Area Residents Enjoy Samford’s Alabama Governor’s School

Students from 10 area high schools were chosen to attend Alabama Governor’s School at Samford University June 15-27. They were among 91 outstanding rising high school seniors from 24 counties who were selected for the two-week honors program.

Participants included, by school:

Bob Jones Abby Holtzclaw.

Clemens Sarah Mowery and Haelin Oh.

Madison Academy Jordan Mills.

Pope John Paul II Catholic Joseph Hoang, Keith Martin, Elena Skarupa and Kate Valentine.

The students enjoyed college level experience in academics, creativity and leadership. They undertook a community service project, visited American Village in Montevallo, attended a Birmingham Barons baseball game and heard special lectures on servant leadership and worldwide human rights issues. In the classroom, they chose from 16 course topics to study in morning and afternoon sessions.

AGS participants are nominated by their schools on the basis of academic ability, leadership qualities, creativity, community service and a written essay. This year’s 91-member roster represented the largest number of participants in the history of AGS, which began at Samford in 1987. They were chosen from a record number of 164 nominations, according to AGS director George Keller, who noted that this year’s participants were particularly keen on absorbing all aspects of the program.

“These students took full advantage of the opportunities provided to them, and reported that their lives were changed because of the experience,” Keller said.