Mr. Bruce GuentherGifted Education Teacher

Berwick Area High School

Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of Excellence (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

PGSE - FYIApplication process is purposely rigorousRemember there will be more qualified

applicants than there are spaces availableConsider application a two year processYou may apply to no more than TWO Pa.

Governor’s Schools

PGSE Alumni from BHSDestiny Deater - 2008 PGSAJosh Gallagher - 2008 PGSA

Kristin Kemmerer - 2008 PGSHCOlivia DiPasquale - 2007 PGSGEChrista Johnson - 2007 PGSIS

Kim Gerlach – 2006 PGSSEmily Odgrin – 2006 PGSA

Marie Brown – 2005 PGSHCDuane Swank - 2005 PGSA

link to Application Process

PGSGE – Global EntrepreneurshipLehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.

Open to Sophomores and JuniorsField: 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

PGSHC – Health CareUniversity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa

Open to JUNIORS onlyAll human Health Care fieldsRecommendations by: Science teacher, one

other teacher, and Guidance CounselorRequires: Service Leadership Project in

Health Care link to Application Process

PGSE Application RequirementsLevel I (All applicants) Paper Applications

Personal Data FormNarrative 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

PGSA Application RequirementsSimilar to other PGSE, School of the Arts

requires:Personal Data SheetNarrative (1 p. essay to introduce yourself)

However, The PGS of the Arts (PGSA)Does NOT require teacher recommendations

Nor a resume, nor a Chief EssayDOES REQUIRE an artistic work sample

artistic recording or portfolioRecommends “hand” delivery of application to

CSIU

PGSE – Application RequirementsApplication process is purposely rigorousRemember there will be more qualified

applicants than there are spaces availableYou need to “sell” yourself to be noticedFollow 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.”

PGSE – Application ProcessApplications available after Oct 1st

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 1st

Completed applications to Guidance Counselors at least 2 days prior to “postmark” deadline, Guidance will then mail them out PGSAS PGSA PGSGE PGSHC PGSIST PGSIS PGSS PGST

Grounds for DisqualificationIneligible (see each schools application)Lateness of applicationFailure to send application to correct officeIncomplete – (all parts must be in at same time) PlagiarismFalsification of informationNot abiding by application guidelines

Do not add unnecessary or neglect required items

PGSE Additional Informationwww.pgse.org

Info on each schoolDownloadable application materialsHelpful Hints for applicantsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)PGSE CalendarPGSE “At a Glance”

Bruce Guenther, Gifted Education Teacherbguenther@berwicksd.org 759-6400 x3148

Mrs. Heather Melito, Guidance Counselorhmelito@berwicksd.org 759-6400 x 3107

Last updated 23 October 2008The Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of

Excellence. 23 Oct. 2008. The Pennsylvania Governor’s

Schools of Excellence. 23 Oct. 2008 <

http://www.pgse.org >.