Nine students from the Douglas County School System have been named finalists for the 2026 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program taking place this summer at Georgia Southern University.
The four-week residential program for rising juniors and seniors is an intensive experience focused on social, cultural and academic enrichment.
The program is free for students participating and is administered by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. Students attend classes in the mornings and afternoons in their area of study and participate in social and instructional activities each evening.
The nine finalists from DCSS and their areas of study are:
Madison Gibson, 10th Grade, Chapel Hill, Communicative Arts
Wyatt Herzlieb, 11th Grade, Douglas County, Mathematics
Alexander Martinez, 11th Grade, New Manchester, World Languages: French
Laila Nash, 11th Grade, New Manchester, Visual Arts
Layla Palmer, 11th Grade, New Manchester, Visual Arts
Adeline Rupert, 11th Grade, Alexander, Music: Woodwind: Flute
Christian Simmons, 11th Grade, Chapel Hill, Social Studies
Madison D. Smith, 11th Grade, Chapel Hill, Visual Arts
Hank Stephens, 11th Grade, Douglas County, Social Studies
Douglas County High School French teacher Corinne Barnes has worked with the Governor’s Honors Program since 1985.
Barnes said DCSS has been recognized statewide for student participants and teacher support of the GHP for nearly 30 years.
“The system's excellence has been evidenced in academics, fine arts, and engineering/technology, and is particularly significant because GHP participation is directly related to future college and professional excellence and provides both students and teachers exceptional opportunities beyond the classroom,” Barnes said.
Lithia Springs High School Fine Arts Department Chair Cassandra Edwards, a member of the district’s GHP coordinating team, added, "I know firsthand the life-changing experience the program is. My son got the opportunity to work with other highly motivated high school students in his concentration, as well as explore other areas of interest."
Meet the Finalists
Madison Gibson, Chapel Hill, Communicative Arts
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
For as long as I can remember, I have been an avid articulator. Nevertheless, over time, I was persuaded that my verbosity and unconventional ideas were an annoyance, a distraction, and, ultimately, a flaw. Consequently, I traded my over-speaking for over-thinking; exchanged my vivid visualizations for dimmer, muted ones. I kept my notions, emotions, questions, and suggestions locked within, but they hungered for liberation and wrestled to break free. Thus, I armed myself with formidable pens and paper and shielded myself with daunting literature. The endless avenues of Communicative Arts became my primary defense, preserving what sense of self I had left. Yet, over time I found that the arts of communication could be an invincible offensive tool as well.
Today, I am no longer battling my curiosity, creativity, or candor. Communicative Arts has freed me from the bonds of others’ criticism and allowed me to become a confident teammate and leader through mediums such as speech and debate, thespian society, and community service. I am no longer ashamed of my voice, as I now understand that I have achieved all that I have because of it. I perceive the world through a new lens, and what I see excites me.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
My countless communicative endeavors over the past few years have fortified my self-regard, self-confidence, and individuality. I would love to enhance my skills, engage in my passion, and unlock my potential through the unparalleled experiences, mentorship, and community of the Governor’s Honors Program, so that, when I return, I can share my expanded understanding with those around me through leadership, speech, writing, music, and all other mediums of Communicative Arts.
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
I excitedly look forward to the prospective seminars and group discussions I may participate in at GHP 63. I experienced a taste of what they could be like during my semifinalist Socratic seminar and was amazed by the intellectual curiosity of my fellow Commutative Arts semifinalists. The discussion was fueled by diverse perspectives, concepts, anecdotes, and conclusions, and I am eager to have numerous conversations like it this summer.
Wyatt Herzlieb, Douglas County, Mathematics
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
The study of mathematics is important to me due to its ability to analytically predict and explain natural phenomenon. I enjoy researching the practical applications of math so that I can use my knowledge to create my own innovative solutions to problems.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
I hope to gain new friends that share my passion for learning. Also, I am excited to expand my understanding of mathematics.
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
I am most excited about being able to live independently without any direct supervision. Other than that, I am looking forward to being able to explore the campus and meet new people from across Georgia.
Alexander Martinez, New Manchester, World Languages: French
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
As a Hispanic student who relied on subtitles to identify linguistic patterns, my nomination for French to GHP is very important to me because it will help me prepare for the Journalism field, where I can work on my goal of communicating in different languages. Using my prior Spanish language experience, it inspired me to learn French to where I understood the language’s structures while learning new cultural aspects of French culture. That is to say, my area of nomination is important because French will prepare me in the Journalism field thanks to my background in speaking Spanish at home.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
At GHP, I hope to learn different methods on how to further approach French or Francophone culture while communicating in the language. More specifically, I'm curious to learn how the GHP French experience will allow me to develop my French learning at a more interdisciplinary level. That is to say, I hope to gain my confidence in using the language in different fields of academic focus, especially if I plan to visit a francophone country (college, research purposes.)
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
I'm most excited about how GHP will provide me and other students the opportunity to step outside of our own academic fields, especially the electives and minor classes offered because they create a bridge between students of varied majors and backgrounds. Thus, I'm looking forward to the academic and communal growth that will occur from my time at GHP.
Laila Nash, New Manchester, Visual Arts
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
Art is important to all facets of the world. The media conveys history, culture, and emotions connecting people of different times. I believe it is one of the most important things to me personally due to the ability art has to reach all types of people.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
I hope to gain a personal experience with college to better know myself and habits for the future. It would also be great to learn techniques we aren’t able to do at school like Raku firings and wood working.
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
I am very excited about the opportunity to do something away from home within art field.
Layla Palmer, New Manchester, Visual Arts
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
The visual arts has become one of the most important things in my life. It is a way for me to understand other people as well as myself, so I strive to learn everything I can about it.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
I hope to learn new art techniques of course, but most of all, I want to learn about other artists like me. I want to see what inspires them and how they go about certain challenges so that hopefully, I can learn new ways to improve myself and my own art.
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
I am most excited for the opportunity to meet and collaborate with many new people from across Georgia, and I am looking forward to participating in many events with them, such as the art exhibit we will have at the end of our time in GHP.
Adeline Rupert, Alexander, Music: Woodwind: Flute
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
Music has always been a huge passion for me, I love everything about music and playing the flute. Music to me is a second language and it helps me express myself in a way words cannot.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
I hope to learn more about my instrument and music so I can bring new knowledge back to my school and my practice. I also want to see what music majoring would be like in college.
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
I am most excited about being around people that share the same passion and enthusiasm as me about music.
Christian Simmons, Chapel Hill, Social Studies
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
Social studies provides an opportunity to understand the fundamental nature of humanity, and that nature holds infinite possibilities. Its importance in my life comes from fulfilling my curiosity and using its insights to inform, empower, and help create systems that shape society.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
GHP represents an opportunity to deepen my knowledge. I hope to use the knowledge, frameworks, and relationships gained through GHP to strengthen and better serve my community.
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
For the duration of GHP, I am most excited about uncovering and embracing diverse, new perspectives. I want to engage with like-minded individuals who challenge my ideas and push my beliefs, allowing me to think more critically and deeply. Through that process, I hope to sharpen my thinking and refining myself into a more disciplined and capable intellectual.
Madison D. Smith, Chapel Hill, Visual Arts
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
Art is important to me because it is a universal language that expresses what words cannot. The power of art lies in its ability to tell stories and communicate emotion and meaning beyond language. It challenges me to not only develop technical skill but also to create work that connects with a universal audience.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
I hope to strengthen both my technical abilities and conceptual thinking. I want to experiment with new techniques, refine my style, and learn how to intentionally shape my work to better engage viewers.
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
I’m most excited to be surrounded by passionate artists in a creative, challenging environment that will push me to grow. I look forward to collaborating, gaining new perspectives, and bringing what I learn back to my community.
Hank Stephens, Douglas County, Social Studies
Why is your area of nomination important to you?
History dictates how we see the past, and how we plan for the future.
What do you hope to gain/learn at GHP?
More insights into international relations.
What are you most excited about in participating in GHP?
Being in a summer camp for the first time.