Eight Newton County Schools’ (NCS) high school students have been named semi-finalists for the 2025 Governor’s Honors Program (GHP). The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) is a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school students who will be rising juniors and seniors during the program. The program offers instruction that is significantly different from the typical high school classroom. It is designed to provide students with academic, cultural, and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators, and leaders.
GHP is held in mid-summer (mid-June to mid-July) as a residential educational experience on a college or university campus. This year’s program will be hosted by Georgia Southern University from June 15 through July 12, 2025. Students will attend classes in the mornings and afternoons in specific areas of study, and then participate in a wide variety of social and instructional opportunities every evening. Meals and rooms are provided by the program.
Students interested in attending must participate in a series of interviews and should be able to speak eloquently and in great detail about the subject they choose. They are students who desire to work with their subject outside of school and go above and beyond. Students may be nominated in Communicative Arts (ELA), all the Foreign Languages, Math, Science, Social Studies, Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Engineering, and Agriscience.
NCS students who have successfully passed the school and district-level interviews and had their applications approved by GOSA to be named a semifinalist in the program are as follows:
GHP Semifinalists
| NAME |
|
SCHOOL |
|
GRADE |
|
SUBJECT AREA |
| Jenny Andrade |
|
Alcovy High |
|
11 |
|
Visual Arts |
| Adriana Drain |
|
Alcovy High & NCCA STEM Institute |
|
10 |
|
Social Studies |
| Chrislynn Woodruff |
|
Alcovy High & NCCA STEM Institute |
|
11 |
|
Communicative Arts |
| Anthony Miller |
|
Alcovy High & NCCA STEM Institute |
|
10 |
|
Engineering: Electrical & Computational |
| Derek Gawlinski |
|
Eastside & NCCA STEM Institute |
|
11 |
|
Mathematics |
| Briley Reed |
|
Newton High & NCCA STEM Institute |
|
11 |
|
Visual Arts |
| Bailey Fuller |
|
Newton High |
|
10 |
|
Dance |
| Emilee Beal |
|
Newton High |
|
11 |
|
Social Studies |
“Being named a semifinalist for the Governor’s Honors Program is a tremendous achievement, and we are incredibly proud of these students,” said Tracy Blackburn, Chief of Learning & Leadership for Newton County Schools. “Their selection speaks volumes about their talent, dedication, and passion for learning. We also recognize and appreciate the educators who have supported them along the way. We wish each of our semifinalists the very best of luck as they advance to the next phase of the Governor’s Honors Program selection process.”