2. Mr. Bruce Guenther Gifted Education Teacher Berwick Area High School

3. Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of Excellence (PGSE)PGSE For academically or artistically talented students, including the gifted (but, not exclusively) Five week, intensive, residential, program held during the summer Eight “schools,” held on different college campuses, based on eight career fields Tuition, room & board paid by the State; transportation, incidentals paid by family

4. PGSE - FYI Application process is purposely rigorous Remember there will be more qualified applicants than there are spaces available Consider application a two year process You may apply to no more than TWO Pa. Governor’s Schools

5. PGSE Alumni from BHS Destiny Deater - 2008 PGSA Josh Gallagher - 2008 PGSA Kristin Kemmerer - 2008 PGSHC Olivia DiPasquale - 2007 PGSGE Christa Johnson - 2007 PGSIS Kim Gerlach – 2006 PGSS Emily Odgrin – 2006 PGSA Marie Brown – 2005 PGSHC Duane Swank - 2005 PGSA link to Application Process

6. PGSGEPGSGE – Global Entrepreneurship Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. Open to Sophomores and Juniors Field: Business, finance, e-commerce (with recognition of globalization of economies) Recommendation by: Business or Social Studies teacher, English teacher and Guidance Counselor link to Application Process

7. PGSHCPGSHC – Health Care University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa Open to JUNIORS only All human Health Care fields Recommendations by: Science teacher, one other teacher, and Guidance Counselor Requires: Service Leadership Project in Health Care link to Application Process

8. PGSE Application Requirements Level I (All applicants) Paper Applications Personal Data Form Narrative Statement (1 p. essay to introduce yourself) Extra-curricular resume (1-2 p. resume) Chief Essay (2 p. essay based on “school’s” prompt) Letters of Recommendation (3) Transcript, Report Card, Attendance, Stndrd. Tests Level II – (semifinalists, selected from L 1) Live Auditions or Interviews Applies to all “schools” except the ARTS

9. PGSA Application Requirements Similar to other PGSE, School of the Arts requires: Personal Data Sheet Narrative (1 p. essay to introduce yourself) However, The PGS of the Arts (PGSA)PGSA Does NOT require teacher recommendations Nor a resume, nor a Chief Essay DOES REQUIRE an artistic work sample artistic recording or portfolio Recommends “hand” delivery of application to CSIU

10. PGSE – Application Requirements Application process is purposely rigorous Remember there will be more qualified applicants than there are spaces available You need to “sell” yourself to be noticed Follow application guidelines exactly “It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure the application has been filed in a timely and complete fashion, with the appropriate Intermediate Unit.”

11. PGSE – Application Process Applications available after Oct 1 st Begin by November 1, gathering your materials, information, selection of audition pieces (PGSA only), writing and rewriting essays. ASAP, ask appropriate staff for letters of recommendation – provide them with materials and information prepared above Submissions of completed applications vary by school, plan to be done by Jan 1 st Completed applications to Guidance Counselors at least 2 days prior to “postmark” deadline, Guidance will then mail them out PGSASPGSAS PGSA PGSGE PGSHC PGSIST PGSIS PGSS PGSTPGSAPGSGEPGSHCPGSISTPGSISPGSSPGST

12. Grounds for Disqualification Ineligible (see each schools application) Lateness of application Failure to send application to correct office Incomplete – (all parts must be in at same time) Plagiarism Falsification of information Not abiding by application guidelines Do not add unnecessary or neglect required items

13. PGSE Additional Information www.pgse.org Info on each school Downloadable application materials Helpful Hints for applicants Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) PGSE Calendar PGSE “At a Glance” Bruce Guenther, Gifted Education Teacher bguenther@berwicksd.org 759-6400 x3148 bguenther@berwicksd.org Mrs. Heather Melito, Guidance Counselor hmelito@berwicksd.org 759-6400 x 3107 hmelito@berwicksd.org

15. Last updated 23 October 2008 The Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of Excellence. 23 Oct. 2008. The Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of Excellence. 23 Oct. 2008.http://www.pgse.org