Testimonials

“Being surrounded by 199 of the state's smartest students is an eye-opening experience. While here I took part in interesting classes, intellectual debates, and just plain thinking more than I do on a typical day. The experience has truly inspired me to set high goals for myself and never settle for less, to push myself to do my best academically, and it has instilled a desire for learning that was not there before.”

"Just meeting people who are like me so I can connect to them and understand more about myself."

"For me, the best part was finally feeling like there was a place where being smart was not only encouraged but rewarded. There were people who thought the same way I did, and I got the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people the state has to offer. I would never have gotten these opportunities elsewhere."

“My experience here has shown me that I don't have to go far to find excellence. It may not always seem like it, but now I know that there are plenty of wonderful and academically inspiring people right here in West Virginia, and to me that was one of the most powerful parts of this program. It's as if GHA has instilled a sense of pride for my state and its people that I did not have before I came here.”

“To me, the best part of my experience here was being surrounded by people like myself. Back at home, it's hard to have a fun and intelligent conversation with kids my own age. Here, we have fun in our own special, nerdy way.”

“Fallingwater was easily the most beautiful house I'd ever seen and certainly one of the coolest places I've ever been to (neverthought I'd say that about a house). All of the people here at GHA were awesome too. The teachers were some of the best I've ever seen and the resident assistants were amazing. Of course it was also a blast getting to hang out with so many of the top students in West Virginia.”

“Everything was amazing in its own way. I cannot choose one experience over the other.”

“The best part of GHA was the people. All of the staff and faculty were amazingly friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. Meeting and making friends with a whole new group of similar, talented individuals made for a very wonderful time.”

“The best part of my experience was my time in the classroom. Although I loved meeting new people and going on trips, I gained new knowledge about the subject matter as well as myself while in my classes. I learned not only about the time period that we studied but also valuable tools such as questioning perceptions and thinking deeply about information given to you. I surprised myself in all that I have to offer to intellectual discussions.”

“The best part was the random fun that I had when I wasn't expecting it and the feeling of laughing with new friends and the atmosphere.”

“I believe the best part of my overall GHA experience was the boost of confidence that I gained. It has opened my eyes, mind, and heart to so many new things that I will never forget. It was the most life-changing experience that I have been a part of.”

“The best part of this year's GHA experience was the wide range of interesting classes offered to us. The classes were excellent and at a higher caliber than I am used to at my school. I feel more prepared for my future college courses after this experience.”

I must say that being around not only 199 other kids around the state that were as smart or smarter than me was intimidating. I'm happy to say however that the experiences at the Governor's Honors Academy are ones that I will remember for years to come. I thank everyone for that and encourage people to apply for this once in a lifetime opportunity.