A group of talented North Dakota high school students will soon participate in an unforgettable educational experience at NDSU. The 26th annual North Dakota Governor's Schools program is set to begin Sunday, June 7.

"We have a group of 94 students coming, which is our biggest class ever," said Jeff Boyer, Governor's Schools director and NDSU assistant professor of practice. "They come from all over the state, from high schools large and small."

According to Boyer, students receive five weeks of concentrated instruction in seven areas: architecture and landscape architecture, engineering, English studies, information technology, science, mathematics and visual arts. The students learn through classroom teaching from faculty, discussion groups, hands-on lab work, field trips and other activities.

"The Governor's Schools experience is really powerful for the students. They get to take part in an intense collegiate experience while they are still in high school," Boyer explained. "They don't typically get this type of in-depth instruction as part of their high school curriculum."

The instructional programs are rigorous and challenging, so Governor's Schools participants often have a high level of intelligence, skill and determination.

"These are academically able, really capable young people. For five weeks, they are immersed into a particular domain of study," Boyer said. As examples, he notes that North Dakota's two 2015 Presidential Scholars, Carl Denton of Fargo and Samantha Goerger from Wyndmere, are both former Governor's Schools participants.

The students also get an introduction to life on campus. During the session, they live in the NDSU residence halls and eat at a dining center.

The Governor's Schools program continues through July 10.

For more information, visit www.ndsu.edu/govschool/.

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