Ch Chemistry
En
Ec
Engineering
M
Cw
Mathematics
Creative Writing
Ph
Science
Cs
Computer Science
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Bi Biology
English Language
Critical Analysis
Sc Re Research
Physics
Ca
Economics
H History
A Art
FIND YOUR
ELEMENT
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Governor’s
S School
S Science
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Mathematics
CURIOSITY IS THE ENGINE “ OF ACHIEVEMENT.” – KEN ROBINSON
Campus Map 4 Design Your Tomorrow 6 What Does It Mean To Be A Govie 8 Make GSSM Yours 9
2 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS
Outreach Programs School Year Opportunities GSSM Elementary Engage Spark! STEM Day Saturday Experiences Inside GSSM STEM Scholars Summer Experiences GoSciTech iTeams CREATEng
10 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 13
STEM Foundations 14 Virtual Programs 16 Accelerate 18 Faculty 20 Opportunities 22 Research 23 Synchronous Virtual Courses 23
Residential Programs Courses Faculty Research and Interim Trip Opportunities Extra-Curricular Activities Community Engagement Student Leadership Residence Halls Welcome To Hartsville Life After GSSM GSSM Foundation Alumni Association Alumni Stories Admissions Information
24 27 28 28 30 32 33 33 34 36 37 37 37 40 42
TABLE OF CONTENTS | 3
WELCOME TO THE NEST
C
Excellence = Roger Milliken + Carroll A. Campbell Jr. + Charles W. Coker
Established in 1988 under the leadership of Governor Carroll Campbell and Charles W. Coker (then-president of Sonoco Products Company), the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science + Mathematics (GSSM) for 32 years has fostered students at the forefront of change. GSSM seeks out and advances our state’s most talented students to offer a transformative education in science, mathematics, and engineering. Our campus features a state-of-the-art building capable of housing 288 students and including the James Lucas Academic Center, featuring more than 18 classroom and laboratory facilities; and the Gerald Malloy Activity Center, which includes a gym, weight room, engineering projects center, fully-equipped kitchen, game room, and space for students to relax. Located in Hartsville, South Carolina, a charming small town with a big heart, GSSM offers students a home away from home. Govies form tight bonds and build lasting memories, whether grabbing a coffee at Crema or a quick bite at The Rooster One Thirty-Six, a favorite local restaurant.
4 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS
A
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GERALD MALLOY ACTIVITY CENTER Gym Workout Facility Robotics Lab Athletic Training Room Student Activity Center
D
B
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JAMES H. LUCAS ACADEMIC CENTER
THE JAMES D. DANIELS HALL D
Classrooms Computer Lab Engineering Lab Science Labs
THE DENNY W. NEILSON HALL
CAMPUS MAP | 5
DESIGN YOUR TOMORROW At GSSM, you get an exceptional educational experience tailored to your interest with classes and opportunities to take your education to the next level. 6 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS
EXPLORE GSSM | 7
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A GOVIE?
G
Learning to take ownership of their education to achieve a bright and brilliant future.
O
Taking every opportunity to immerse themselves and go outside the box to foster exponential growth.
GOALED
OPPORTUNIST
V
VERSATILE
I
INNOVATIVE
E
ENTHUSIASTIC
Adaptable and flexible to handle anything with veracity and tenacity.
Creative and always ready to serve.
Going above and beyond without limits.
8 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS
MAKE GSSM YOURS OUTREACH Delivering STEM Experiences! GSSM takes South Carolina students to new levels of engaging and interactive academic experiences with hands-on, challenging, and fun STEM-based summer experiences and school year opportunities. Summer camp applications open in the spring. After-school program applications open early fall and spring. Transforming learning from ordinary to extraordinary. Learn more at scgssm.org.
VIRTUAL The Accelerate program provides South Carolina students an outstanding opportunity to persue engineering courses online while remaining at their home schools. Applications open in the fall. Visit scgssm.org to learn if your school district offers one of our programs.
STEM FOUNDATIONS Opportunities From Home! Earn a GSSM diploma while staying at home and taking synchronous classes together with a small cohort of peers. Applications open in the fall. Visit scgssm.org to learn more.
RESIDENTIAL Envision Yourself Here! Our two-year Residential program provides South Carolina junior and senior students with new challenges, lasting friendships, and endless opportunities. Once you visit our campus, you’ll find out what makes GSSM an experience like no other. Come visit with us to see if GSSM is the right choice for you. Ready to take your education to the next level and grow exponentially? Application opens in the fall. Your future is waiting at scgssm.org!
INTRODUCTION | 9
The GSSM Outreach Center extends GSSM’s commitment to high-quality education across South Carolina. Outreach is an incubator for learning, developing new ways to ignite students’ passions for STEM education and careers. Our team of talented and creative educators develop and deliver hands-on STEM experiences for students in elementary, middle, and high school and provide professional development learning opportunities for teachers.
IMPACT “I loved that so many of them (iTEAMS students) said they really learned how to be better at problem solving after all of the activities.” INSTRUCTOR
GSSM Outreach is a statewide resource for South Carolina’s students and educators. Our programs are designed to equip students with the science and technology know-how and the teamwork and communications skills they need to succeed in school and their future professions. We believe introducing students to STEM early and offering repeated learning opportunities builds a strong foundation for future studies and motivates them to pursue STEM careers. We help students understand the relationship between STEM and society, giving them opportunities to practice reasoning and problem solving. Our project-based approach demonstrates realworld applications for the concepts students are learning and supports teacher growth and confidence in the classroom.
“This lab motivated them because they got the chance to use cool new technology. As far as the content, it helped them understand what happened to the temperature as the phase changes were occurring and what happened to the temperature between phase changes. They could observe the temperature at the same time they were observing the actual phase change. It is a great lab.” INSTRUCTOR
“It was a very new thing for me however this camp made me feel like I knew how to code real scripts.” STUDENT “We feel assured that because of this camp our daughter at age 14 has made some decisions about her future that are well-informed and, in due time, life-enriching. Thank you.” PARENT
10 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS
2799 Number of students, teachers, staff, and administration served through all outreach programs in 2020-21, including summer 2021
1972
827
Number of students who participated in school-year programs
Number of students who participated in summer programs
26
Partner School Districts
81
Schools
Number of partners participating in Outreach learning experiences
88%
92%
90%
are more likely to take challenging STEM courses
are more prepared to take rigorous STEM courses
are better prepared to solve problems
863
35,625
Number of students served by the GSSM Elementary STEAM Bus
Estimated grams of caffeine ingested through coffee by the Outreach team while developing 2020-21 programs
OUTREACH | 11
SCHOOL YEAR OPPORTUNITIES Visit GSSM and participate in a variety of interactive, hands-on STEM experiences or let us bring the activities to you in our GSSM Elementary STEAM Bus. STEM Days at GSSM provide 3rd – 8th grade students with a chance to learn on campus with our instructors and GSSM student mentors. And, of course, all are welcome to experience GSSM’s community of innovators and scholars at the annual INSIDE GSSM event!
GSSM Elementary programs are designed to provide high-quality learning opportunities for students at younger ages. Students in grades 3-5 can enjoy hands-on lessons in our GSSM Elementary STEAM Bus or experience STEM though the Elementary Explore series. Our speciallyequipped STEAM Bus is a mobile science lab, complete with the materials and supplies necessary for young students to investigate or discover while Explore lessons use interactive technology to provide hands-on, minds-on learning for students wherever they are. Each Elementary lesson is driven by student curiosity and aligns with the South Carolina curriculum standards. Our instructors work together to support elementary teachers in delivering high-quality STEM content and enrichment.
ENGAGE is a four to six week after school program developed for 6th – 8th grade students. Meeting after school one or two days per week, students participate in a challenging, project-based curriculum designed to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of relevant technology, coding, and engineering concepts. GSSM juniors and seniors serve as instructors and role models to our young ENGAGE scholars, creating a unique mentorship experience.
SPARK! is an after school program for 6th – 8th grade students designed to ignite interest and awareness of STEM and other related subjects such as history, art, and foreign languages. The interactive and hands-on workshop topics vary each week, so participants have the option of selecting a topic that matches their interests. SPARK! is led by GSSM juniors and seniors who enjoy teaching and learning, serving as mentors in addition to program instructors.
Students and teachers from grades 3-8 can experience GSSM and the wonders of STEM by participating in a customized interactive learning opportunity connected to state and national STEM education standards. STEM Days at GSSM include engaging lab activities, campus tours, interaction with GSSM student mentors, and the option to enjoy lunch in the GSSM dining hall.
SATURDAY EXPERIENCES
INSIDE GSSM is an annual day of imagination, inspiration, and innovation! GSSM opens its doors to families across SC, providing the opportunity for young students and their families to interact with the GSSM community by participating in a variety of interactive activities designed and conducted by students, faculty, and staff. Families experience the uniqueness and diversity of the GSSM learning community and walk away from the festivities motivated to learn more!
12 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS
STEM Scholars is an academic enrichment program that provides Saturday learning experiences covering the core areas of mathematics, science, technology, communications, and leadership skills training to students from underrepresented communities. Working with local area partner middle schools, students are identified and invited to start their STEM Scholars journey in the 8th grade. GSSM faculty, staff, and other community content experts serve as instructors for the Saturday academic sessions.
SUMMER EXPERIENCES
GoSciTech is a summer residential STEM experience for academically motivated 8th – 10th grade students hosted on the GSSM campus each summer. Taught by talented GSSM faculty, visiting university professors, and other experts in their respective fields, students are immersed in a subject of their choice that includes relevant laboratory or project-based learning and field opportunities. Students experience the GSSM learning community by living in supervised GSSM residence halls, eating meals in our dining hall, and interacting with GSSM alumni who serve as instructional assistants in the classroom and as counselors across campus.
iTEAMS Xtreme is a one-week summer learning opportunity for academically motivated 6th – 8th grade students focusing on technology and held at schools in GSSM partner school districts. Each day students participate in interactive challenges that involve electronics, coding, programming, microcontrollers, and robotics. iTEAMS Xtreme provides a learning environment where students can be creative and innovative. Working in teams, students learn real-world applications of STEM concepts and how to be a better problem solver. Our talented instructional team includes GSSM alumni who serve as teaching assistants and mentors to the young scholars participating in iTEAMS.
CREATEng is a one-week summer program for academically motivated 7th – 9th grade students. It focuses on engineering design and is offered at schools in GSSM partner school districts. Each day students participate in design challenges that build an understanding of what engineering is and what engineers do. Working in teams, our young engineers have opportunities to design, test, and re-design solutions to engineering problems. CREATEng provides a learning environment where students are challenged to be creative and innovative. Our talented instructional team includes GSSM alumni who serve as teaching assistants and mentors to CREATEng scholars.
OUTREACH | 13
STEM Foundations: GSSM’s Online Diploma Program combines the excellence of a GSSM education with the flexibility of learning from home. STEM Foundations has a high-level STEM-focused curriculum for rising juniors in the state of South Carolina. Accepted students will not pay anything for the program. Courses meet synchronously and are taught online using Zoom. STEM Foundations students make up a small cohort who take classes which are taught only for them. All classes are honors or higher and almost all classes are taught at the college level (dual enrolled or AP). Students have online access to teachers’ office hours, tutoring, and college counseling. Students admitted to this program begin in their junior year and upon successful completion receive a GSSM diploma and a state of SC diploma.
VIRTUAL INSTRUCTIONS
ATHLETICS
STEM Foundations classes are taught live (synchronously) via Zoom. Class sizes are smaller than 14 students so all students get individual attention. Teachers hold office hours throughout the week for students to drop in and get one-on-one help.
STEM Foundations students are able to participate in sports at their local high schools. Current students are taking advantage of this to participate in cheerleading, golf, and volleyball.
DAILY SCHEDULE Classes meet for 53 minutes three to four times per week. Students typically have 3 to 4 classes per day and classes meet anywhere between 8am and 4pm. There are breaks in the day to get away from your computer and get a start on class work. Students have an hour of QUEST daily, quiet time to start on homework, work with peers, and get help from teachers or tutors.
HANDS ON LABS AT HOME Science cannot be done without labs! STEM Foundations students are provided with lab kits to conduct science labs at home with the guidance of their teachers.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Building compassion and character among our students in an important aspect of the GSSM experience. Giving back through service is one way we promote these tenets through community engagement. While a graduation requirement, most of our students exceed the 50 hours required each school year. Our students serve their local communities. Through community engagement, students are encouraged and reminded of the importance of using their abilities to support others.
14 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS
COLLEGE COUNSELING GSSM’s Office of College Counseling and Advising helps students with the college planning process starting at the beginning of their juniors year. Juniors commence individualized college planning with their designated college counselor in the spring via College Planning Seminar I; College Planning Seminar II continues in the fall with all of our seniors. Our college counseling staff brings significant experience in higher education admissions to our work with parents and students. GSSM’s enrollment size and mission affords us a smaller student to counselor ratio and resources and support typically found in independent schools.
SUMMER RESEARCH STEM Foundations students participate in GSSM’s top-notch research programs. Only at GSSM do all students engage in research under the mentorship of professional researchers. You will spend the summer between your junior and senior years exploring research methods, meeting members of the global community of researchers, and challenging yourself like never before - while tackling problems that make a difference.
66% 33%
Female Male
Limited Class Size Classes are kept small to give students the best opportunities to know each other and their teachers well.
2 to 12
7
16
Range of class sizes.
Average STEM Foundations class size.
Dual enrolled or AP classes
COURSE OFFERINGS 11th Grade • Honors PreCalculus • Calculus 1 • AP US History • Microeconomics • US Government & Politics • English • Biology • Chemistry • AP Statistics 12th Grade • English • Calculus 1 or 2 • Computer Science • Engineering • Physics
STEM FOUNDATIONS | 15
The mission of GSSM VIRTUAL PROGRAMS is to provide exceptional virtual education using both real-time and blended course-delivery methods to cultivate the interests and talents of motivated students across South Carolina. Founded in 2013, the Accelerate program provides students with an integrated set of courses that deliver high-quality science, engineering, math, and English instruction. Developing valuable skills in critical analysis and communication, students who participate in this dual-enrollment program complete courses offered in the first year of an undergraduate engineering program while still in high school. In addition to the Accelerate, GSSM also offers single STEM courses to partner schools through its SVC (Synchronous Virtual Courses) program. Developed in 2014, the SVC program aims to increase students’ interest in STEM subjects while encouraging them to pursue STEM-related careers.
16 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS
37.5% Female 62.5% Male
92% Major in Engineering
255 Students Accelerate (111) TEAM UP (29) Synchronous Virtual Courses (115)
140
49
23
Virtual Students Accelerate (111) TEAM UP (29)
Accelerate students earn up to 49 college credits
District and School partnerships representing 18 counties
VIRTUAL | 17
PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY VIRTUAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION GSSM is transforming K-12 engineering education in South Carolina by delivering the best virtual STEM education to students around the state through our two applicationbased engineering programs. In partnership with school districts, GSSM offers real-time virtual instruction via live interactive video conferencing at high school campuses across SC for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.
ACCELERATE
• Students complete courses offered in the first year of an undergraduate general engineering program while in high school. • Graduates may earn up to 49 college credit hours.
SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM
• Challenging courses delivered via real-time interactive and blended instruction formats. • Courses train students to recognize, connect, and integrate knowledge and skills within and across disciplines to create innovative solutions to real-world problems. • Coursework aimed at fostering design-thinking and communication skills.
SUMMER & BEYOND
• Networking and mentorship opportunities with engineering companies around the state. • Opportunities to participate in international academic competitions. • Unique summer mini-courses such as medical device design. • Summer camps and research opportunities to expose students to a variety of novel engineering approaches and projects.
16 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS 18
ACCELERATE SUBJECT OFFERINGS Starting in the sophomore year students enter a enroll in gateway Honors courses in chemistry, Pre-Engineering, and Algebra III / Precalculus.
• Chemistry
As juniors and seniors, students complete dual enrollment courses in a subject such as:
• Physics
• Engineering Skills & Disciplines/Matlab • English
• Solidworks/Senior Design Project
VIRTUAL | 19 17
THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO GROW EXPONENTIALLY “GSSM Virtual students are a pleasure to teach. They take on enormous challenges and rise to the occasion with maturity and inquisitiveness.”
DR. JENNIFER CRAWFORD Chemistry Instructor
“GSSM’s Virtual Programs are changing lives for students across South Carolina. I have had the pleasure of serving as a principal of a school involved with the programs, and I now teach one of the courses within the programs. In both situations, I have seen students gain access to challenging and enriching STEM instruction that has equipped and empowered them to engage in meaningful and purposeful careers.”
DR. TIM GOTT Precalculus and Calculus I Instructor
18 | | SOUTH 20 SOUTH CAROLINA CAROLINAGOVERNOR’S GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL SCHOOLFOR FOR SCIENCE SCIENCE ++ MATHEMATICS MATHEMATICS
WHERE EDUCATION BECOMES INCLUSIVE GUIDED BY THE BEST FACULTY Faculty are always ready and willing to guide students and their families along their virtual GSSM journeys. The Virtual Programs employ 12 full-time and 10 part-time faculty members, all of whom are experts in their fields and passionate about creating dynamic and meaningful classroom experiences. Virtual faculty aim to inspire learning and curiosity and to challenge students to think critically and to solve problems creatively. Nearly 80% of faculty in GSSM’s Virtual Programs hold a doctorate in their fields of expertise.
VIRTUAL VIRTUAL | 19 21
OPPORTUNITIES ZHAUTYKOV OLYMPIAD In January 2019, four Accelerate students (Matthew Everette, Jack Hyatt, Esha Kapoor, and Elizabeth O’Neill) traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to participate in the 15th International Zhautykov Olympiad, a prestigious competition that brings together student scholars from across the world to complete team challenges in math, physics, and computer science.
DIGITIZING MATHEMATICAL PROOFS WITH LEAN THEOREM PROVER FACULTY ADVISORS Taylor Belcher, GSSM Department of Mathematics The LEAN Theorem Prover is a digital proof assistant with the goal of encoding all known mathematics. There are still many areas of mathematics accessible to GSSM students that have yet to been encoded. During the 2021 research experience, students learn the basics of mathematical proof, the new mathematical content needed to understand the proofs, and the LEAN programming language in order to contribute to the library by formalizing an area of mathematics not yet encoded in LEAN.
RESEARCH TOPIC: Formalizing Conway’s Little Theorem in LEAN Theorem Prover RESEARCH SITE: GSSM - Research Primarily Conducted Remotely ACCELERATE PARTNER SCHOOL: Easley High School COMMENTS: “I feel way more competent in my proof skills. All of the work we’ve done has contributed to that. I know for a fact that my understanding of proofs and proving has greatly improved. I’ve also been introduced to a lot of math I definitely would not have been exposed to for years, if ever. The additional math I have learned and the teamwork skills I have developed will help me in the math I will take after GSSM and future projects for the rest of my life. I’m really glad that I did it!”
AVRIL ADAMS, ACCELERATE ‘22 RESEARCH TOPIC: Formalizing Conway’s Little Theorem in LEAN Theor em Prover RESEARCH SITE: GSSM - Research Primarily Conducted Remotely ACCELERATE PARTNER SCHOOL: Pickens High School COMMENTS: “Mathematics is extremely important in the field of engineering, so this project, if not directly, has definitely been beneficial. I would say this project has greatly improved my understanding of math proofs and the importance that they play in the subject of mathematics. My ability to make a mathematical argument has improved greatly from before. I now understand in more depth how to properly write proofs, as well as the way they should be written...I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to work on this research project and found it to be quite helpful and enjoyable.”
CHRISTIAN LONG, ACCELERATE ‘22
20 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS 22
GSSM SUMMER PROGRAM FOR RESEARCH INTERNS (SPRI) EFFECTS OF MICROPLASTICS ON CORAL BLEACHING RESEARCH SITE: Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC) RESEARCH MENTOR: Dr. Geoffrey Mitchell In the Summer of 2021, Accelerate students conducted research at Wofford College under the mentorship of Dr. Geoffrey Mitchell. They investigated the use of sea anemones as a model for studying coral bleaching, which threatens the worldwide health of coral reefs. Anemones are relatives of coral that may be easier to study in the lab. The student research project focused on testing whether exposure to microplastic pollution caused increased bleaching.
RESEARCH TOPIC: Using Sea Anemones to Investigate Coral Bleaching ACCELERATE PARTNER: GREEN Charter School (Greenville, SC) COMMENTS: “One of the most beneficial personal experiences I gained while working in my research group was learning how to rely on one another...Being in the lab, I was surrounded by people in my group that were there to help and take off some of your workload. At first, I didn’t realize just how much work I was taking on, and I didn’t think to ask for help. However, in the lab, people were so open and willing to help, and it just made me realize that it is okay to rely on others and ask for help when you need it. ”
SATHVIK BODEPUDI & HAYA KIDWAI, ACCELERATE ‘22
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM GSSM virtual students have the opportunity to participate in a number of learning experiences outside the classroom, including Saturday excursions to engineering and industrial sites and businesses, international academic competitions, and summer STEM camps. Rising seniors also have the opportunity to engage in summer research projects. These projects range from one-week collaborations with university engineering faculty to six-week guided research programs at universities, research centers, or government agencies within South Carolina and abroad.
SVC MATH REACHING STUDENTS IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITY The GSSM SVC program offers core and specialized virtual courses that aim to increase students’ interest in STEM subjects and to encourage their pursuit of STEM-related careers. SVC provides students with exceptional advanced coursework and enables a flexible collaboration between GSSM and partner schools across the state of South Carolina. MATH COURSE OFFERINGS Honors Alegbra I
Honors Alegbra II
Honors Geometry
VIRTUAL VIRTUAL || 23 21
GSSM’s two-year, in-residence program provides high school juniors and seniors with exceptionally strong academic preparation emphasizing deep conceptual understanding within, and across, disciplines. Our special opportunities for the advanced study of science, math, and engineering, paired with equally strong offerings in humanities and social sciences, provide students with the deep knowledge and broad, well-rounded perspective that is the foundation for success and achievement in a wide range of future pursuits.
COLLEGE COUNSELING GSSM’s Office of College Counseling and Advising (OCCA) introduces our program to parents at new student/family orientation and with new juniors in the fall. Juniors commence individualized college planning with their designated college counselor in the spring via College Planning Seminar I; College Planning Seminar II continues in the fall with all of our seniors. Our college counseling staff brings significant experience in higher education admissions to our work with parents and students. GSSM’s enrollment size and mission affords us a smaller student to counselor ratio (45:1 each class) and resources and support typically found in independent schools.
ACADEMIC ADVISING Students have the same faculty academic advisor throughout their GSSM experience. Academic advisors get to know each of their advisees well. They reach out to newly accepted students in the spring to introduce themselves and start the process of guiding them to make the most of their GSSM experience. Students, working closely with their advisors, choose courses and experiences that prepare them to excel in college, and that helps them figure out and pursue what academic areas they are passionate about. Advisors mentor students and connect them with resources throughout their time at GSSM.
22 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS 24
#1
OVER
GSSM’s rank among of High Schools in South Carolina Niche.com
Percentage of faculty that have a PhD
90%
100%
>75%
35%
Percentage of faculty that have advanced degrees
Student participation in Athletics
Percentage of classes that are above AP
$12,000,000
693
Class of 2020 received more than $12 million in scholarship offers
Class of 2020 average SAT Math score
686
Class of 2020 average SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score.
29
≈85%
Class of 2020 average ACT score.
Percentage of students who participate in clubs
20+
100%
Research Partner Sites
Percentage of students who work with experts and professionals in their field during their summer research & inquiry experience
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL | 23 25
FOLLOW YOUR PATH With challenging courses, world-class faculty, and unique programs designed to push even the most accomplished students to learn more, GSSM let’s you choose your path to success.
FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS We invite you to explore your favorite subjects in-depth through a variety of unique offerings including: • Elective courses • Expanded summer and year-round research opportunities • International research experiences • Focused January Interim trips and courses • Independent study courses Excited to explore classes like Computational Physics and Neuroscience? GSSM Core Courses unlock your access to advanced courses that start beyond the AP level.
24 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS 26
PLANNING YOUR CLASSES FOR NEXT SEMESTER?
See a full list of required and suggested courses you should take prior to your junior year. www.scgssm.org/adacemicrequirements
BIOLOGY AP Courses: AP Biology Above AP Courses: Advanced Genetics Biological Evolution Botany Human Anatomy and Physiology Introduction to Microbiology Molecular Biology Neuroscience Vertebrate Biology
CHEMISTRY Molecular Spectroscopy Principles of Chemistry AP Courses: AP Chemistry Above AP Courses: Analytical Chemistry Computational Chemistry Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
COMPUTER SCIENCE AP Courses: AP Computer Science A Above AP Courses: Data Structures Using Java Game Design, Prototyping and Production Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Introduction to Computer Networking Introduction to Database Design Programming Interaction with Visual Design Robotics Dual Credit Courses: Python for Scientist (2 semesters) C++ Applications (2 semesters)
ENGINEERING Applications of Engineering Design Biomedical Engineering Electronics Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Product Design SolidWorks Dual Credit Courses: Matlab Programming
ENGLISH African American Literature
ENGLISH CONT. Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry Introduction to Film Introduction to Philosophy Shakespeare’s Plays Studies in Creative Writing: Fiction Studies in Creative Writing: Nonfiction Studies in Dramatic Literature Topics in Science Fiction: Literature AP Courses: AP English Language AP English Literature
FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND SIGN LANGUAGE American Sign Language (Year 1 and 2) French (Years 1, 2, 3, and 4) German (Years 1 and 2) Spanish (Years 2, 3, and 4) AP Courses: AP French AP Spanish Above AP Courses: Hispanic Film Hispanic Short Stories Dual Credit Courses: Introduction to Chinese (4 semesters)
GENERAL SCIENCE Astronomy Physics in the Arts Your Cosmic Context AP Courses: Environmental Science
GOVERNMENT, ECONOMICS, AND FINANCE Government/Economics International Economics Quantitative Financial Analysis Technology Ventures AP Courses: AP Comparative Governments AP US Government Dual Credit Courses: Macroeconomics (1 semester) Microeconomics (1 semester)
HISTORY Colonial America Medieval History Native American Studies AP Courses: US History
MATHEMATICS Concepts for Calculus Essentials for Calculus Foundations for Calculus Honors Calculus AP Courses: AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics Above AP Courses: Abstract Algebra Discrete Structures Linear Algebra Multivariate Calculus Number Theory Ordinary Differential Equations
MUSIC AP Courses: AP Music Theory
PHYSICS Fluids Thermo and Optics Fundamentals of Physics AP Courses: AP Physics 1 AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism AP Physics C: Mechanics Above AP Courses: Modern Physics
PSYCHOLOGY AP Courses: AP Psychology
VISUAL ARTS Introduction to Ceramics Advanced Ceramics 2D Art Exploration AP Art History
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL | 25 27
THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO GROW EXPONENTIALLY In addition to the support provided by the Center for Academic Success and the teachers, the Division of Student Development works to address the non-academic areas of the student experience. Our goal is to provide a holistic education, which includes the developing of emotional intelligence and learning to balance academic work with meaningful extracurricular activities. The Health Services and Wellness Counseling Departments work closely with the school community to address and help student overcome barriers to their overall success. Our Campus Life staff supports students as they adjust to community living assisting them in developing life skills that will carry them forward in life.
26 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS 28
WHERE EDUCATION BECOMES INCLUSIVE GUIDED BY THE BEST FACULTY Our faculty is here to help guide you through your GSSM Journey. Our 29 full-time Residential and 12 virtual programs faculty are experts in their fields as well as in their classroom. They’re passionate about their areas of expertise and will challenge you to think independently, critically, and beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. They’re here to support you through your GSSM Journey and inspire you to learn more than you ever thought possible. Over 90% of GSSM faculty hold a doctorate in their field of expertise.
RECENT INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES Web Development Physical and Mental Disabilities in Literature Dutch Independent Study Pediatric Oncology Linguistics Historical and Biological Study of Disease Complex Variables with Applications Quantum Mechanics Quantum Physics Photograph 51: Integrating Theatre and the History of Biology
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL | 29 27
OPPORTUNITIES
REGULAR RESEARCH LOCATIONS SOUTH CAROLINA AVX, Inc. Fountain Inn Clemson University Clemson Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research Greenville Clemson University Pee Dee Research & Education Center Greenville College of Charleston Charleston
GSSM Hartsville Heritage Trust (SC DNR) Columbia Integrated Systems Darlington Medical University of South Carolina Charleston Nephron Pharmaceuticals Columbia University of South Carolina Columbia
Furman University Greenville
University of South Carolina-Aiken Aiken Winthrop University Rock Hill Wofford College Spartanburg
German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg, Germany German Research Center for Artificial intelligence Kaiserslautern, Germany
UNITED STATES Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MS
INTERNATIONAL
Fraunhofer Institute forExperimental Software Engineering Kaiserslautern, Germany
RECENT INTERIM TRIPS 2019-20 School Year INTERNATIONAL
Portugal and Spain Splendors of the Mediterranean
Costa Rica Conservation Expedition Culture, Industry, and University Education in Northwestern Europe
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Peru: Culture, History and Biodiversity
START YOUR RESEARCH JOURNEY Get your first taste of real-world research through GSSM’s top-notch research programs. Only at GSSM do all students engage in research under the mentorship of professional researchers in universities, government institutions, and businesses across South Carolina, the USA, and the world. You will spend the summer between your junior and senior years, or during the school year, exploring research methods, meeting members of the global community of researchers, and challenging yourself like never before - while tackling problems that make a difference.
RECENT INTERIM COURSES Mental Health through Pop Culture: Psychology of Adrian Monk
EXPLORE YOUR PASSIONS WITH GSSM Sometimes coming back from winter break can be a shock to your system! That’s why GSSM offers January Interim, a three-week course designed to ease you back into school work and give you a chance to explore subjects you only dreamed you could study in high school. Pick a course/trip and get ready for a journey you’ll never forget. All interim courses/trips are credit carrying.
Computer Automation and AI with Python
Strength and Conditioning/Sports Medicine Injury Prevention, Injury Care, Injury Recovery
Chess
Equine Science and Horsemanship
Project GSSM: The Art and Science of Fashion
The Cooking Lab
GSSM Makerspace
Professional Sports in the Interim
Bermuda High Soaring School Gliding Introductory Course
Music
The Mechanics of Litigation
American Sign Language
Never Been Done
Art in the Interim
Introduction to Filmmaking
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EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE At GSSM students can engage in a variety of hobbies, extra-curriculars and explore their passions with likeminded peers and faculty.
CLUBS
Engaging in athletics, campus life programming, and community service are important parts of GSSM students’ two year residential experience. Extracurricular activities also help students develop leadership and organizational skills. GSSM has over 50 clubs and organizations, some traditional and others unique to us. Some of them include: 4-H
Math Team
Photography
Art
Microgravity Club
Robotics, Speech & Debate
Beta Club
Model UN
If you have a passion for arts and humanities, explore the possibilities at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities located in Greenville, South Carolina.
FBLA
Learn more at www.scgsah.org
Key Club
ARTS & MUSIC
SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR AGRICULTURE AT JOHN DE LA HOWE
Participation in the arts is also encouraged. Our Art Studio is fluid space where students with artistic prowess nurture their talents and others discover their inner artist. Our music program is also thriving with performance groups and opportunities for students to learn to play instruments for the first time.
ATHLETICS The Governor’s School has a vibrant athletic program that is open to all students. We offer numerous interscholastic Varsity and Junior Varsity sports.
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French Club Glee Club HOSA
M.O.S.I.A.C. National Honors Society NAACP Outing Club
Student Council Tabletop Club Youth in Government
If you have a passion for agricultural education explore the opportunities at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe. Learn more at www.delahowe.sc.gov
VARSITY
JUNIOR VARSITY
*Cross Country Swimming Basketball Tennis *Track *Soccer Golf *Women’s Volleyball Co-Ed Cheerleading
Women’s Volleyball
*Teams that have won state champoinships in the past four years.
Hartsville High
Men’s Basketball
Don’t see your sport? Ask us about our partnership with School.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Building compassion and character among our students in an important aspect of the GSSM experience. Giving back through service is one way we promote these tenets through community engagement. While a graduation requirement, most of our students exceed the 50 hours required each school year. Our students serve the campus and the local community. Through community engagement, students are encouraged and reminded of the importance of using their abilities to support others.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
STUDENT AMBASSADORS
HOUSE CAPTAINS
NATURAL HELPERS
Student Ambassadors represent the school in various ways such as speaking with parents and students at information sessions on campus and virtually, helping Admissions and other GSSM departments as needed, serving as hosts for prospective students, guiding campus tours for prospective students and parents, and assisting with GSSM’s Preview Days.
The residence hall at GSSM is set up on the House System. Each house is led by a House Captain. These residential leaders set an example for the others students in their House, which is their residence hall floor. They encourage and motivate fellow house members, work with Campus Life team members to implement programs, assist with the coordination of activities in the House, and encourage school spirit.
Natural Helpers are an informal “helping network.” These peer leaders are the “front line” in assisting the Counseling and Campus Life staffs in meeting the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of our students. The mission of a Natural Helper is to instill a “sense of belonging” in the new students and a renewed sense among their fellow seniors. Their goal is to assist new students in adjusting to the academic and social transition from their home high school to life at GSSM and to provide assistance to any student in need.
STUDENT COUNCIL The Student Council is the principle voice for the student body to the school’s administration, faculty, and staff on matters of school policy. In a spirit of cooperation, loyalty, and school spirit, the Student Council stresses good citizenship, works to encourage worthwhile activities within the school, and strives to improve the quality of life for everyone in the school community. Student Council strives to represent the ideas, wishes, and attitudes of the student body in a productive and reasonable manner. The school’s administration counts on the Student Council for student input on matters directly affecting the student body.
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PACK YOUR BAGS YOUR ADVENTURE AWAITS Make your room your own! Unique opportunities await you in your residential learning community. GSSM is a residential high school, so you’ll live in a residence hall. You’ll have a roommate and suitemates, get to decorate your room, and do laundry down the hall-just like a college student.
GSSM’s residence halls operate on a House System, meaning you’ll be sorted into Fidelitas, Fortem, Libertatem, Lux, Praesidium, or Veritas (depending on your assigned floor). The House System helps instill a sense of belonging and promotes school spirit through friendly competition. There are regularly scheduled long weekends when you can go home, relax, and reconnect with friends and family.
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21’ 3”
EACH RESIDENTIAL ROOM AT GSSM COMES EQUIPPED WITH:
FUTON
DESK
BUNK BEDS
SINK
SHARED BATHROOM
9’ 11”
11’ 6-1/2”
DESK
8’ 1”
DRESSER
MINI FRIDGE
DRESSER
• two XL twin beds that can be bunked • two two-shelf bookcases • two three-drawer chests • two desks • two desk chairs
11’ 4”
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A CITY TO HELP YOU PRESTWOOD LAKE
KALMIA GARDENS OF COKER COLLEGE
WELCOME TO HARTSVILLE!
SAM KENDALL’S • CAROLINA AVE.
DOWNTOWN • COLLEGE AVE.
THE BLIND PIG 34 | SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE + MATHEMATICS 36
Hartsville, South Carolina is one of the most dynamic small towns in the South. It is a place where business and industry thrive. A place where a tradition of educational leadership is alive and well. A placewhere people work together to make our community stronger. A place where gardens bloom, theaters come to life, and around every corner awaits an undiscovered experience. Together, we are preserving our stories, sharing our talents, and forging partnerships that make Hartsville a truly connected community.
BYERLY PARK
GROW EXPONENTIALLY NEPTUNE ISLAND
COKER UNIVERSITY
EXPLORE THE CITY! Big things come in small packages. Our community is an unusual treasure – a place where culture, history, and opportunities come together! Find your adventure in a small town full of places to explore. Our passion for a strong quality of life is real. You see it in our smiles, our theaters, or on display at the Black Creek Arts Center. You’ll hear it in the crack of a bat at Byerly Park, or in the quiet hum of crickets on a stroll through Kalmia Gardens. You’ll taste it in our restaurants and by buying reminders in our shops. And when you ride down Fifth Street at dusk, watching the sun melt into Prestwood Lake, you feel that passion. In Hartsville, we offer a little bit of something for everyone. Give yourself a chance to take in what we have to offer!
COKER PEDIGREED SEED MUSEUM
MANTISSA ROW
CREMA COFFEE BAR
THE ROOSTER ONE THIRTY-SIX
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LIFE AFTER GSSM The GSSM Foundation advocates for GSSM and provides funds and support to enhance its programs and students’ educational endeavors. The Foundation connects the School with a broad community and showcases GSSM’s contribution to the quality of life and economic prosperity of South Carolina and beyond. Since its founding in 1988, the Foundation has provided over $23.5 million to support GSSM students and programs. The Foundation’s funding currently provides financial aid for residential and summer camp students, summer research, and global initiatives.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION At Commencement, all GSSM graduates are welcomed into the Alumni Association, which connects alumni with each other and with the School. This robust network of Govies around the world is a valuable resource for getting the inside scoop on colleges and grad schools, launching careers, or even finding a couch to sleep on while traveling!
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2,533
100%
Total Number of Alumni of the Residential and Virtual Programs
Attend College
70% Earn Graduate or Professional Degrees
68%
77%
Attend College in South Carolina
Work in STEM Fields
CAREER BREAKDOWN 8%
9%
2%
Business/Finance
Education
Law
13%
13%
23%
Military/Government
Medicine
Technology/Innovation
9%
16%
7%
Research/Field Science
Engineering
Other
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ALUMNI STORIES 1
Brygg Ullmer ‘91 Home High School: Lexington/Lexington High School Highest Degree Earned: PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Currently: Professor and Human-Centered Computing Division Chair, Clemson University, Clemson, SC “It feels like the day before yesterday when I was there in Hartsville, hurricane Hugo would come in a few weeks, the Berlin Wall would fall in November, but most vivid to me from that time was the first in my life experience where everyone at the School was passionate about being there and struggled to be there and the opportunity to learn was so transformative to me.”
2
Tina Beasley Baggot ‘95 Home High School: Fairfield/Fairfield Central High School Highest Degree Earned: MBA, Augusta State University Currently: UAssociate Vice President, Volunteer Services & Community Engagement, Augusta University, Augusta, GA “The Governor’s School, to me, means potential. It means opportunities, and a solid foundation. As an alumna and a parent of a current senior, we feel so fortunate to be a part of the GSSM legacy and to have this resource in our state.”
3
1
Lauryn Jamison ‘10
2
Home High School: Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School Highest Degree Earned: Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina Currently: Chemical Engineer, Procter & Gamble, Martinsburg, WV “Like many others that have attended GSSM, I can say that being a “Govie” changed my life. Along the way, I learned how to study for the first time, I met some of my best friends, and I learned more about myself than I ever could have imagined at the time. As a young girl from Orangeburg, I had very limited dreams of “what I could be when I grew up.” GSSM helped to build upon those dreams and helped me to develop the tools needed to achieve them.”
4
Reilly Kilpatrick ‘14 Home High School: Beaufort/Beaufort High School Highest Degree Earned: MS, Physician Assistant, MUSC Currently: Licensed Physician Assistant, Charleston, SC “Governor’s School gave me time and space to grow, to ask questions, and provided a community I could safely fall back on until I was comfortable enough to stand on my own. My professors became confidants, cheerleaders, and trusted advisors, and my classmates became family. I left GSSM not only with a diploma, but also with a more defined sense of character, with confidence and humility, and with an appreciation for the wide array of persons I met along the way and the passions that inspire each of us.”
5
3
Nathan Kwan ‘04 Home High School: Greenville/JL Mann High School Highest Degree Earned: Doctor of Medicine, Tulane University Currently: Brigade Surgeon, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, US Army “These two years are really an experience and culture like no other, which you will cherish for the rest of your lives. The fundamentals I learned here, often the hard way, translated into performance at the next level. Thank you, GSSM, for a foundation of lifelong learning, and thank you, faculty, for your daily dedication to education.”
5
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4
6
ALUMNI STORIES 6
Lilly Lu ‘99 Home High School: A.C. Flora High School Highest Degree Earned: Doctor of Medicine, University of Texas Currently: Anesthesiologist, Allen Anesthesia Associates, Allen, TX “For me, Governor’s School not only prepared me academically, I also had a lot of personal development. My two years here were my formative years, and they really helped define my personality. Being in such a close-knit little community, and being allowed to be creative and explore, helped me build my confidence. I came as this shy, passive, little wallflower, and when I graduated I was confident in myself and what I was doing. I really credit that to my experience at GSSM.dedication to education.”
7
Marcus McLaughlin ‘04 Home High School: Dillon High School Highest Degree Earned: Bachelor of Computer Science, Stanford University Currently: Head of Engineering, Amitree, New York, NY “As a child, I was obsessed with video games. I played them all. Once I learned that video games came from computers, I transferred my obsession to computers. At Governor’s School, I was introduced to computer science, the process of building computer programs, and the idea that computer programming was actually a real career option! I did my research on advanced computing. My experience at GSSM set me up for success at Stanford, and the work ethic I learned at GSSM has helped me to persevere through what has been a roller coaster of a career.”
7 8
Patricio Ortiz ‘20 Home High School: Greenville Tech Charter High School Currently: Freshman at Stanford University, Stanford, CA “The moment you really become a Govie is when you realize how little you know and how much there is to learn and to discover. Govies embark on a new journey together: one about maturity, responsibility, and learning to grow as a person. We are each responsible for our own success and our own learning, but at GSSM you’re not alone. We all struggle together, and we all succeed together. GSSM is more than the sum of its parts. It’s not only the academics or the supportive community; it is the crossroads between them.”
9
Joey Wilson ‘13 Home High School: James F. Byrnes High School Highest Degree Earned: Master of Philosophy - Medical Science & Oncology, University of Cambridge Currently: Life Sciences Strategy Consultant, EY-Parthenon, Munich, Germany
8
“GSSM turned out to be an infinitely positive experience that brought out the best in me. Governor’s School is a community, and it will eventually become home. Not because it’s the place you came from, but because of the people that you meet there, that you forge stronger-than-ionic bonds with, and they become family. I saw the best in people so often here at GSSM. Govies ask meaningful, why-based questions; view interactions as opportunities to learn, grow, and make a difference; and build relationships, not resumes.”
10
Tiffany Haigler ‘96 Home High School: Orangeburg/ Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School Highest Degree Earned: J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis Currently: attorney with the Office of General Counsel at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Maryland
9
10
“GSSM changed the trajectory of my life. I got exposed to so much, so early. I met my best friends there. I have memories of the laughter and learning there and a foundation for the rest of my life.”
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ARE YOU READY TO BE NEXT IN THE NEST? OUTREACH
Applications Open In The Spring.
Delivering STEM Experiences! GSSM will take South Carolina students to new levels of engaging and interactive academic experiences with hands on, challenging, and fun STEM based summer experiences and school year opportunities. Take your opportunities from ordinary to extraordinary! Visit scgssm.org to apply.
VIRTUAL
Applications Open In The Fall.
The Accelerate program provides South Carolina students an outstanding opportunity while staying at their home high school to pursue engineering. An intensive, challenging, and rewarding virtual offering of rigorous courses. Visit scgssm.org to learn if your school district offers one of our programs.
STEM FOUNDATIONS
Application Opens In The Fall.
Opportunities From Home! Earn a GSSM diploma while staying at home and taking synchronous classes together with a small cohort of peers. Visit scgssm.org to learn more.
RESIDENTIAL
Application Opens In The Fall.
Envision Yourself Here! Our two-year Residential program provides South Carolina junior and senior students with new challenges, lasting friendships, and endless opportunities. Once you visit our campus, you’ll find out what makes GSSM an experience like no other. Ready to take your education to the next level and grow exponentially? Your future is waiting at scgssm.org!
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EXPERIENCE GSSM ANYWHERE! In-Person or Virtual Visits? We’ve Got You Covered! Experience what makes GSSM like no other STEM school! From the lasting friendships to experiential learning, you will find your new home here at GSSM. Tours feature in-depth information sessions from our Enrollment Counselors and a personal VIP tour of our amazing campus by a student Ambassador. Register for a tour or event today and you will see the GSSM difference!
www.scgssm.org/visit
ADMISSIONS | 43 ADMISSIONS
PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE
PA I D
COLUMBIA, SC PERMIT #535
Rb Robotics
Mu Music
APPLY TODAY
B
Biomedical
AT YOU WILL RUN OUT OF TIME, BEFORE YOU RUN OUT OF OPPORTUNITIES!