Governor's schools of excellence await teens this summer

More than 16,000 young people have taken advantage of the program.
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Summertime educational adventures await Pennsylvania's teens at the 2007 Pennsylvania Governor's Schools of Excellence, June 24-July 28.
Current high school sophomores and juniors in Pennsylvania who demonstrate artistic or academic talent are eligible to apply for the eight residential programs that will run for five weeks on college campuses.
Tuition, room and board, classroom materials and program activities are provided by the state for students selected to participate in the programs. Selection is competitive, and each school has its own application deadline at different dates in January.
Governor's Schools offer talented students a living/learning community in which they pursue their areas of interest in depth with master teachers who are also practitioners in their fields. The programs also provide college and career advice and leadership training. Many colleges and universities in Pennsylvania offer exclusive admissions scholarships to graduates of the Governor's Schools.
Notable alumni
Some notable alumni of the programs include the 1998 Pulitzer Prize winner in music composition, Aaron Jay Kernis; actor Kevin Bacon; and best-selling novelist Alice Sebold. More than 16,000 young people have graduated from the program over its 30-year history.
The 2007 programs are:
School for the Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University, University Park.
School for the Arts at Mercyhurst College, Erie.
School for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University, Bethlehem.
School for Health Care at University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (juniors only).
School for Information, Society and Technology at Drexel University, Philadelphia. (juniors only).
School for International Studies at University of Pittsburgh (juniors only).
School for the Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh (juniors only).
School for Teaching at Millersville University, Lancaster County (juniors only).
Sponsorship
The Governor's Schools are sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education with support from the state's 29 Intermediate Units. Additionally, the Governor's School for Health Care is funded by the state Department of Health.
Applications are available in the guidance offices of all public and nonpublic high schools. They are also available online at www.pgse.org. The information line for the Governor's Schools of Excellence is (570) 524-5244. Staff members are available to answer questions on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays.
Applications and/or information for students in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties may also be obtained from Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV at (724) 458-6700, Ext. 249, or go to www.miu4.k12.pa.us.