GOVERNOR’S SCHOOLS APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

 HARRISBURG, NOV. 12 – State Sen. Connie Williams announced today that information -- and applications -- for the 2005 Governor’s Schools of Excellence was now available online.

 “Each year students from high schools across the Commonwealth take part in the Governor’s Schools of Excellence, learning about global entrepreneurship, heath care, international studies, science and much more,” Williams said. “These summer residential programs represent wonderful opportunities for students to explore an area of interest, along with other gifted and talented Pennsylvania students.”

 Applications are available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education Web site at www.pde.state.pa.us/excellence. Applications also can be obtained from public and non-public secondary schools. Students compete for spots in one of the eight Governor’s Schools.

 Each program lasts five weeks and is held at a Pennsylvania institution of higher education.

 Deadline for application submission for the schools is as follows:

• School for Agricultural Sciences – Penn State University – Feb. 8, 2005

• School for the Arts – Mercyhurst College – Jan. 3, 2005

• School for Global Entrepreneurship – Lehigh University – Feb. 1, 2005

• School for Health Care – University of Pittsburgh – Feb. 1, 2005

• School for Information Technology – Drexel University and Penn State University – Feb. 1, 2005

• School for International Studies – University of Pittsburgh – Jan. 6, 2005

• School for the Sciences – Carnegie Mellon University – Jan. 6, 2005

• School for Teaching – Millersville University – Jan. 6, 2005

 “These schools place an emphasis on leadership and encourage participants to develop service projects in local communities,” Williams said. “Students who graduate are given new insight into career and college opportunities.”