From left, Victoria McDaniel, Katelyn Hart and Sam Kundi have been accepted to the prestigious Governor’s Honors Program at Berry College in Rome, Ga. GHP is a four-week residential summer program for gifted and talented, rising juniors and seniors in high school. More than 3,000 students across the state complete the rigorous application and interview process but less than 700 are accepted.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Three Colquitt County High School students were selected to attend the Governor’s Honors Program, a four-week residential gifted summer program for rising juniors and seniors.

Juniors Kaitlyn Hart (agriculture science), Sam Kundi (science), and Victoria McDaniel (theatre) were among only 700 students chosen for the program, which includes students from agricultural science, communicative arts, dance, engineering, mathematics, music, science, social studies, theatre, visual arts, and world languages.

As finalists, Hart, Kundi, and McDaniel are among the top 0.3-percent of juniors and sophomores in the state.

Adrienne Smith, agriculture teacher at CCHS, described Hart as a dedicated student.

“When she puts her mind to a task, nothing can stop her,” said Smith. “She is passionate about agriculture and the FFA. This combined with her work ethic and inquisitive mind has gotten her where she is today.”

Drama teacher Betsy Jones said McDaniel diligently prepared for her interview, which included a rigorous audition.

“Tori’s enthusiasm for and dedication to our drama program is unparalleled,” said Jones. “I am excited that she has earned this amazing opportunity to expand her theater knowledge and skills, to learn from master teachers, and to work with other actors.”

Natalie Griner, Kundi’s science teacher, also spoke highly of her student.

“Sam is an intelligent, responsible young man,” she said. “I would consider him to be an asset to any academic program he chooses to pursue.”

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.”

Allen Edwards, director of 6-12 Gifted Education, said GHP is a unique educational experience.

“GHP is usually the first opportunity the best students from our school have to spend time with intellectual peers who match their abilities and passion,” said Edwards. “Every year our students come back and describe GHP as life changing.”

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, a little over one-percent of students were nominated from Georgia’s public and private schools and homeschool population.

Nominees completed an extensive application requiring class transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendations, and several short-answer and essay questions. GOSA then evaluated the applications and made cuts to create a pool of semifinalists, who interviewed in February for a finalist spot.

For more information on the Governor’s Honors Program, visit http://gosa.georgia.gov/governors-honors-program or call Allen Edwards at (229) 890-6200 ext. 10074.