Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wiley To Attend Arkansas Governor's School

Cameron Wiley, a junior at Prescott High School, has been selected to attend the 1999 Arkansas Governor's School (AGS) for the gifted and talented .

He is the son of Sam and Catherine Wiley.

Wiley was selected to participate in the natural science program. He will attend the 20th annual AGS program at Hendrix College in Conway. Gov. Mike Huckabee will welcome the students at the opening ceremony on Sunday, June 13.

Governor's School is a competitive program, which requires nomination by the high school counselor. Students are selected to attend the school on the basis of their abilities and interests in a particular academic discipline or artistic field.

They must write an essay, submit academic credentials and, if applying in an art area, perform an audition.

Approximately 700 students were nominated this year for the 400 positions. The state- wide selection committees strive to identify those students with the intellectual ability, creativity, motivation and maturity to optimally benefit from the six-week summer program.

The selection committees include professionals from the respectful fields, members of the Governor's Advisory Counsel on Gifted Education, high school administrators and teachers, all of whom spend several days auditioning and reviewing applications in the process of selecting the 1999 participants.

Established in 1980, the Arkansas Governor's School is an innovative program designed for Arkansas' brightest youth. It is fully stated funded and involves no grades, tests or credit. Students attend at no personal cost with the exception of transportation to and from the Hendrix campus.

There are Saturday classes, concerts, art exhibits, drama performances, nationally known speakers, inspiring films, as well as a distinguished faculty and staff.

The program exposes students to the best in 20th century art, music, literature, film and thought in the sciences, social sciences and humanities.

More information about the program, including curriculum, speakers and films, may be found on the AGS web site at: http//www.hendrix.edu/ags/

While Governor's School requires academic work and intellectual challenge, it is also a great deal of fun. A full-time recreation director and social activities director are on site for the entire program to plan activities for students nearly every night of the week.

Contracted by the state for the sole use of the Governor's School students, all Hendrix facilities are available for the duration of the program, including the pool, weight room, student center, Mabee recreational complex, library and computer lab.

There have been over 7,000 alumni of this special, nationally recognized summer program, which generally has approximately 75 National Merit Semifinalists in attendance each summer.

For additional information contact: Lisa Calef, administrative assistant, Arkansas Governor's School, Hendrix College, 1600 Washington Ave., Conway, AR 72032.