I found this story on the Hall County Schools Website and thought it deserved a special mention on our website.  Congratulations to our Hall County teachers for their committment and dedication to teaching, and to the nine hard-working students who made it into this elite program...

Dr. Sally Krisel, Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning, reports that the system has set a record for the number of Hall County students who have been selected to attend the Governor’s Honors Program! Nine of the 37 exceptional students we sent to the Statewide Interviews have been named Finalists (the previous high was seven in 2007). They are:

Bridget Neukum, Chestatee High, Mathematics
Cameron Phillips, Chestatee High, Mathematics
Rachel Siegfried, Chestatee High, Communicative Arts
Taylor Pettit, Flowery Branch High, Theatre
Rachel Stoker, Flowery Branch High, Communicative Arts
James Bellamy, Johnson High, Music (Tenor)
Kyle Bellamy, Johnson High, Music (Tenor)
Leah Smith, North Hall High, Theatre
Benjamin Golden, West Hall High, Music (Baritone)

These students will be invited to participate in the Governor’s Honors Program at Valdosta State University from June 8 through July 19, 2008. Superintendent Will Schofield congratulates to these students, the teachers who have helped them develop their gifts through the years, and the GHP coordinators at each school who work so hard with their candidates.

According to the press release : The Governor's Honors Program (GHP) is a six-week summer instructional 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.  GHP is the oldest and largest program of its type in the country.  Six hundred ninety Finalists (one fourth of one percent of eligible sophomores and juniors in the state) will be invited to participate in the 45^th annual GHP.