MOULTRIE, Ga. — Seven Colquitt County students were recently named semifinalists for the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP), a four-week residential gifted summer program for rising juniors and seniors.

Colquitt County High School’s nominees include Kaitlyn Hart, Victoria Barber and Mitchell Riley in agricultural science; Haley Boyd in voice; Cameron Carr in Spanish; Sam Kundi in science; and Victoria McDaniel in theater.

CCHS Principal Stephanie Terrell said reaching this level indicates more than intelligence and skill.

“The students selected are not just exceptionally talented in their areas but are also among the most passionate,” she said. “I am so proud to see our students recognized for all of their gifts and abilities.”

Allen Edwards, director of 6-12 Gifted Education for Colquitt County, agreed.  

“It is an honor for a student just to be nominated for GHP, let alone to make it through the first round of cuts,” said Edwards. “Being chosen for the semifinalist pool places these students in the top 0.6-percent of students in the state of Georgia.”

According to its website, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), which coordinates the program, says GHP “offers instruction that is significantly different from the typical high school classroom that is designed to provide students with the academic, cultural and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators and leaders.”

During their four weeks on campus at Berry College, students attend classes in their particular discipline in the mornings and choose from a wide variety of enrichment classes for the afternoon sessions. At night, students participate in social functions directed by GHP instructors. Besides transportation to and from interviews and the program itself, there is no cost to students to participate.

The state of Georgia has more than a quarter of a million high school sophomores and juniors. From that group, around 1 percent of students were nominated for GHP from Georgia’s public and private schools, as well as its homeschool population.

Nominees completed an extensive application requiring class transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and several short-answer and essay questions. GOSA then evaluated the applications and made cuts to create a pool of semifinalists.

Later this month, these students will interview for one of about 700 finalist spots, which will place them in the top 0.3-percent in the state. Last year, Colquitt County had two students reach that level, Patti Mitchell and Mary Logan Tostenson, both in agricultural science.

GHP is one of the few remaining governor’s schools that once existed across the country but were shuttered due to tightening education budgets.

“I hold my breath every year during the state legislative session, hoping GHP will continue to receive funding,” said Edwards, noting the state cut the program from six weeks to four weeks a few years ago. “Programs like this are beneficial for all students, of course, but they are especially important to rural areas like ours to provide students an opportunity to see beyond the county line to a world of ideas just waiting to be discovered.”