It will be a summer of life-changing opportunities to hone their craft for the Governor’s Honors Program State Finalists. A total of 19 students representing each of Fayette’s public high schools have been selected to attend the 2022 GHP on the campus of Berry College June 19-July 16.

GHP is a four-week intensive study of undergraduate, graduate, and professional-level coursework, and experience in a given field. Students spend approximately 27 hours a week in highly-advanced classes in their fields, encompassing 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.

Representing Fayette County High are Briyana Wheeler (Social Studies) and Taylor Williams (Theatre Performance). 

Representing McIntosh is Andrew Lakly (Music Strings: String Bass). 

Representing Sandy Creek are Olivia Lohr (Communicative Arts) and Jaivyn Beauford (Dance). 

Eight Starr’s Mill students were chosen: McAlister Stanford (Communicative Arts), Lucas Nyman (Music Strings: Violin), Croft Stone (Music Strings: Violin), Hyehyeon Kim (Music Woodwind: Oboe), Dokyeong Lee (Chemistry), Sarah Bender (Chemistry), Joshua McNulty (Physics), and Nash Glover (Social Studies). 

Six Whitewater students were selected: Harrison Bonner (Engineering: Mechanical & Electrical), Kara Thaxton (Music Brass: Euphonium), Virginia Merritt (Music Brass: Tuba), Jonathan Rodriguez (Music Voice: Tenor/Soprano), Owen Quick (Music Woodwind: Bassoon), and Olivia Ray (Social Studies). 

Sameer Chowdury of McIntosh (Music Jazz: Piano) and Emily Stanek of Starr’s Mill (Mathematics) were chosen at alternates. 

Nomination to the program is a multi-part process beginning at the school system level with an exam in the students’ selected subject area. If students meet the cut-off score, they participate in a county-level interview, which determines 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.

GHP has been in operation more than 50 years, making it the longest continually-running program of its kind in the nation.