Sixteen local finalists in 2012 Governor's Honor Program | Community Spirit

COLUMBUS, GA - There are 16 Muscogee County School District students named as finalists for the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP).

The GHP is a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. It is a function of the Georgia Department of Education and takes place on the campus of Valdosta State University (VSU). 

The 2012 program, in the 49th summer, is the longest continually running program of its kind in the nation.

More than 2,900 students from across the state were interviewed and auditioned over three weekends in January and February. 690 finalists were chosen from the nominees to participate in the 2012 program.

The program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly and there is no charge for students to attend.

Students will arrive on the campus of VSU on Sunday, June 24. For four weeks, students will spend the morning in their major area of nomination and explore topics that are not usually found in the regular high school classroom. Students choose another area to study in the afternoons. The curriculum is challenging and engaging in all areas.

Participants attend seminars, activities, concerts, and performances. Many, if not most of GHP’s past participants, regard the Honor’s Program as one of the most life-changing events in their lives.

Mr. Dale Lyles, the director, said, “GHP is such a competitive program that even being nominated is an accomplishment. I congratulate the students of Muscogee County School District and look forward to meeting them and their parents in June.”

School                                         Name                               Subject

Columbus High Magnet          Barre, Chandler             Agriscience/Environ. Science

Columbus High Magnet          Bezner, Jeremia            Mathematics

Columbus High Magnet          Bray, Walton                   Chemistry

Columbus High Magnet          Dabke, Isha                   Spanish

Columbus High Magnet          Dickmann, Ryan            Mathematics

Columbus High Magnet          Hardin, Emily                  Music/Voice (Soprano)

Columbus High Magnet          Huckaby, Richard           Music/Voice (Tenor)

Columbus High Magnet          Mason, Margaret            Communicative Arts

Columbus High Magnet          Nordin, Alexander          Mathematics

Columbus High Magnet          Philyaw, Alexandra         Social Studies

Columbus High Magnet          Sommer, Aaron              Mathematics

Columbus High Magnet          Venkatachalam, Sivakumar   Social Studies

Hardaway High                       Copeland, Abigail          Spanish

Hardaway High                       Kelley, Margaret             Social Studies

Northside High (Muscogee)    Rentz, Rebecca             Music/Piano

Northside High (Muscogee)    Seifert, Devyn                 Music/Voice (Soprano)