Catoosa County school board members received news recently that six of their local high school students were selected as finalists for the 2012 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program, a four-week summer study program for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors.

The Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) is a function of the Georgia department of education and takes place on the campus of Valdosta State University (VSU). This will be the GHP’s 49th summer in session, making it the longest continually running program of its kind in the nation.

Finalists for 2012 are: Asa Albritton (Music/Brass) from Ringgold High School, Cara Walker (Communicative Arts) and Christopher Delmas (Music/Brass) from LFO High School, Jacob Carter (Architectural Design) and Hannah Carlton (Music/Brass) from Heritage High School and Janilyn Shatz (Architectural Design) from the Performance Learning Center.

Superintendent Denia Reese praised the students as well as the program.

“I am so proud of our students who were chosen to participate in this program,” Reese said. “The interview process for the Governor’s Honors Program is very rigorous, and it is an honor to be chosen as a participant. These students will have a great educational opportunity during the four week program and they will have a memorable experience as they form friendships with other students in the state.”

More than 2900 students from across the state were interviewed and auditioned over three weekends in January and February. From those nominees, 690 finalists were chosen to participate. Since the program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly, there is no charge for students to attend.

Students arrive on the campus of VSU on Sunday, June 24. During the four-week program, they will spend the morning in their major area of nomination exploring topics not usually found in the regular high school classroom. During the afternoons, students choose one of the other areas in which to study. Evenings are filled with seminars, activities, concerts, and performances.

Dale Lyles, GHP director, said many, if not most, of GHP’s past participants regard the experience as one of the most life-changing events in their lives.

“GHP is such a competitive program that even being nominated is an accomplishment,” Lyles said. “I congratulate the students of Catoosa County public schools and look forward to meeting them and their parents in June.”

More information about GHP can be found on the Department of Education website (gadoe.org) under the division of School Improvement.