The Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) is a free summer program for talented, skilled, and gifted high school sophomores and juniors. Here at Heritage we had four students who were accepted into the program this past summer: Ceci Ward, Hannah Johnston, Hudson Case and Nicolas Anchondo.
Ward and Johnston both majored in choir, while Case and Anchondo majored in jazz.
“The Governors Honor Program is a four-week-long residential program where you go to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. It’s for kids that excel in certain subjects that their teachers nominate them for, and go to the university to learn more about it.” Johnston said.
Getting into this prestigious program is not easy. There is a seven month interview process before the program ever begins. It starts with teacher nominations that eventually lead into a county interview. Only after the county interview, and audition if your reason for nomination is fine arts, can you be selected for a state-level interview. In March, your state level interview will be conducted.
The induction process into the Governor’s Honors Program might be lengthy and difficult, but according to these three students it is absolutely worth it. They all expressed so much gratitude for the program and what it had done for them. Whether it was making new friends or learning more about music, they were all so grateful for the opportunity.
The purpose of the GHP is to teach students more about their subjects in an enriching college environment. The program aims to help students grow in their skill and knowledge.
“The program 100% helped me grow. It definitely opened a lot of doors and opportunities for the future, and it helped me realize what it meant to be in an environment where it’s strictly music.” Anchando said.
The program is also an excellent way to meet new people who share similar passions. Students from all over the state come to this program, so it is an incredible opportunity to meet people you might have otherwise never known.
“The best part of the program for me was definitely being immersed into the college environment with people who are likeminded, with the same determination as me,” Ward said. “Every day I made new friends with different people from different places, and I learned how to mesh with people I normally would not be around.”
The Governor’s Honors program is an extremely valuable opportunity that allows you to heighten your knowledge, live and study in a college setting, and meet new people with the same interests as you. Congratulations to Ceci Ward, Hannah Johnston, Hudson Case, and Nicolas Anchondo for making the Governor’s Honors Program.
