News

3/22/2013: The list of finalists for GHP 2013 is downloadable to the right.

The dates of the 2013 program are June 23-July 20, 2013.

General Information 

The Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP) is a summer residential instructional program (four weeks in 2013) 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, life-long learners.  The Georgia Governor's Honors Program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly and operates at no cost to the participant. 

Sophomores and juniors in public, private, and home schools are eligible to be nominated in one of twenty areas.  Any student interested in being nominated for GHP should contact the school counselor during August. (See the Instructional Description and Criteria to the right.)  Every school and school system manages the nomination process its own way, so it is important to remember that the deadlines in the Organizational Timeline are for the school systems, not for students.  Student deadlines will be significantly earlier.  

Home schooled students who are interested in being nominated for GHP should download and read the Governor's Honors Program Guidance 160-4-2-.09 document linked at the right. It is highly recommended that you contact your local school system GHP coordinator before September 1, 2012 in order to be considered for the 2013 summer program. 

There are no “application forms” available online.  Every student is nominated by a teacher at the school level. 

FAQ

Who is eligible?

Current sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors the following summer) in Georgia's public, private, and home schools may be nominated by their teachers.  Note that students do not “apply”; they are nominated by teachers in one of the major areas of study.

 GHP is a great opportunity for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors to:

• Take part in an exceptional summer enrichment program
• Spend six weeks of study (four weeks in 2012) on a college campus in Georgia
• Be taught by outstanding high school and college instructors
• Study in-depth their academic or artistic field of interest
• Enhance interpersonal skills through peer group living

What are the major areas?

Major instructional areas are:

• agricultural science (biotechnology, environmental science)
  
• communicative arts (English)
  
• languages (French, German, Latin, Spanish)
• mathematics
  
• science (biology, chemistry, physics)
• social studies
• dance
• music (brass, jazz, percussion, piano, strings, voice, woodwinds)
  
• theatre (performance, design)
• visual arts
  
• architectural/commercial design
• technology
• executive management

Instruction is also provided in four support areas - computers, counseling, library/media and physical fitness.

When does all this happen?

In August, each school system or private school is assigned a nomination quota based on the average daily attendance of its 10th and 11th grades. Each system/private school manages the nomination and selection process in its own way; the state GHP office does not supervise the local process.  Questions about the local process should be directed to the system coordinator.

In late August, information pertaining to the Governor's Honors Program nomination process will be posted to the GHP website.  Postings include the GHP Timeline, GHP Instructional Descriptions and Criteria for Selection in All Areas, and other documents pertinent to the GHP selection process.  

Also at that time, system level coordinators will receive the full nomination guidelines so that they may begin the identification and nomination process within their school systems.

A score on the PSAT or SAT is required for selection and participation in the program.

Transcripts of grades and records, nomination forms, endorsements and other pertinent information are used to substantiate the nominations. 

Systems/private schools must have their nomination forms submitted to the GHP office and approved by early December.

Local system nominees then go to statewide interviews/auditions in January and February, where this written evidence plus data gathered in the student interview/auditions are used to select finalists.

Finalists are announced in early March.

What other activities are offered at the program?

Students also select a minor area outside their major area of study.  This takes place after arriving at the program.

Minors include all the major instructional areas as well as the support areas in computers, counseling, and fitness.  There is also a minor in education. Students select their minor during the first week of the program.  

In addition to the major and minor areas of study, students may elect to attend extracurricular activities from the nearly 100 educational seminars offered each week.  These afternoon and evening activities are delivered by, and reflect the interests and abilities of, the GHP residential and instructional staff.  Performances such as concerts, theatre and dance productions, and visual arts shows are ongoing throughout the summer and provided by the GHP students, GHP faculty, and special guest artists.

Where does the program take place?

Students attend the program on the campus of Valdosta State University, in Valdosta, Georgia.

What schedule will a student usually follow?

This is what a typical day at GHP looks like:

Who pays for the program?

Funds for each student’s tuition, room, board, and instructional supplies are appropriated each year by the Georgia General Assembly as part of the state’s education budget. Students need only provide spending money and travel expenses.

How are instructors chosen?

GHP Instructors are among the most qualified high school and college teachers. They are chosen according to their experience and recommendations. The GHP teacher-to-student ratio is usually 1:15.  Anyone who is interested in applying to teach or to serve as a resident assistant in the program should go to the Employment page for further information.

This page was updated Friday, March 22, 2013.
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