Applications and Forms

Applications to GHA 2020 

The application process is two-pronged.  Part I which is submitted on line, via the link at the bottom of this page, and Part II, a paper document that is completed as a pdf fillable form. 

All applications are submitted to the student's school by the date announced by the school counselor.  A committee from each school reviews the applications and forwards them to the county coordinator.  A county-wide selection committee then selects one male and one female as superintendent's choices and submits names and applications of other worthy students to the statewide selection team.  

For students:
GHA 2020 Application, Part I
This section of the application, which will take about five minutes to complete, must be completed by the time you are to submit your application to the school counselor.
GHA Application Part II

Part II is to be submitted to your guidance counselor by the date set at the school. 
Class Descriptions  for 2019 The descriptions of the classes from 2019 can give you a hint of the kinds of courses that will be offered in 2020.

 Faculty applications are due February 1; Residential applications are due February 12.

 Faculty Application 2020

 Resident Director/Resident Assistant application  2020
 

For schools and county coordinators

County coordinator responsibilities

1. The first thing the county coordinator should do is read through the entire website, looking for appropriate forms and making note of important information. For example, the Superintendent's Selection form is found in a link in item # 8 below.
2. County coordinators should contact each high school to let the counselor or principal know the central office due date. This includes both public and private schools.
3. Each county has the privilege of choosing one male and one female to attend GHA. If there are suitable applications from both genders, counties may NOT submit the names of two students of the same gender as superintendent's choices. On the other hand, those names and applications may be submitted for consideration in the statewide pool.
4. The county selection team shall consist of the superintendent's designee (usually the county coordinator), one teacher of honors or advanced classes from each represented high school in the district, a counselor, a teacher of gifted students, and a representative from career/technical education.
5. Plan your selection meeting early enough so that if school is cancelled you will still have time to reschedule and meet the deadline.
6. When selecting students, try to be equitable across schools unless there is a serious breach in the quality of applicants.
7. Check to see that the pages are stapled and ordered numerically, with the essay and transcript/test record at the end. Fasten with staples; do not send photographs; and do not put each application in a separate folder.
8. Submit names and applications postmarked by February 10 to Sherry Keffer, WVDE, Building 6, Room 221, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East; Charleston, WV 25305. The address is also on the bottom of the Superintendent's Selection Form.

Principal or counselor responsibilities

Inform all qualifying students of their eligibility. Speak with students about the merit of GHA. If a student from your school attended last year, have him/her speak to prospective students. Inform students that the application is available at  govschools.wv.gov, and guide them to it.

1. For students who do not have home Internet access, provide an opportunity for the student to complete the application using a school computer.
2. Set a due date for students to submit applications at the school level. Remember that the county must submit superintendent's selections and alternates to the state office no later than published deadline, so you must check with the county coordinator to see when he/she must have the applications from your school.
3. Be certain to include first-semester or first-term grades. If they have not been transcripted, a copy of  the most current grade card will suffice.
4. Check to see that online application confirmation sheet is on top of the application.
5. Establish a selection committee composed of the principal or designee, a teacher of gifted or high level courses, the counselor, a technical education teacher, an alumnus of GHA if possible, and others at the discretion of the principal.
6. Meet with selection committee to review all applications and rank the recommended applications for the county selection team.
7. Send applications and rankings to county selection coordinator, using the Principal's Recommendation Form.  Check to see that the pages are stapled and ordered numerically, with the essay and transcript/test record at the end.
8. Fasten with STAPLES; do not send photographs; and do not put each application in a separate folder.

Principal's Selection Form 

Superintendent's Selection and Recommendation Form