Arkansas Governor’s School began its 46th annual session on Sunday, July 6, with an opening ceremony at John E. Tucker Coliseum on the Arkansas Tech University campus in Russellville.
Dr. Jacob Grosskopf, ATU associate professor of geology and AGS director, welcomed 370 Arkansas Governor’s School students and their families.
“We want you to have an impression from Arkansas Governor’s School, and we want that impression to be concrete in your life,” said Grosskopf. “We want this to stay in your life for the entirety of your life. You have four weeks. Run…don’t trot, don’t walk. Run, be open to new things, meet new people and put yourself out there. If you do that, you will have a great experience.”
The 46th Arkansas Governor’s School will be a four-week program that will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 2. All of the students are rising high school seniors from Arkansas.
The daily class schedule at AGS is based, in part, upon each student’s demonstrated aptitude in one of nine areas of specialization: choral music, instrumental music, drama, English/language arts, mathematics, natural science, social science, visual arts or a special track dedicated to the economy, natural resources and people of Arkansas.
Those nine disciplines constitute what is defined as AGS Area I. AGS Area II is a study of the nature of knowledge, while AGS Area III is focused on the personal and social development of students.
Andre’ Davis of Benton is enrolled in the choral music AGS Area I track. His career aspiration is to become a nurse practitioner.
“It struck me as something that would allow me to have a college-esque experience before I go,” said Davis when asked why he applied for Arkansas Governor’s School. “It is also a way to get out and meet new people away from home…having that whole experience as well. I’m most looking forward to talking to people. I’ve been other places, and meeting new people has always been fun for me. I enjoy meeting other types of people from other regions of Arkansas who have different life experiences.”
Dafne Reyes of North Little Rock also views AGS as an opportunity to expand her horizons during the summer before her senior year in high school. Her AGS Area I studies will be focused on the social sciences.
“Not being at home for the entirety of the summer and the fact that it seems like a really good learning opportunity is why I decided to apply,” said Reyes, who wants to major in biology during her undergraduate education and apply to medical school. “I think it will be really good for socializing, making connections and making new friends.”
Another aspect of AGS that appeals to Reyes is the fact that there are no grades.
“I won’t be so stressed when I turn in an assignment or have that thing in my mind that it has to be perfect to get a really good score,” said Reyes. “I think it will be stress free, and I think that’s good because I feel like when you are stress free, you learn better.”
In addition to Grosskopf, other speakers at the AGS opening ceremony were Lupe Peña de Martínez, director of student support services for the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and AGS alumna; Dr. Adolfo Santos, ATU executive vice president for academic affairs and provost; and Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president.
“Since convening its inaugural class in 1980, Arkansas Governor’s School has challenged rising high school seniors to closely examine the world in which they live and how they might change it for the better,” said Jones. “Arkansas Tech University is pleased to serve as caretaker for this important tradition as go forward.
“We have almost 400 of this state’s best and brightest rising high school seniors together in one room,” continued Jones. “Look around you. You might see some familiar faces. You no doubt see many people you are meeting for the first time. Get to know them. Learn their story, and share your story with them. These are your peers. These individuals, like you, have committed to investing four weeks of their summer in growing and developing academically, personally and socially. Each of you will leave here in four weeks with a new set of critical thinking skills, a new bank of knowledge and memories you will carry for the rest of your life.”
