The Messenger 05.11.10
High school students attending the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Humanities and Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Martin will have the opportunity to earn six hours of college credit during the summer programs.
Students in the humanities program will arrive on campus June 6 and depart July 3, while the agricultural sciences students arrive May 23 and depart June 18.
The Tennessee Governor’s School for the Humanities, located on the UT Martin campus since 1985, will host 76 students, while the seventh Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences — one of four in the nation — will have 34 students. The schools are staffed by faculty from UT Martin with guest presenters from throughout the United States.
UT Martin will help introduce high school students to a myriad of agricultural careers at the school for the agricultural sciences. High school students from across the state will be involved in research, living laboratories and study opportunities.
The students will expand their knowledge of food, genetics, agriculture, veterinary science, engineering and the sustainable use of renewable natural resources. They will be exposed to scientific and land stewardship concepts while sharpening their communication, problem-solving and leadership skills.
Also, students will be exposed to the manufacturing process for biofuels to include biodiesel and ethanol. Scholars will be able to manufacture the fuel in the biofuels laboratory from selected biomass materials and utilize the fuels in laboratory engines.
Participants in the Governor’s School for Agricultural Sciences will again receive laptop computers to use while on campus. The computers, which have been loaded with special software to help students organize their work, have the potential to turn all learning environments into laboratories.
“Agriculture today is a fast-paced, high-tech industry that requires strong analytical skills to be successful,” said Dr. Joey Mehlhorn, TGSAS director and UT Martin professor of agricultural economics. “TGSAS helps foster those skills through a variety of experiential learning opportunities.”
A four-day field trip to Moline, Ill., and St. Louis is planned for this year’s class. Students will visit the John Deere™ facilities in Moline and then travel to St. Louis to tour the Monsanto Research Center, Purina Mills, Missouri Botanical Garden and other sites of interest.
The humanities immersion program includes high school juniors and seniors from across the state who have been selected to participate based on academic achievements, writing skills, school and community service and the recommendations of high school principals, counselors and teachers.
As part of the program, students explore subjects as diverse as philosophy, music and literature, develop their writing skills and participate in afternoon seminars specially designed to challenge some of the “best and the brightest” students in Tennessee.
“We believe the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Humanities is the most extraordinary academic ex-perience you can have as a high school student and our outstanding faculty do everything they can to create a rigorous, engaging environment in which the scholars can further develop their intellectual abilities,” said Dr. Jerald Ogg, vice chancellor for academic affairs and governor’s school director.