Governor's Program for Gifted Children
Encyclopedia
The Governor's Program for Gifted Children (GPGC) is a gifted education
residential summer program at McNeese State University
in Lake Charles, Louisiana
. The program is for students aged between 12 and 17 years old. During the seven-week program, students study humanities, science, composition, and fine arts.
Governor Terry Sanford
established the first governor's school for gifted children in North Carolina in the early 1960s. Although GPGC existed as the McNeese
Summer Enrichment Program before the North Carolina Governor's School
, it became the second "governor's school for gifted children" in the United States.
Gifted education
Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented...
residential summer program at McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
. The program is for students aged between 12 and 17 years old. During the seven-week program, students study humanities, science, composition, and fine arts.
History
The program was established in 1959 as the McNeese Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) with 15 middle school students from southwest Louisiana. The SEP began accepting students from other sections of the state in 1962. GPGC began officially in 1964 when Governor John McKeithen approved a petition for the state to provide funds for its continued operation. Since then the Louisiana legislature has funded it every year but one.Governor Terry Sanford
Terry Sanford
James Terry Sanford was a United States politician and educator from North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, Sanford was the 65th Governor of North Carolina , a two-time U.S. Presidential candidate in the 1970s and a U.S. Senator...
established the first governor's school for gifted children in North Carolina in the early 1960s. Although GPGC existed as the McNeese
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
Summer Enrichment Program before the North Carolina Governor's School
Governor's School of North Carolina
The Governor's School of North Carolina is a publicly funded six-week residential summer program for gifted high school students in the state of North Carolina....
, it became the second "governor's school for gifted children" in the United States.
Death of Dr. George Middleton
Dr. George Middleton, founder and director of the Governor's Program, died at home in his sleep on April 27, 2008. The obituary can be found at http://www.gpgc.org/obit.html.Notable alumni
- Tony Kushner
- Harry Connick, Jr. (Not of Alumni status, but did attend for one summer.)