A total of 16 students from Fayette’s public high schools have been selected to attend the 2018 Governor’s Honors Program. These students will attend the program on the campus of Berry College June 18-July 15.

The following students are among the 2018 state finalists: (Fayette County High) Ruby Truscott, music; (McIntosh High) Jennifer Deng, music; Kylie Dickinson, music; Katie Dodgen, visual arts; Shayaan Kabir, music; Shi Ho Kim, social studies; Caitlin Van Zyl, engineering; Jacqueline Van Zyl, engineering; Ava Whiteley, communicative arts; (Sandy Creek High) Catherine Schulten, social studies; (Starr’s Mill High) Sarah Dorr, dance; Brady Meyer, science; Blythe Terry, communicative arts; Cole Wittbordt, social studies; (Whitewater High) Derrick Buie, science; and Edward Huang, music.

GHP is a four-week intensive study program with coursework and activities structured to stretch and challenge students beyond the normal classroom experience.  Acceptance into the program is very competitive. The state receives over 3,000 applications from sophomores and juniors each year and approximately 20 percent or less are invited to attend. Those chosen have demonstrated creativity and giftedness in academic or creative fields, superior ability in their area of study, and the social and emotional maturity required to thrive in an intensive, residential setting for the duration of the program. The Governor’s Honors Program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly, so there is no charge for students to attend.

Nomination to the program is a multi-part process beginning at the school system level to determine the nominees who are invited to complete a state application. The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement selects a limited number of students to interview at the state level. Finalists are selected from this final group.