Amanda Holliday, a sophomore at Model High School has been selected to participate in the 2008 Governor's Honors Program.  Holliday will participate in the six-week summer instructional program designed to provide intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students with challenging and enriching educational opportunities not usually available to students during the regular school year. Amanda Holliday was selected in the area of communicative arts. The Governor’s Honors Program will held on the campus of Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia .

Rising juniors and seniors in Georgia public and private high schools are eligible to be nominated by their teachers to participate in the program. Transcripts of grades and records, nomination forms, endorsements and other pertinent information are submitted to substantiate the nominations and the students must interview with a local screening committee. Local nominees are then sent to statewide screening interviews or auditions. The written evidence and data gathered in the student’s interview or audition are used to rank nominees and select finalists. The number of students selected in each instructional area is determined by the ratio of applicants in that area to the total number of applications received.

The programs activities are designed to provide each participant with opportunities to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes to become independent, life-long learners. Major instructional areas are communicative arts (English), foreign languages, mathematics, science, social studies, visual art, theatre, music, dance, design, technology, and executive management. Instruction is also provided in four support areas -- computers, counseling, library/media, and physical fitness.  

Students also select a minor area outside their major area of study. These include all the major instructional areas as well as additional offerings which reflect the interests and abilities of the instructional staff.  All performing groups are open to the entire student body. Orchestra, band, chorus and theatre productions include representatives from all major areas.