After attending AGS, I went on to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Visual and Critical Studies from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. I worked in a gallery in Chicago before moving back to Arkansas to prepare for grad school. I am hoping to attend Duke University to receive a PhD in Visual Studies.
Heather Nicole Pardew, 2001 Alumni
I just finished my Master of Music degree in composition, starting my Doctor of Musical Arts Degree (DMA) in composition at the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University.
John Crouch, 1999 Alumni
AGS was the best thing that has happened in my life thus far. I am taking many skills I got from attending AGS to MSU in the fall to pursue getting my BFA in Design and Technology. :D I was a student in the drama program at AGS!
Carley Tisdale, 2008 Alumni
My name is Rachel Whitfield and I attended AGS in 2005.
Being a participant of AGS opened my eyes to the "real" world around me. Meeting new people from all over the state gave me a small glimpse of what college life would actually be like. My Area One was Mathematics and I enjoyed every moment. Each class outside of my Area One was also a true gift and a true blessing. I was able to see and listen to what my other classmates thought about different issues around the world, country, state, and particularly about themselves. If I had a chance to go back and experience AGS, I would do it countless times. I made wonderful friends and I converse with those friends on a regular basis. The bonds that I have made at AGS are bonds that can never be broken. There are no real words to express my experience, but I would only encourage everyone to attend. I am thankful that I had a chance to meet with the smartest teens from around the state. AGS was the best thing that ever happened to me and I am thankful that I was able to experience that fun and laughter with those I met and with those I love.
Thank you AGS staff, faculty, and students for the best six weeks of my life.
I attended in the summer of 2000 in Language Arts.
The program was probably one of the best experiences I've ever had. Not only was I able to grow academically, but it also gave me the opportunity to see life beyond my small, rural town. I loved the fact that there were no college courses going on at the time. I really think that that contributed to the wonderful atmosphere among the participants and the feeling of community that ran throughout. In my mind, Hendrix would be the ideal place to continue to host the program.
I consider attending the Arkansas Governor's School one of the two formative educational experiences in my life. Simply put, it was at Governor's School that I discovered that I was "smart." I had always thought that my thoughts were kind of odd. In this setting, I found out (because of teacher encouragement and the open environment) that I was not alone in this, and that many other students who were considered "talented and gifted" thought the same way that I did. This did wonders for my self-perception as an intelligent, thinking person...
Additionally, Hendrix was the ideal environment for Governor's School. Knowing that it was a liberal arts campus, open to inquiry and pushing the boundaries, set the stage ahead of time for what kind of summer I expected to have. I truly believe that if I had known that the program was going to be held at an extremely conservative campus I wouldn't have felt as comfortable exploring all of what I considered my "weird" ideas.
I feel that AGS saved my life! Until that experience, I was lost in the shroud of complacency and destined for an undistinguished career using only the left side of my brain. AGS made a profound impact on my capacity to search for connections and broader perspectives through which to understand my universe and my place in it. I can say with absolute certainty that I was exposed to issues, concepts, and questions at AGS that I would never have encountered in high school and, perhaps, not even in college. I am thankful every single day for the insights and inquiries AGS provided me!
Steven W. Barger, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Geriatrics, Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, and Internal Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Research Health Scientist, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Governor’s School was without a doubt the most significant experience of my academic career. I began the summer of 2001 disenchanted with school and many aspects of life in general… The beautiful, intimate setting of the Hendrix campus and the college’s dedication to cultivating whole persons complement the goal of AGS to inspire creative, open-minded thought and dialogue among Arkansas’ young people.
…It was six weeks of my valuable summer, but I'd do it a hundred times over.
Hi, my name is Rachael and I attended AGS 2005. It was one of the best times of my life, no doubt! I learned so much about myself and am now a more outgoing person. I made many new friends and memories that will last for a lifetime. AGS was so much fun and I would go every year if I had the chance. Since attending AGS, I can now hold intelligent conversations and I can enjoy intellectual ideas.
I found governor's school to be a really wonderful experience. It was certainly enhanced by the Hendrix campus. I love that the campus offers quiet, secluded spots in addition to lively areas for students to hang out. Hendrix is perfect for governor's school.
Here are my thoughts: Chris Craun, Alumnus 1989
Governor's school provided me with a chance to challenge my thought patterns, belief systems and accepted norms in a safe, supportive environment that did not try to push any singular ideology, but urged me to make informed decisions. Some of my co-alumni became very influential in my life, and many of the moments at Hendrix's campus rank among my favorite teenage memories. I can't imagine a more centrally located and inviting place for AGS than Conway.
I attend AGS 20 years ago this summer and although I have gone on record in the past as being opposed to some of the teachings that I and others were exposed to while at AGS, I have come to a place in my life where I recognize the value of the AGS experience I had exactly as it was. I loved my AGS experience. Everything from the friends I made to the debates over the political arguments I engaged in, will last as a wonderful memory from a time of growth and simply discovering my purpose in the world. Hendrix College made a wonderful home for 6 weeks and I hope that many other students will be afforded the same opportunities I was.
Trent Broussard
Pastor of Worship
Calvary Baptist Church
517 W 32nd Street
Holland, MI 49423
616.396.2724
ctrentb@egl.net
Wow...where do I even begin? AGS was the BEST experience of my life! You cannot even begin to explain the intense atmosphere that was created there. For once in my life I actually felt like I could be myself and not have to worry about being put down for my thoughts and ideas. AGS forced me to think on both sides of the argument. Also, I met so many new people with different ideas who really helped me to grow in many ways. I can't wait to see all of my old friends at the reunion this coming summer! Thanks so much for everything!
I can hardly believe I attended AGS half my life ago. The relationships I forged there have shaped my life in countless ways, and the paths of my AGS friends are diverse: doctors, pastors, public relations professionals, teachers, computer systems gurus, and engineers, just to name a few. AGS provided an environment that helped me begin to acknowledge the vast expanse of human thought, culture, customs, and potential that surrounds us all, as global citizens.
Amy Meredith Forbus, AGS 1991
Wow. AGS gave me an opportunity to grow. During my six weeks there, I learned that I can survive on my own, making my own decisions. I made friends that I still keep in contact with now. We're all so excited about coming to our reunion this year. Without the loving instructors and friends I made, I wouldn't have gotten to enjoy my summer the way I did. I learned more about me and the ways of other people than I ever thought possible. AGS has to stay alive!!! Many more students need this wonderful opportunity.
I enjoyed AGS immensely. As with most of the attendees, I did not want to leave after the 6 weeks were up, but I did and I was able to keep in contact with many of the people I met at AGS from other parts of the state. And when I returned to school for my senior year, things were much easier for me because I shared that AGS bond with so many of my fellow FHS classmates.
I can't say how it would have been at someplace other than Hendrix, but I know it was completely awesome having the run of the campus. We weren't confined to a couple buildings and didn't have to deal with navigating through a sea of college students taking summer classes or band camp or anything such as that. The Hendrix campus will always be a place that has special memories for me and when I was lucky enough to come back for our 10 year AGS reunion in 2000, it was just as beautiful as I remembered.
I was at AGS in 1988 in English. AGS was such an experience for me that it still gets brought up in conversation. I still have friendships that began at AGS that summer, and I don't know where any of my University mates are. The experience broadened my views on not only the world but more importantly my world or my area of influence. It didn't change any of my views but gave me the opportunity to see other views and learn from them and make better decisions then and still today.
I greatly appreciated the school being at Hendrix because it is relaxing. I have pictures of squirrels sunning. And pictures of all of us around the fountains and ponds. I hope it continues and also continues at Hendrix.
Thanks for all the work of the people that keep up the program.
K'dora Couch
Sr. Project Engineer
Over the years, I have looked back at that summer spent at AGS with great fondness. What a relief it was to discover after my junior year of high school that there were so many others in Arkansas who shared my love for learning. The energy for creativity, innovation, and fellowship amongst the AGS participants was palpable every day I was there. Please accept my sincere gratitude for providing the time, place and environment for inspired thought and learning.
I continue to reflect on that summer as my greatest life-changing experience thus far. Simply meeting other people who had similar views (and also those who challenged mine), a respect for education, and promoted acceptance and tolerance taught me that there are others out there with the same outlook on life. I am still in contact with a number of friends I made there although we haven't seen each other in several years. We were not afraid to learn, to be open, or to challenge ourselves and our understanding of the world. It was the ultimate learning experience that I believe better prepared me for college than any Advanced Placement courses I took in high school. We were silly, we were young, and we wanted to make our mark on the world. AGS provided the encouragement needed to continue our quest to "make our mark." I am still in the process of making mine, and I do not plan on giving up. To this day, one of my favorite quotes is still the quote from my AGS Alumni class - "Never be afraid to be a lonely voice."
I am a proud alum of Arkansas Governor’s School 1996. Coming from a small rural town in Arkansas, AGS provided me the unique opportunity to learn to think for myself as well as interact and become friends with different folks I would have never met otherwise. The unique ability of Hendrix College to host AGS provides an added benefit, in that students can be free to learn, question and express themselves without fear of being deemed ‘immature’ or as ‘stupid high school kids’ in front of or around older college students. I feel that I was more successful in college, and thus in my now adult life because of the lessons I learned at AGS.
Arkansas Governor's School was so wonderful for me because I got to meet amazing people, who I am still in touch with today, nearly seven months later! I learned so much about myself, what I'm really capable of. I've told friends of mine about it and they plan on going, too. I loved AGS because, for six weeks, it gave me a picture of the world I'd like to live in. Also, Hendrix is a beautiful campus and place to have AGS - it sets up the atmosphere for the program! I don't think I could ever express my thanks fully for my time at Governor's School. You guys are inspiring!
I attended AGS in 2000, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I met so many new friends, and had a really great time with the activities and classes. Part of what made the program so great was the Hendrix campus. Because it's smaller, I felt that the AGS participants were able to become closer friends because it was only us on the campus. I've worked with summer conferences at the University of Arkansas for the past three summers, and I know that if AGS was to be held at a large campus like the U of A, an integral part of the program would be lost, simply because of the less intimate facility…
In my mind, AGS and Hendrix belong together; the Hendrix campus offers AGSers a great environment for learning and exploring their ideas. Not only is the Campus intimate and beautiful but its lack of summer classes adds to the ability to focus during the program. The Hendrix campus plays a large role in the good memories I have from AGS 1987 and I hope that it will continue to play a role in the classes yet to come.
Daniel Blasingame
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Wal-Mart Account Manager
dblasing@cisco.com
AGS 1997, Social Sciences
I can't begin to express what Governor's School did for my life and actually have recently been encouraging my younger brother to attend. AGS was a great way for me to get to meet other intelligent students from my state that on a regular basis I would have never met. And these friends and I keep in touch on a regular basis even though we all went our separate ways when we went to college. AGS gave me an interesting perspective on how to think and look at the educational process. I actually enjoyed going to my class and doing my assignments. I couldn't wait to attend different speakers and watch the movies that they offered which gave lasting impressions on my life. Governor's School is a refreshing way to slowly get adapted into the college life experience, it is a little more strict but we didn't even mind that. I am grateful everyday for the friends I met, the way of thinking that was encouraged there, and the freedom from feeling like you were being judged like many students often do in high school. I can HONESTLY say that AGS has changed my life, and if I could go back and do it all over again I would, and have intentions of becoming an RA there just to be around the experience again!
The summer I spent at Governor’s School literally changed my life. When I arrived to AGS at Hendrix in the summer of 1994, I was a shy student and consequently had a fairly narrow vision for where my life would take me. AGS exposed me to so many different people, ways of thinking, and ideas that threw open my view of the world. It’s hard to believe that was 12 years ago, because it feels like only yesterday I discovered there was more to the world than my small hometown in northern Arkansas…
Before I attended AGS, I saw the educational process as one of teachers downloading knowledge to their students. It was at AGS, particularly in the Area II class, that I realized education is a far more organic process of questioning and struggling to attain knowledge. That realization has taken me far in life; I’m now working on a Ph.D., where questioning and struggling with ideas and concepts is part of my everyday life. Again, I don’t think I would have ever made it to where I am today had it not been for those transforming six weeks at Hendrix.
I have been grateful to see the state of Arkansas continuing to support AGS in the last 12 years, and I hope it will continue to do so. Future generations of Arkansas students deserve to learn how they can make a difference in the world by engaging that world. I believe AGS teaches its students just that.
AGS is the best opportunity for rising Arkansas seniors to experience the rich academic and personal opportunities available through Socratic learning. It was the single most influential 6 weeks of my life to date.
It is no exaggeration to say that AGS was a life-altering experience for me. I was plunged into the world of ideas, and the challenge was breathtaking. It was the first time that I was asked to give reasons for what I believed, what I thought, and what I imagined to be true in the world. AGS helped me discover that I could do more with my brain than just memorize facts. Learning to think critically, to evaluate ideas, and to reason: These were just some of the things I took away. And the Hendrix campus was, of course, lovely.
Dr. Charles King
Chairman of the Faculty
School of Foreign Service
Georgetown University
(AGS 1985)
I attended AGS in the summer of 1987 and it was one of the best experiences of my life! I had a wonderful time, met people I still keep in touch with, and learned to question everything. I can't imagine what kind of person I would be today if it weren't for AGS.
The Hendrix campus is ideally suited for hosting AGS. It's small, so you have plenty of time to get from class to class, yet large enough to accommodate everyone without feeling crowded. Plus, there are plenty of areas where you can just hang out with friends.
Hendrix should definitely continue to host AGS for many years to come!
AGS was the best experience of my life as to this point. I met some of the best friends I have ever had there. Many of them I still speak with daily. It gave me a glimpse into a world where intelligence was accepted, and where intelligence was rewarded. It helped me find the gap between high school (where you must fit the norm) and college (where it is 100% ok to be different and have different ideas)
Thank you AGS for everything you did for me!
…Arkansas Governor's School marked an important chapter in my life because it opened up my mind to a world that allowed me to question, to challenge, to get answers to things that I never would have pursued if I had not had the AGS experience. It also allowed me to take back my experience to my friends who did not partake in AGS and through my experience I could rub off on them and allow them to grow and mature as well. It has been nearly five years since I attended AGS and I have seen my younger sister go through the same program last summer and learn, experience, and appreciate many of the same things I was able to experience. It allowed her to grow into a more mature, open-minded woman as well and I can indisputably say that we have a closer, deeper relationship because of it… I can only hope that this program continues as long as possible to provide the same and/or similar experiences for other students in Arkansas!
I loved Governor's School! It was a chance for me to grow as a person and to learn about the different types of people that there are in our state. It was one of the best experiences that I have ever had, and I hope that the program is continued at Hendrix. The atmosphere there is so conducive to having Governor's School.
…The friends I made there have remained so important to me in the years following my summer-time stay at Hendrix. From professors to peers, the characters that made up AGS are the reason I regard that particular summer as my favorite vacation. AGS...where the geeks have no shame!
AGS is one of the best gifts Arkansas can give its future leaders. For me, the experience taught me to think critically and more importantly taught me to respect differing views, beliefs, and lifestyles. Those who had the privilege of being involved with this program left AGS greatly enriched, passionate about life, and truly thankful for the friendships made that will last a lifetime.
Michelle R. Smith, MPH
Title IV Social Service Coordinator
120 W. 5th Street, Suite 301 Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Arkansas Governor's School was a defining moment for me because it was the first time I was challenged academically and socially. The program helped prepare me for my next big step into college where I was cast into a similar environment except with no one watching or helping me along the way. Those people that watched over me at AGS are still in my life today and still helping me along in life. Connections and relationships are inevitable consequences of attending AGS.
One of the joys of AGS was being on the Hendrix campus. It's compact enough so it's easy for everyone to get around. It is also one of the prettiest campuses in the state.
Kimberly Grant Doss AGS '87
To say that AGS changed my life is an understatement. I do not think that I would be where I am today, an associate professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University, if I had not attended the 1982 AGS in Language Arts.
Hello, this is Nate Kettlewell. I attended AGS in 1989 for English/Language Arts.
Coming from Camden and the old Camden High School, AGS opened my eyes to an intellectual life far beyond what I'd known theretofore. But that's not the half of it; AGS afforded me six weeks of social blossoming among a wonderfully eclectic community, starting with my roommate and new best friend (from another small town). The lovely, compact campus of Hendrix was the perfect site for these experiences.
I hope rising seniors from schools small and large across the state can continue to benefit from AGS for years to come.
I appreciate the opportunity to lend a voice in favor of Hendrix College continuing their wonderful support of Arkansas’ Gifted and Talented. As a charter alum of the Arkansas Governor’s School I well remember two specific emotions of that first summer; the safe, closed environment free from outside interference of the day to day responsibilities of society well supported by Hendrix’s beautiful campus and friendly staff, and the intellectual freedom to pursue topics with other students in a free thinking, broad bounded academic program. Hendrix is the Arkansas Governor’s School. This experience was the singular catalyst that formed my successes later in life.
Good Luck to both you and Hendrix in your future endeavors. Never hesitate to allow me to return the favor of your experience and education.
Respectfully,
Mark K. Morris
MAJ Mark K. Morris, MHA, CHE
Chief, Medical Operations
HQ, III Corps
AGS was a wonderful experience that encouraged me to think and act in ways that I may never have if I had not participated in this program. It brought light to the fact that there will always be an opposing view and it taught me how to acknowledge those ideas without disrespecting them. AGS was not the first place I heard of the idea of respectfully exchanging ideas, but the program enabled me to practice that principle daily over the course of six weeks. I find myself to be more knowledgeable, understanding, and accepting of the different kinds of people I encounter whether the difference lies in age, sex, religion, sexual preference, political affiliation, etc. Life is simply more enjoyable this way.
The Hendrix campus seemed to be the perfect place to hold the program. It is not too big nor too small, so the different parts of campus were easily accessible. The way the campus was set up encouraged interaction and sociablity for the participants. For example, the pecan grove, the burrow, the brick pit, the fountain, and other seating areas across campus provided ample space for students to come together and share ideas, and have fun at the same time. The open feel of the campus encouraged me to open my eyes and open my mind, just as the AGS program is designed to do. It was the best summer of my life, and I'll never forget the wonderful people I've gotten to know, and the wonderful things I learned. I thank everyone who was a part of it for making AGS a great experience!
For me, the epitome of AGS was the encouragement of intellectual analysis. During those six weeks, I looked at controversial issues from points of view I had yet to consider and greatly evolved my critical thinking processes. The best part was that all this encouragement to think carried over into the AGS social life. My many enlightening conversations with fellow students taught me just as much as the classes. These conversations would not have been possible without the intellectual encouragement of AGS and the environment provided by it, that of 400 of Arkansas brightest youth gathered at one college for six weeks.
It’s really amazing how a few weeks during high school can impact one so profoundly, but such is the case with Arkansas Governor’s School. Not only was I pushed to excellence in my most skilled field of language, I was challenged in my weaknesses in a bold but supportive way. Some may find it distasteful for young people to be challenged so directly and in every area of life and thought, but I came away knowing it was for good, and for the good of our state’s future. Before we can be our best for others, we must know exactly who we are and where we are going.
Thanks, AGS, for refining moments, lifelong friendships and incredible memories.
Wow. You want just a few words about what Governor's School meant to me? That's hard. AGS was just about everything a summer program could and should be- 'character-building' accommodations and food, interaction with teachers outside of class, great classes and speakers... Governor's School marked a division in my life: before it, I was a self-centered kid, merely focused on what I wanted. After, I've become more aware of the outside world and how my actions can and do affect it.
It was awesome.
Both of my brothers went to AGS. I had heard from many of my peers, while in high school, about the wonderful time they had @ AGS. I knew I wanted to go; I was deeply intrigued and excited about attending such a learning experience. It sounded challenging. It had really touched people that I knew and cared about. And, who am I kidding, it sounded like a lot of fun too! Nothing could have prepared me for the experience of the 6 weeks I spent in AGS, however.
Hendrix was a particularly appropriate setting: the halls, grounds and staff of Hendrix have always been an important part of my memory of AGS. Its location (roughly in the center of the state) made it feel as if we had all been drawn in from remote and different and separate places to commune together. Hendrix had a distinct identity of place. It was a tidy garden of walks, trees, flowers and fountains. It fed an undercurrent of community and openness. It was this open, casual nature of the place that created an ideal environment for introducing new friends and ideas.
I remember the electricity of Spring during those hot mid-Arkansas-summer evenings. feeling the heat of the day leaving the brick steps on which we sat and talked-and-talked-and-talked; a hum of youth and newness and excitement hung just below the buzz of the cicadas.
Brandon Prichard AGS 1989
I had a wonderful experience and made many great friends at AGS in 2001 that I still keep in touch with to this day even as I prepare to graduate from college. My brother just went through AGS in 2005 and I know he enjoyed the experience just as much as I did.
AGS was a wonderful learning experience- probably one of the best summers of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities from the educational to social. At Governor's School I connected with faculty who were really passionate about what they were teaching. They were inspiring to me and influenced my studies in college. I also spent time with many interesting students who loved life and learning. I still see Governor's School faces at my college or at events and we always talk about how fun AGS was. AGS was a great experience that I hope will continue to bring students together for a challenging and rewarding summer.
The problem is that I went to Governor's School to learn to write, and now I find it hard to express what I feel in words. I guess I'm working against my cause by admitting that.
Honestly though, Governor's School changed my life. Not in a huge cliché way, but in a bunch of small ways that really matter. I realized for the first time that I love poetry, learned a ton of self-confidence, and met people I will never forget (all of whom I am sure will actually make a difference...as well as reside in an entirely different tax bracket from me).
I went to AGS in 1989. I can honestly say it was the single best experience of my high school life. It was a tremendous learning experience and days of fun with incredible friends. I support the program 100%. Two of my siblings also went to AGS and had very positive experiences. I hope to see it continue long into the future.
I loved AGS. It was a great chance to get an idea about how you will interact with others when you get to college. AGS is a great way to build friendships that will last a very long time. Since you don't have any distractions, you really learn to interact with other people in real situations. The interesting subject material in Area II and Area III give you a chance to enhance your mind with material other than academics and gives you a chance to grow as a complete person. AGS was a wonderful experience that was far too short. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to expand and enhance their educational and emotional experience.
I would say that Arkansas Governor's School gave me a wonderful opportunity to meet with some of the brightest young minds in the nation for 6 weeks over an incredible summer. During this time I was able to make life-long friendships and was able to explore and improve my critical thinking skills in an environment that was very conducive to the process of developing these skills independently. I take my fondest memories of Governor's School and hold them with me still.
John Clay Kirtley, Pharm.D.
Assistant Director
Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy
Truly, AGS was one of the single most enjoyable experiences of my entire life. The free exchange of ideas between students and staff alike opened my eyes to what diversity there was right here in Arkansas. The brilliant people I met there were unlike any others that I have met. I wouldn't trade my experience at AGS for anything.
Hey there! I was at AGS in 1985 and it was one of the most important events in my high school life. It was the first time that I had been away from home and away from family for an extended time, and it helped me solidify my personality, and helped me start my music career. It was one of the highlights of my life!! I would love to see AGS stay at Hendrix. That campus was absolutely beautiful and self-contained so our AGS community became even more close-knit. Anyway, I am the resident music director for the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, TN now. It's one of the country's top professional regional theaters and I credit a lot of my success from the experiences I got at AGS. Thanks a lot!
AGS was an important formative experience in my life. It taught me that thinking is an important enterprise. Furthermore, it taught me to appreciate multiple perspectives and to seek out such perspectives when I'm trying to understand something. These are important things that I use in my life everyday today. Although I went to AGS in music, I am now a university history professor and thinking and examining multiple perspectives are things I do every day in both my teaching and my research. Therefore, AGS was an invaluable experience for me.
Hey. AGS for me was a place where I was able to break out of many holds in my life and begin to think for myself and learn from others who were like me. I never felt persuaded to believe one thing or the other, but persuaded to think. I enjoyed all of the activities that AGS provided for evenings. Getting to know other people was really nice and comforting. The Campus is a perfect college environment for high schoolers to get away for six weeks and try something new.
I came to Arkansas Governor's School expecting to encounter spiritual as well as musical challenges. The program fulfilled both my expectations, in a good way. I was raised in a Christian family and love Jesus with all my heart, so it was a big adjustment to have roommates that believed differently. Having to explain what I believed to my new friends was a good experience for me. In the Area II classroom (taught by you, Chris!), we delved into subjects related to faith that I had never thought of before that summer. Though some would say that AGS is a place that destroys faith, I found that my faith in Jesus became stronger because of that six-week program.
In the AGS Choir, Ray Wheeler introduced me to new worlds in choral music. We performed pieces that not only featured singing, but also strange vocal sounds. For the first time in my life, I sang with an orchestra, an experience that came in handy when I sang my first opera role. Making music with the AGS Choir was one of the most memorable moments of my singing career so far. We were a real team of singers, working together to produce a moment of beauty for our audience. Hendrix's facilities were perfect for AGS, especially with its many areas perfect for chatting with friends and playing cards. Thank you, Hendrix and AGS!
Attending AGS has been a defining moment in my life, allowing me the opportunity to realize my both my talents and creativity in a setting that fostered open thought and genuine friendship with other AGS participants. I have met many interesting people at AGS and continue to keep in contact with them even long after the program ended. The amalgam of friends, movies, art, classes, seminars, and philosophy turned out to be the best summer I have ever had.
AGS '91 was a turning point in my life. I was provided with a forum to begin my self-journey into the adult that I am. I was placed amongst peers and explored the the tough topics of science. I learned to appreciate the diversity of Arkansas. I will always remember AGS with fond memories for it has helped to shape me into the extroverted leader I am today.
Jennifer Langston
Conceptual Design Engineer
Bell Helicopter
University of Oklahoma,
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, cum laude
Natural Science, 1991
AGS was with out a doubt the best part of any summer I have ever had. Not only did it give me a preview of the college life to come, but also connected me to a group of people similar to myself that I would otherwise have never met. The greatest part about those people is that I still talk and get together with them two years later. AGS is an extremely vital part to my secondary education, and strengthened me and my beliefs.
AGS was an excellent experience for me. I met many people, and enjoyed greatly the time I spent there. Much would have been lost had AGS not taken place at Hendrix. It's the perfect place to do what Governor's School is meant to do.
Governor's School was an amazing experience. I still hear from the friends that I met there, and I wish I could go again this summer. The Hendrix campus is the perfect place for AGS...it's open and natural, with beautiful buildings and a great library. My favorite part was the multiple auditoriums. They meant that several wonderful activities could take place at the same time, with all the media input needed. Thanks for showing me such a ravishing campus!
Hendrix was an amazing place…because it was the perfect size and a central location. it just has an air about it that welcomes and nurtures creative thoughts.
Arkansas Governor's School really did change my life. Without it, I don't think I would have been quite ready for college. While it seems like such a short program, it really did positively impact my skills as a student and as a person. It helped me prepare for the "real world" after high school and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity!
AGS gave me the opportunity to be around people who made me feel less weird, less different and less alone.
The school itself confirmed for me that critical thinking isn't wrong, that it is worthwhile for it's own sake, and necessary for advancement in almost every field. The Socratic Why? and Why Not? must be asked, even if it can't be answered.
Governor's School was one of the most memorable and influential experiences of my life. I learned to think critically. I learned to love learning. I was exposed to cultural experiences I never would have otherwise. I never had discussed philosophy or psychology or movies that I had seen. I played different, strange, wonderful musical pieces with three instruments. I actually felt smart and unique, even among the state's smartest and most unique students. I wrote a journal for the first time. I earned a Red Cross lifeguard certificate. I improved my basketball skills and got a college scholarship the next year. My parents moved that same summer and I felt confident and independent enough to enjoy the new high school my senior year. I learned to do my own laundry. Governor Clinton gave the introductory address, which in hindsight was particularly cool. Being at Hendrix College added to the experience, it was a gorgeous setting and safe haven to encourage these young minds. The instructors I had were inspired and really seemed to love being there. When people talk about the problems in the Arkansas public school system, I am proud to give my Governor's School anecdote that they are doing some things right. It was an experience of a lifetime. Thank you.
Casey Engstrom
AGS, 1986
Ridgecrest HS, Paragould 1987
BSEE, U. of Missouri Rolla 1992
MSE, Purdue University.2000
Mom of Josh and Luke, 2003 and 2005
MS Medical Engineering, U of Washington 2008e
After AGS I was more focused on college than ever. I was more confident and determined to do what I set my mind upon. I remember wishing that I could skip my senior year and start college that August. I appreciate the layout of the program and since I am now a high school teacher, I plan to apply for a teaching position with AGS in the next few years. I know how much I gained and hope the program continues
for a long time.
When I got your email and read it, I heard it in my head in your voice, and it made me realize just how much I've missed Governor's School. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had. I learned a lot, grew a great deal, and made many friends as well. If given the opportunity, I would do it all over again.
My experience at AGS is unlike any other. I was fortunate to meet so many interesting people from all across the state with whom I became very close friends. The campus environment was set up so that you were encouraged to do then what we now call networking. I am pleased to say that I am still in contact with the people I met over eight years ago.
AGS helped me get over much of my introvert-like ways and to open up enough to see a greater part of myself.
Hello Chris Campolo! I miss AGS so much! I made so many friends that I still talk to today and I learned more about myself and my other friends that I knew beforehand. I loved english/language arts and the chances to interact with other areas. The movies, Area 2 & 3, all so fun and great. Thank you for having me because AGS changed the way I perceived life and was the best summer I ever had.
I am an alum mom, and thought that I would also add my voice to the many others. My husband and I were fortunate enough to have both our children attend Governor’s School, Alex in the summer of 2003 and Andrew in 2005, both in natural sciences.
They both so looked forward to attending AGS well before their junior year of high school, were thrilled to be accepted, and thrived on the friendships, intellectual interaction, learning and individual growth they both experienced there. They have continued their friendships with other AGS students of all backgrounds throughout the state. I think AGS also helped cement their plans not only for college, but also for professional school or graduate school.
Thank you for all your work in making this a wonderful experience for so many students.
Marsha Winters
I have many fond memories of my AGS experience. But the bottom line is this--it is a tremendous place for intelligent and gifted people to mix and share life for six weeks together. I still keep in touch with many people from AGS, and I got to learn more about previous friends in my stay at AGS. It was definitely a rewarding experience. Thanks for the memories.
Regards,
Will Barlow
It's hard to say what Arkansas Governor's School has meant to me. I can simply say this, it was the best thing I have ever done with a summer. I have many friends who went to foreign countries the summer before their senior year or something equally as exotic, but when I compare myself to them, I feel that I am the truly lucky one. I did more growing during the six weeks of AGS than I had during my entire high school career, and I stand firmly when I say that everyone should be as lucky to have the opportunities that I had at Arkansas Governor's School.
Hello Chris, this is Rachelle Gonzales and I attended AGS the summer of 2003. I had the most amazing time and wonderful experiences with people that I would have normally not met. Thanks to AGS I have lifelong friends. Even though it was only a six week program, I made lifetime buddies and memories those six weeks.
AGS meant a whole lot to my senior year. It expanded my group of friends and tightened old friendships. It also helped in my academics to expand my mind and think outside of the box. It was one of the best experiences in my life and I wish I could do it again.
AGS was one of my greatest life experiences. As a music performance Area 1 student I felt that it helped prepare me for being a music major in college. Beyond that it has done much more. Its really hard to express my thoughts about AGS in a short email, but to sum it up in short, I would say the experience changed me into a person who can positively impact the society I live in as well as the people; By opening my views, giving me the strength as well as the knowledge, and showing me the problems that so many of us ignore.
I don't want to sound cliché, but AGS really did change my life. It was 6 weeks of my life that will always have a place in my heart. I still keep in touch with about 20 people that attended AGS in 2004 with me, and to this day, I use acting warm ups that Bobby taught me before I go into rehearsals. If I had not gone to AGS, I would have spent my summer working at the mall. I would choose Hendrix over the mall any day. :)
There were many things that astounded me throughout my AGS experience, but one of the most changing realities came when I realized that there were actually other kids my age who liked math, the "shunned" subject, as much as I did. How wonderful!
Thanks for allowing me to attend. It truly impacted my life in so many ways!
Mallory Shy
The five weeks I spent on the campus during the '81 session of AGS were probably the single greatest academic and intellectual influence on my life. The environment of intellectual freedom and acceptance of original and innovative thought was unique to the AGS and I believe the Hendrix campus played a key role in fostering that enriching and nurturing environment.
Ed Caldwell
AGS Class of '81
Well, when I got back AGS was all I could talk about. There isn't one single way that it has changed and there isn't one single thing that I could point out, but I know that I returned thinking for myself, but also respecting others thoughts as well.
Words cannot express nor explain what AGS meant to me. Out of all of my fondest memories of life, I will never forget the wonderful summer that I was allowed the chance to attend a summer program that not only helped me grow educationally, but also helped me grow socially. I think that AGS should go on forever, in fact, I often wish that I am still at AGS.
AGS was such a good experience for me when I was young because it was one of the first times that I was able to really branch out and try to discover some things about myself and what I might want to do with my life at a young age. I had grown up in such a small town that I felt very restricted as far as what I was able to experience on my own. AGS is the reason that I was able to decide that art school was a real possibility. I now have a degree in studio art and am very happy with how my life continued to proceed.
All joking aside, AGS was one of the best experiences I've ever had. I went in anxious and skeptical of what six weeks of more "schooling" during the summer would be like, and came out really appreciating this program. I am so happy that I decided to attend Governor's School because I got to experience so many new things and met some of the most amazing people. Hopefully AGS will keep on going strong for many years to come!
AGS opened me up as a person. I use to wait for people to talk to me but after attending and being the only person in my high school to go I really found myself. I would not trade my experience for anything. It is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
AGS has been a tremendous experience for me as a student and more recently as an employee. It was the first place I ever really felt comfortable being entirely myself, because of the open and kind nature of the faculty, staff, and other students. Attending the program gave me the confidence to be more of myself at home with my family and friends. I was so touched by the program that I felt compelled to go back and try to provide that same environment for future students, and my interactions with them have been very positive. They have contributed just as much to me as I've been able to give to them, and I have been continually amazed by the sheer hunger for learning and for a place to really be themselves that they exhibit each year.
AGS was a life-changing experience for me, as well as for many of my friends. It was great practice for living in a college environment (in a dorm, with a roommate and communal showers and whatnot), having options for stuff to do after class was over. I enjoyed the lectures, and learned a lot from all of my classes, especially those in my Area I, English. I met many friends there, from all different kinds of backgrounds and experiences, with whom I still keep in touch today. It was the best summer of my life, and I wouldn't trade those six weeks for anything.
AGS was a life changing experience for me. I matured a lot during that six weeks. I received invaluable training experiences that prepared me for life. I also met wonderful people and made life-long friendships with people that I still communicate with to this day.
I can't necessarily say that AGS meant as much to everyone as it did to me. However, AGS completely changed my perspective on everything. Besides the great fun I had, I learned so much about other countries, different races, social classes, cultures, and social issues that I would not have even known existed had I not attended. I also realized how different just teenagers my own age were across Arkansas, which helped me be more comfortable with myself.
AGS '95 was one of the most formative experiences in my life. The intimate setting and general feeling that pervades the Hendrix College campus played an integral role in the fun and learning that took place that summer. My younger sister attended AGS '04 and had the same fantastic experience at Hendrix almost ten years later.
I am still close friends with several people that attended AGS '95 (and plan to marry one of them).
The experience at Hendrix helped prepare me for college life in many ways, but in a comfortable small campus environment. Coming from the Talented and Gifted program at Mills, it served as an extension of my high school experience which in retrospect, was amazing. The teachers and the knowledge that surrounded me opened me up to the world and I hope my sister, a freshman at Mills High School, can have an equally amazing experience at AGS. Thank you for providing this opportunity to the youth in Arkansas.
AGS helped me realize that college was going to be a lot more exciting and challenging then I had imagined. AGS was the best thing that happened to me while I was in high school because it made me more out going and social while also helping me realize what other skills I would need for college and my senior year of high school. AGS needs to be kept at Hendrix!!
Arkansas Governor's School was one of the greatest experiences of my life and something that I will look back on fondly the rest of my life. Many people have told you those stories about students who go to AGS and come back completely changed and their standards and beliefs warped. True, I changed at AGS, but my beliefs and standards were actually strengthened through my experiences there. AGS is a setting primed for personal growth if taken in the right way...with an open mind. I have so many wonderful memories of the AGS program, Hendrix, the classes, concerts, activities, and all of the different people I met at AGS. Arkansas Governor's School is an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.
Arkansas Governor School affected my life in a significant way like no other summer program has ever before. I developed relationships with people from many different cultures and completely different backgrounds. Governor School made it possible for a select group of students from around Arkansas to interact. Before I attended Governor School I was surrounded by people who basically thought like I did. At Governor School I met a combination of people with different styles, passions, and view points. They forced me to justify why I felt the way I did about many things. In the process I grew as a person, and I broadened my perspective. My experience at Governor School allowed me a glimpse into cultures and minds completely different from my own.
I can unflinchingly say that Governor's School was the most influential and enjoyable experience of my life. I made innumerable friends, and I feel that I am a better and more complete person for having taken part in it. While I greatly value those friendships and my personal growth, I believe that the most important thing that I gained during my time at Governor's School was hope. Before those six weeks I had very few friends and was not very social. Now I have many friends and I spend a great deal of time with them, which makes me happier than I have ever been before. This gave me hope for myself; however, I also developed a great deal of hope for the state of Arkansas itself. I had always wanted to leave Arkansas and move onto what I thought were bigger and better things in the world because I thought that Arkansas was a hopeless pit of ignorance and backwardness. I realize now, though, that that is entirely false. There is immense promise in this state assuming that we can break the chains of our reputation and embrace scholarly endeavors and other broadening experiences. I feel that Governor's School represents the epitome of that concept in that it gathers the brightest minds in the state and brings them together to hopefully impact the world. There is nothing more important to the state of Arkansas than the education of the youth and the retention of the gifted citizens. Because of my experience at Governor's School, I now will likely attend college in the state and ultimately wish to live in this great state that has given me so much so that I might be able in some small way to give back to it and help it live up to its potential. Governor's School represents that potential and the ability for all to reach it. If there is anything at all that I can do to maintain Governor's School at its current state of virtual perfection, I would be not only willing but eager to help.
My name is Amber Hawthorne. I attended Arkansas Governor's School in the summer of 2001. I was a part of the choral program. It was an awesome experience for me and I met so many people that I still have contact with in college. The beautiful campus of Hendrix provided a great atmosphere. AGS is a great memory from my high school years that I will never forget.
AGS has been a huge influence in my life. I met my best friend there, and I feel like I still have a strong network of connections from those six weeks. The fact that it was hosted at Hendrix was important to me because it was a good way to get used to a small campus (I'm used to U of A Fayetteville's much larger sprawl) and it was probably heavily influential in my choice of Grinnell College, a small liberal arts college in Iowa, where I've been blissfully happy for the last four years. AGS should be on a small campus, because with a limited choice of places to go, a lot of bonding occurs between the students.
AGS was very important to me because it helped develop my writing skills, but above all it taught me how to interact more with others and develop friendships. It brought me out of my "shell" to some extent, and made me excited to go to college and to learn more about the world.
Arkansas Governor's School was the experience that opened my eyes to the importance of thoughtful debate in the public sphere and innovative ways of thinking across all disciplines. The challenge AGS presented to my assumptions sometimes reaffirmed my beliefs and sometimes made me question my expectations, but the result was a strengthened understanding of my convictions. More than any specific ideas or knowledge, AGS taught me to think. While AGS would be a great program anywhere, but the environment that the Hendrix campus provides cannot be matched. The campus invites gathering and discussion, games and creativity, thoughtfulness and friendship. Hendrix College is ideal for fostering the environment AGS strives to create. The environment at Hendrix and the AGS experience has proved invaluable in my success as a college student, helped me become a finalist for the Truman Scholarship, and developed me as a young leader in the community.
Arkansas Governor's School allowed me to learn critical thinking skills, which I would not have learned in the classroom. Without Governor's school I would not have done as well in many college classes.
I think one of the most powerful gifts students receive from Arkansas Governor's School is the confidence to question. This confidence has served me throughout my academic career and serves me still as an educator, but I believe it has most profoundly affected me as simply a person. In short, I am a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, teacher, friend, and citizen because when I was sixteen I learned to value other's views and to question my own.
AGS was one of the best things to ever happen to me. At first, I wasn't too excited about leaving home for the whole summer, but it turned out to be a becoming experience that changed my life for the better. AGS has aided me in my college career and provided me with a network of friends that I couldn't have gotten anywhere else. Thank You!!!
Governor's School teaches you self discipline. It is like a foreshadowing of what your life will be like, within the next two years and gets you prepared for it. It has helped me to become a stronger more independent person who can also take a challenge at the same time. Hendrix was a great start for my independent life in College. Hendrix showed great hospitality for me as a Junior and was a groundbreaker in helping me gain more independence.
AGS '86 was a life-altering, life-changing experience for me and the group that I met there. I made friends that I keep to this day (we're having our own 20-year celebration this summer.)
What I gained at AGS led me to become who I am. It helped me through some of the toughest experiences of my life. I went to AGS because I was a leader in my school, but it helped me to become a better thinker and evaluator. I needed that experience so badly.
I have since that summer, sent the best and brightest kids to their school counselors, to ask about AGS. Every kid I've sent has gone to Hendrix for the best 6 weeks of their lives. They've become better doctors. They've become actors, lay people, and lawyers. They're good parents. Good thinkers all. They do better in college (and give the instructors much better papers.)
They see a lot more of the world.
I lived in Japan for two years as a liaison officer to the Consulate General. I got the job without a knowledge of Japanese. In my interview, we talked about AGS.
At the age of 23, my daughter was diagnosed with Autism. Her prognosis was that she would never speak English. She should have been confined to a helmet because of the head banging, and lost in a self-contained resource classroom...but she is in AP courses at Mills University Studies High School - and made All-State Choir this year. She skipped sixth grade, and is a wonder. She and I are on the national speaking circuit, because of the behavioral regimen I created for her and for others.
I speak to many people all over the country, and I know that my AGS experience is part of what got me here. Thanks.
AGS meant the world to me. My experiences there opened my eyes to so many new ideas and concepts and opinions. I also give part of my wonderful experience to the fact that we stayed at Hendrix College. The campus was very welcoming and the facilites were excellent. I only hope that AGS will continue on and will continue at Hendrix College.
AGS was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to broaden his or her horizons. It was fun and educational, and it went by too fast! Anyone who turns down the opportunity to go to AGS is turning down the opportunity of a lifetime.
AGS is truly a wonderful experience. I made some remarkable friends that I am constantly in contact with today. When first chosen I was reluctant about attending AGS, but after going I must say that it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I will never forget the students, staff, or the overall program. This is an excellent opportunity to prepare students for college life, and I recommend anyone with the opportunity to PLEASE go.
Well, Governor's School was probably the best six weeks I've spent in my entire life. I got to meet new people from many different backgrounds. I could finally sit down with people like me and actually have intelligent conversations without people being attacked verbally, like at my school. Governor's School is wonderful programs that open eyes and gives young Arkansans a new view to the world around them and should stay around for many years to come.
It's hard to write only a few lines about how Arkansas Governor's School has impacted my life, but I'll give it a shot. First of all, I have AGS to thank for making me a much more open-minded person; I have acquired a new, unique ability to view situations from numerous different philosophical and social perspectives. I have also learned that there are actually people in the world that are like me and to whom I can relate. I enjoyed meeting new friends at AGS and discussing things such as philosophy, religion, and art with them in ways which I had never before considered. I am truly grateful for the experience that I received at AGS and would be delighted to find the program continuing indefinitely.
It is almost impossible to express how much AGS has meant to me in my life. As a college student, many of the "life lessons" learned at AGS have come into play. During my summer at AGS I learned so much about life and myself. I grew academically, socially, and even spiritually. My friends and I (My roommate and I met and Governor's School) never let a day go by without talking about AGS and how much fun we had there. I loved it, and I will continue to encourage others to attend.
I attended the AGS in its second year. Without hesitancy, I list Arkansas Governor's School as one of the pivotal experiences of my high school education. I left Arkansas for college and returned to the state this past fall. When people ask me about my Arkansas "creds," right after having grown up in Little Rock and graduated Little Rock Central High School, I proudly state that I am an alum of AGS!
Arkansas Governor's School changed my life. It opened my eyes to new ideas and new ways of thinking. AGS also helped me to grow as a person and prepare me for the road that is ahead.
I now hold two degrees but consider the weeks that I spent in Conway, AR at Governor's School among the most intellectually challenging and stimulating of my life. The variety of ethnicities, philosophies, interests, and beliefs represented exposed me to a world of thinking that I had never encountered within the limits of my small town. I passionately believe that this program is the best thing that Arkansas has to offer in the area of academics and that Hendrix College is an important part of the School's tradition. I would hope that the relationship between Arkansas Governor's School and Hendrix College will continue for many, many years to come.