sdr #135 07/10/09
SCHOLARS FROM OCEAN COUNTY TO ATTEND GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL
TOMS RIVER – Eight scholars have been selected from Ocean County to participate in the 2009 New Jersey Governor’s
School programs. The students were part of approximately 252 chosen from 1,600 applicants.
The Governor’s School programs are held on five college campuses throughout New Jersey. The programs are intended
to expand the state’s talented students into intellectual and civic-minded individuals, and to prepare these students for
college level education.
“We are very proud to have a group of such exceptional students here in Ocean County,” said Freeholder Joseph H.
Vicari, who serves as liaison to the Superintendent of Schools.
The New Jersey Governor’s School program was created in 1983. The program falls under the New Jersey Commission on
Higher Education, and is supervised by the Governor’s School Board of Overseers, whose members are appointed by the
Governor. The program has nearly 8,000 students as Governor’s School Alumni.
Governor’s Scholars are upcoming high school seniors who are academically or artistically gifted. Each scholar
takes part in one of five Governor’s School programs, engineering, the environment, international studies, public issues,
or sciences.
“These students have worked tremendously hard and took part in a difficult application process,” said Dr. Bruce
Greenfield, Executive County Superintendent of Schools. “After nomination by their guidance counselors, each student
completed an application and wrote several essays and personal sketches.”
Participation in Governor’s School programs will display the distinctions between high school and college level
courses, while teaching the students the need for self-direction and the excitement of real life applications. They will
also require students to take intensive courses, complete assignments, and learn time management.
The scholars, their high schools and their respective programs are as follows: Bridget Blood, Marine Academy of
Technology and Environmental Science, School on the Environment; Curtis Giddings, Marine Academy of Technology and
Environmental Science, School of Engineering and Technology; Abisola Adesanya, Monsignor Donovan High School, School
of Public Issues; Erica Thieleman, Point Pleasant Borough High School, School in the Sciences; Katherine Wymbs, Southern
Regional High School, School of Engineering and Technology; Nashwa Yosry, Toms River High School North, School of
International Studies; Andrew Brown, Toms River High School South, School of Public Issues; Samana Shaikh, Toms River
High School South, School in the Sciences.
