Newton Citizen

Photo by Howard Reed

COVINGTON -- More than 30 Newton County students will learn this week if they will get to participate in an educational summer program in south Georgia.

The Newton County School System recently announced that it has 32 students -- seven from Alcovy High School, 13 from Eastside High and 12 from Newton High -- who were nominated to represent the district in this year's annual Governor's Honors program.

The state-funded program is in its 48th year and is held at the campus of Valdosta State University for a few weeks each summer.

Students were nominated by their teachers for a specific instructional area matching their abilities, aptitudes and interests. Nominees had to provide recommendation letters and grades, and these nominees also recently participated in state interviews or auditions.

Only rising juniors and seniors from Georgia's public and private high schools are eligible to participate in the program designed to provide intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students challenging and enriching educational opportunities not usually available during the regular school year, according to NCSS.

The students will learn their fates at 4 p.m. Friday, when finalists are announced for this year's program. Their names will be placed on the Governor's Honors Program page on the Georgia Department of Education's Web site, www.doe.k12.ga.us.

Last year, only three Eastside High School students were part of the nearly 700 students chosen from around the state. GHP hasn't announced how many students from around the state will be chosen for this year's program.

This summer's GHP is scheduled from June 26 until July 23. Usually, the program lasts six weeks, but this year it was cut due to revenue shortfalls and reduced budgets at the state level.

While there, students will take classes in the areas of their majors and minors, as well as participate in elective classes, attend seminars and hear from special guests.

Instructional areas offered include English, foreign languages, mathematics, science, social studies, visual art, theater, music, dance, executive business management, commercial and industrial architectural design, technology and agriscience in the area of biotechnology or environmental science.

At A Glance

2011 Newton County School System Governor's Honors Program Nominees

Name - School - Area of Nomination

Meredith Hewitt - Alcovy High School - Visual Arts

Robert Hight - Alcovy High School - Biology

Jeffrey Jones - Alcovy High School - Social Studies

Max Alas Solorio - Alcovy High School - Chemistry

Amanda Barrentine - Alcovy High School - Latin

Sandy Davis - Alcovy High School - Latin

Dominique Claggette - Alcovy High School - Visual Arts

Robin Greer - Eastside High School - Mathematics

Seth Kimbrell - Eastside High School - Latin

Marshal Conner Bryan - Eastside High School - Latin

Morgan Green - Eastside High School - Latin

Jazmin Ireland Eastside High School - Latin

Maya Collins - Eastside High School - Mathematics

Mary Lathem - Eastside High School - Communicative Arts

Arynn Veteto - Eastside High School - Visual Arts

Brittany Worton - Eastside High School - Visual Arts

Kalin Jordan - Eastside High School - Visual Arts

Marisa Trammel - Eastside High School - Music/Woodwinds (Flute)

Gemariah M E Clark - Eastside High School - Music/Brass (Tuba)

Chelsea Flowers - Eastside High School - Music/Voice (Alto)

Martha Gourley - Newton High School - Dance

Alex Grady - Newton High School - Mathematics

Ian Bachiller - Newton High School - Social Studies

Jasmine Johnson - Newton High School - Social Studies

Jemeia Kollie - Newton High School - Social Studies

Ian Elliott - Newton High School - Social Studies

Omar Scruggs - Newton High School - Social Studies

Shacora Mitchell - Newton High School - Executive Management

Alexander Oshifodunrin - Newton High School - Technology

Amanda Manowski - Newton High School - Visual Arts

Aaron Cole - Newton High School - Visual Arts

Erica Dawkins - Newton High School - Music/Voice (Alto)