June 10, 2020

The North Carolina Governor’s School community is in pain. 

We are shocked and outraged by the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor. All three are tragic additions to a list of names that was already horrifyingly long, a list of Black people and other people of color who lost their lives to the brutality of the police who were supposed to protect them, or died at the hands of their fellow citizens who denied them their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Others in our nation are not denied these rights because they are White. This is not merely our observation through the media; members of our own Governor’s School community have directly experienced this discrimination and violation of basic human rights in our daily lives. 

We stand in solidarity with all victims of police brutality and hate crimes, and we reject the systems of oppression in our country that condemn and disenfranchise people of color. Centuries of pain have left a stain of racism on our society that will not be cleansed easily. It is our belief that with collective action, America can live up to its ideals for all its people. To begin that work, we challenge ourselves and the broader community to: 

• Speak loudly and boldly against racism, becoming anti-racist, not just non-racist. Silence is not acceptable; 

• Listen to and honor the stories and perspectives of people of color and recognize that these experiences are fundamentally different from those of White Americans; 

• Learn about the history, challenges, and contributions of people of color in America, and do so by seeking out this knowledge, not idly waiting and expecting people of color to be the teacher; and 

• Engage in honest dialogue and difficult conversations that promote meaningful changes within ourselves and others. 

As it relates specifically to Governor’s School, we will seek to: 

• Build awareness among people of color about Governor’s School resulting in increased interest and nominations at the school and county level; 

• Increase the diversity in our student body, staff, and faculty, furthering the variety of experiences and voices in our classrooms; 

• Redouble our efforts to identify and attract leaders of color on our own boards and throughout the Governor’s School community; 

• Integrate the events of 2020 into conversations that will challenge the class of 2021 to reflect and evaluate how they interact with each other and the world; and 

• Ensure that all members of the Governor’s School community — students, faculty, and staff — are heard and valued, and that all qualified students have access to the Governor’s School experience, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. 

For some students, Governor’s School was their first opportunity to be part of a racially diverse educational community. Generations of alumni treasure their Governor’s School experience in large part because the community exposed them to 

substantially different viewpoints and experiences, challenged them to understand one another better, and grow into more thoughtful citizens. To move our society towards a nation where there is truly liberty and justice for all, we must deepen our understanding of different lived experiences, something best done by leaning into Governor's School’s history of never shying away from difficult conversations, including conversations that force us to acknowledge times when we failed to live up to our ideals and caused pain. We welcome those conversations and promise they will be catalysts for improving the Governor’s School experience. 

To the entire Governor’s School community, especially members of the Black community struggling with recent events: utilize your Governor’s School network for support. Draw on the lessons you learned and the friendships you made when you were first examining concepts such as justice and morality within the safe confines of your Area II and Area III classes, and remember the profound impact of listening to and learning from each other in those formative discussions. 

As we make the commitments outlined above, we ask you to commit with us as a community and hold one another accountable. We welcome you to reach out and share your ideas about how the Governor’s School can better serve all the people of North Carolina. 

The NC Governor’s School Board of Governors & The NC Governor’s School Foundation

For Immediate Release - March 22, 2020
Contact:
Lee Conner | 919-260-6165 | President | Governor’s School Foundation
Stephanie Jobe | 704-300-3173 | President | Governor’s School Alumni Association 

NC Governor’s School Alumni Association to Merge with NC Governor’s School Foundation 

NORTH CAROLINA - This week, the Governor’s School Alumni Association (GSAA) and the North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation (GSF) announced plans to combine into a single entity. The goal of the combination is to streamline programming and outreach to alumni, parents, donors, and volunteers of the two organizations. 

The GSAA voted today to dissolve and cease its activities effective immediately, with the intent of winding down its remaining business by the end of its fiscal year (August 31, 2020). During this period, GSAA will focus on wrapping up its business affairs and integrating functions of the alumni association into the GSF. 

GSAA and GSF officers, who already work closely together, will cooperate throughout the spring and summer to seamlessly transition GSAA activities, including Alumni Day which will continue this summer on both campuses. Going forward, GSF will select a member(s) of its Board of Directors as a dedicated leader with responsibility for alumni affairs, outreach, and programming. 

GSF President Lee Conner is excited about combining the efforts of the two organizations. “This is a natural transition,” Conner said. “For many years, having two organizations has been somewhat confusing to alumni and other Governor’s School supporters. Now, we can be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for anyone who wants to stay connected with and support the Governor’s School. We very much feel it will enhance the post-Governor’s School experience for all alumni.” 

"This is not an ending,” says Stephanie Jobe, current president of the GSAA. “All of the work the Association and the Foundation have done together will continue on, but even stronger now with a united force. Governor's School has always been about thinking outside the box. It isn't like us to keep doing something just because it is the way that it has always been done. This new direction fills me with hope and joy and solace because the future is in good hands." 

The Governor’s School of North Carolina is a five and one-half week summer residential program for intellectually gifted high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. Every year, young minds from every county, community, and background are invited to apply for Governor’s School and join 670 fellow North Carolinians at the nation’s oldest statewide summer residential program for academically and artistically gifted students. 

The North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation was incorporated in 1990 as a non-profit whose purpose is to support and preserve North Carolina’s premier summer enrichment program. Learn more about the Foundation at www.ncgsfoundation.org. 

The North Carolina Governor’s School Alumni Association (GSAA) began in 1987 to build awareness and support for the Governor’s School program and to offer a community forum for past participants with activities like Alumni Day. It voted on March 22, 2020, to dissolve and will cease activities immediately, with a wind down period to end on August 31, 2020.