Governor’s School underway at The W
Mississippi University for Women kicked off its 43rd annual Mississippi Governor’s School Sunday, and it will run through Saturday, June 15.
This year’s program has brought 60 high school scholars from across the state for the two-week, tuition free residential learning experience.
“We have 60 of the state’s brightest and most gifted high school students enrolled in rigorous academic coursework and leadership opportunities. Alongside the scholars, we have 20 visiting faculty and community engagement staff on campus to make this MGS experience the best possible summer program,” said Penny Mansell, director of the Center for Education Support at The W.
The W administration and faculty and Governor William F. Winter established the MGS in 1981. Since its establishment, the MGS has provided approximately 3,500 students from across the state with a high-quality educational experience that has challenged them to grow as individuals.
Courses for the session include “Agents of Change: Exploring Legal and Ethical Principles in Healthcare Practice,” “Changes in the Fairy Tale Genre Across Time and Space,” “Duels and Duality: Mathematical Abstraction and Programming,” “Shaping Communities: An Exploration of Urban Planning in Mississippi,” “Changing the World through Video Games,” and many others.
One feature that distinguishes the governor’s school model from traditional models of learning is the emphasis on the interaction between formal and informal learning, which often results in more autonomous and self-reflective learners.
Using humanities, the arts, science and mathematics and their interrelatedness as a forum, MGS courses examine the relationships between the application of knowledge and the social, economic, political, environmental, cultural and educational issues facing a changing world.
Saturday, June 8, will be the MGS Day of Service. Having the opportunity to participate in a meaningful service-learning project can result in a positive impact on the community that hosts MGS. The scholars, faculty and staff will visit Franklin Academy to tidy classrooms, organize supplies and overall beautify the school grounds.
The session will close Saturday, June 15, with convocation from 9-11 a.m. in Nissan Auditorium at Parkinson Hall. The event brings together all scholars, faculty, staff and family together for one final time. There are planned to be some guests from the Mississippi State Senate and the State Institutions of Higher Learning present at the event as well.