Rome Reporter

After a competitive interview and testing process, five students from Rome High School have been named as Governor’s Honors Finalists. They will participate in the Governor’s Honor Program during the summer.

The students, Andrew Neal, Isha Garg, Lucy Johnson, Emillie Maloney, and Yash Garg, were selected in various nomination fields. Neal was chosen for Music with a Trombone concentration. Isha Garg was selected in Science focusing on Biology/Environmental Science. Yash Garg was chosen in Social Studies, while Johnson and Maloney were both selected in Dance.

“We are extremely proud and excited that all of these students are going to be part of the Governor's Honor Program this summer,” said Rome High School Principal Parke Wilkinson. “I know that all of them have worked very hard to get into the program and will represent Rome High School well.”

The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program, known as GHP, is a residential summer initiative aimed at talented high school sophomores and juniors. The program offers instruction that deviates from typical high school classrooms. It aims to provide academic, cultural, and social enrichment to foster the development of future global critical thinkers, innovators, and leaders.

Over 4,000 students from public and private high schools across Georgia were nominated based on excellence in fields such as Agricultural Science, Communicative Arts, Dance, Engineering, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Studies, Theatre, Visual Arts, and World Languages. Of these, roughly 1,500 were named semifinalists, and about 650 became finalists. Funded by the Georgia General Assembly, the program is offered at no cost to students.

The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program is celebrated as the nation’s longest-running initiative of its type.

For four weeks, students will attend Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, spending mornings in their primary nomination areas, exploring topics not usually covered in high schools. Afternoon sessions allow students to explore other areas, and evenings are filled with seminars, activities, concerts, and performances.