Participants in the 2005 Governor's Honors Program were addressed by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue yesterday. The following is the text of his remarks to this accomplished group of students and educators:







Thank you for having me as your guest today. Several members of my staff were GHP’ers during their high school days. So I asked for their advice on what I might say to you this evening. They each got a kind of dreamy look in their eyes as they remembered their own GHP days. I had to snap my fingers a couple of times to pull them out of the trance. But their collective advice was this. They said, “Governor, you’re speaking so early in the program that the full “GHP effect” will not have set in yet for this year’s students.”





“But it will. So you might pass along some advice from GHP’ers of the past.”  I thought that was a good idea. So here’s the advice of your predecessors:  Savor this experience. These next six weeks represent an extraordinary opportunity for each of you. For some it may seem like a long time away from home.  But by the end, most of you will say GHP did not last long enough.

On the surface, the Governor’s Honors Program is about academic enrichment. You’ve all come through a competitive process to earn the chance to spend these next few weeks learning alongside bright and motivated classmates and some of the best instructors in Georgia. That learning opportunity is important.  You’ll get to delve into subjects that interest you in a way that you rarely do in you regular classes back home. You’ll have some of the best class discussion and debates of your school career. And I know you’ll enjoy that experience.

But there is much more going on here than academics. I’m told by those who’ve been here that the best part of GHP are the friendships you’ll make with your fellow students. You’ll form those bonds not just in the classrooms and labs and practice rooms … but over lunch, and playing Ultimate Frisbee … and waiting for your clothes to dry down at the laundry room. Just talking and getting to know each other … cracking jokes … arguing and debating … discussing crazy ideas … sharing dreams. And I’m sure there is at least future Will Ferrell here who’ll have a pretty good Sonny Perdue impression down by the time I finish talking. But these are the GHP memories you’ll treasure and these are the parts you should savor most.



That’s the advice I was asked to pass along. Make the most of every day here. Throw yourself into it. Get outside your comfort zone and try something new. You’ll each find your little group of hallmates or classmates, and that’s good. It’s part of the experience. But don’t settle for the familiar. Step outside your tribe.

“Math Geeks” and “Soc Studs” -- go introduce yourself to a Comm Arts major.

Theatre folks -- have lunch with a Technology and Executive Management major.

Ag science and biotechnology majors -- spend some time getting to know someone here in Music or Dance or Design.

By the way, I’m proud that we were able to expand the Ag Science program this year.

You know, I’m going to make this a little stronger than “advice.”  I’m going to make it a request from me, the Governor, to each of you, the Governor’s Honors Program Class of 2005. During the next 6 weeks, go find the person here who is your opposite in where they’re from, what they’re studying, and what they like to do. That person is here somewhere. Find him or her and find out what it is you have in common. Make a new friend. Because, I’ll tell you a secret.  One of the reasons the state created this program is to bring you all together in one place and give you a chance to meet folks you wouldn’t otherwise meet and form those friendships that will last for years to come.

Now why do we do that?  Why has Georgia had a GHP program for more than 40 years now?

It’s pretty simple.

You see, you represent the future of our state. You are Georgia’s future leaders in science, the arts, business, technology and government. Each of you has already emerged as a leader among your peers.  Each of you has distinguished yourself in many ways. And each of you, I know has a dream. And each of you has an amazing advantage in pursuing that dream -- you’re young!

Now some might say that’s a disadvantage. But they’re wrong. One of the great advantages of being young is that you don’t know what can’t be done. You can accomplish things that older, supposedly wiser people won’t even attempt. When others say “It can’t be done!” you have that power to say, “Yes, it can!” And the State of Georgia invests in you by investing in the Governor’s Honors Program to help you realize that.

That’s why Dr. Searle and the other administrators work so hard to ensure that you have a great experience here. It is why some of the best instructors in our state devote part of their own summer to teaching you. It’s why Valdosta State University is proud to be the home campus of GHP and the “Magic Square” you all love. It’s why the Governor of Georgia is here to urge you to make the most of this experience. It’s all done to inspire you to develop your talents today.

To recognize that your contribution to the life of your community and our state is important right now. Not just in some distant future after you graduate from college. Not after you get your first job or start your first company. Or organize your first non-profit organization. Or publish your first book. Or land your first starring role. Or even win your first election.

People your age, or only a few years older, have accomplished all of these things, and much more. But those things don’t happen by accident. They happen by a mixture of inspiration and determination. Each of you has both a dream that inspires you and the God-given ability to achieve it if you apply yourself confidently and persistently to that goal.

So if you want to get the most from your experience here at GHP, I urge you to pursue those dreams. The time to get started is now, and GHP is a great environment for thinking about your goals, forming new dreams, and finding mentors and friends and allies and role models who will inspire you and sustain you for years to come.

I guess what it comes down to is this.  You’ll learn a lot from your instructors in the coming weeks. You’ll learn a lot from each other. But most of all, you’ve got a great opportunity to learn about yourself and what you are capable of achieving. So savor the experience. Make the most of it. And don’t be surprised when that “GHP effect” finally kicks in.

I’m proud of you -- Georgia is proud of you -- and I look forward to being amazed and astounded by what you will do and how you will transform Georgia in the years to come.

Congratulations.  And I hope you have the best summer ever here at the Governor’s Honors Program.