Governor’s schools help students gain insight on careers
It took a four weeks of intense study at the Governor’s School for the Arts in 1998 to help her decide where to go to college, what she wanted to study and how she wanted to spend the rest of her life.
“It was a big, life-changing thing. I discovered my strength was in special-effects makeup and props,” said Johnson, a recent MTSU graduate who wants to be a professional stage manager. “I would absolutely recommend it for anyone.”
Each year, hundreds of top students from public and private high schools across the state apply to attend one of the Governor’s schools, which are scheduled for June 13 through July 9 on various college campuses in Tennessee.
Students choose between academies offering specialties like fine arts, the humanities, science, international studies, Tennessee heritage, teaching manufacturing and agricultural science.
Money set aside for the annual schools could double next year through Gov. Phil Bredesen’s budget plan. It calls for an additional $750,000 for the schools, which would bring their total budget up to $1.5 million a year.
Bredesen, who says he’s a fan of the schools, wants to expand the program from four to six weeks starting in 2005. In the meantime, the extra money will cover the cost of students’ tuition, lodging, meals and trips for the current four-week program.
“We put considerable extra money in there for the Governor’s schools to extend them out,” he said in a recent meeting with teachers.
Bredesen himself got a scholarship to spend six weeks at Cornell University while attending high school in upstate New York. He credits the experience with helping him choose a career path.
“It changed my life,” he said. “Let’s try to replicate that type of thing.”
About 800 students will be chosen to attend in the schools this summer, according to officials.
Chosen participants must rank at the top of their class, present strong letters of recommendation and show talent in the area they want to study. Some schools also require students to audition or submit portfolios.
Sara Stinemetz, a Nashville School of the Arts junior who has applied to the same arts program Johnson attended, hopes her portfolio of work behind the scenes at school plays will help her get in.
If accepted, she would like to study technical theater and learn more about costume-making, lighting, sound and direction.
“It helps you know what you want to do and if you want to do it professionally,” said Sara, 16. “It would really narrow (it) down.”
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On the Net:
Tennessee Governor’s School, http://www.state.tn.us/education/eegov01.htm
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