Kennedy (visual

arts), Rachel Elizabeth Green (visual arts), Courtney Alexandra Bailey

(theatre), Jillian Dionne Arnett (music), Robin Kaye Laverentz (music),

Samantha Marie Pepper Murphy (music), Constance Eveliene Palmer (dance).

Central Education Center -

Daniel William Sizemore (comm. design), Jorge Alberto Duran-Colindres

(graphic arts).

The 2004 Governor's Honors

Program will be in session from mid-June through late July at Valdosta

State University. Rising juniors and seniors in Georgia's public

and private high schools may be nominated by their teachers. The program

is designed to provide intellectually gifted and artistically talented

high school students challenging and enriching educational opportunities

not usually available during the regular school year.

Activities are designed to

provide each participant with opportunities to acquire the skills, knowledge

and attitudes to become independent, lifelong learners. Students are nominated

to GHP in a specific instructional area in which their abilities, aptitudes

and interest lie. Each school system or private school is assigned a nomination

quota based on the average daily attendance of its 10th and 11th grades.

Transcripts of grades and records, nomination forms, endorsements and

other pertinent information are submitted to substantiate the nominations.

Local nominees are then sent to the screening interviews or auditions.

Several Coweta County teachers

also serve as instructors or administrators at the annual Governor's

Honors Program, including Newnan Crossing media specialist Dale Lyles,

who serves as the assistant director for instruction.