Fairmont State welcomes high school scholars for the Governor's Honors Academy

Nearly 100 rising high school seniors from across the state will be on the campus of Fairmont State University this summer to participate in the West Virginia Governor’s Honors Academy.

The Governor’s Honors Academy is a three-week, summer residential program funded by the State Legislature. Through a competitive bidding process, Fairmont State was selected by the West Virginia Department of Education to host the Academy from 2022 through 2024.

“One of the things that made us stand out is the close-knit, community feel of Fairmont State,” said Robin Payne, Director of the Honors Program at Fairmont State. “What we can offer is a real college experience; we have a sizable university campus that it is accessible, safe, beautiful and walkable.”

This year’s Governor’s Honors Academy will take place Sunday, June 18 through Saturday, July 8. Key dates throughout the three-week program include:

• Sunday, June 18 – Move-in Day with Opening Session, 1 - 3 p.m.
• Saturday, July 1 – Outstanding Educator Luncheon, 12 - 3 p.m.
• Saturday, July 8 – Academic Showcase, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

“Preparations have been going really smoothly and we are looking forward to providing a great experience for this year’s students,” said Payne. “From faculty, housing and student life to the Falcon Center, facilities and student health, it really took a village coming together to pull this off.”

The free, non-credit program is designed to uniquely supplement the high school curriculum. During their time on campus, students participating in GHA will live in the residence halls and attend intensive courses that enable them to take a deep dive into a chosen subject area as well as broad-based courses that provide the opportunity to explore topics that might be outside of their intended fields of study. According to Payne, GHA courses are taught by faculty from institutions across the state, high school teachers and industry-leading professionals. Students will also participate in various social activities and off-campus field trips.

“The Governor’s Honors Academy brings together high-achieving students who possess intellectual curiosity to see, do and learn things that may otherwise not be available to them,” said Payne. “Our hope is that they’ll return home with a sense of community and the notion that the sky is the limit.”