Outstanding high school students from throughout Alabama have gathered at Samford University for the annual Alabama Governor’s School (AGS). Ninety rising seniors from 56 high schools in 27 Alabama counties are attending the two-week honors program for academically gifted students.

Drayton Nabers, Jr., director of Samford’s Francis Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership, welcomed the students during opening ceremonies Sunday. The former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice is the author of two books on character: The Case for Character and The Hidden Key to Happiness.

AGS Science Class

During their AGS experience, students attend morning and afternoon classes in major and minor areas of coursework. Major course topics include health care, law, business, research science, arts, video production, magazine writing and physics/engineering. Minor courses cover web design, photography, film studies, classics, field biology, astronomy, leadership, global citizenship, sports medicine and, for the first time, creativity.

Among this year’s special guests is Emily Schreiber, who will tell the students how she began Laps for CF, a nonprofit foundation that raises awareness and support for cystic fibrosis. Schreiber, who was diagnosed with the disease at age 9, is a recent Furman University graduate who will begin school at Samford’s Cumberland School of Law this fall.

The Birmingham native is credited with raising about $2.5 million for cystic fibrosis research and other needs.

Community Service

AGS students are also scheduled to participate in a service project during this year’s session. They will also enjoy a Birmingham Barons baseball game, and take part in other recreational excursions and course-related field trips. They will also hear presentations on the college admission process, scholarships and how to adjust to college life.

The closing ceremony takes place on Friday, June 26.

AGS participants are nominated by their schools on the basis of academic ability, leadership qualities, creativity and community service. Selection is also based on teacher and guidance counselor recommendations and written essays.

This year’s AGS participants represent an average ACT score of 28.8 and an average SAT score of 1891. Fifteen are ranked number one in their high school class.

More than 2,000 of Alabama’s best and brightest high school students have attended AGS since it began at Samford in 1987.

AGS alumni include Miss Alabama 2008 Amanda Tapley, a recent University of Alabama School of Medicine graduate who is about to begin a residency in emergency medicine. A classically trained pianist and Samford graduate who attended AGS as a high school student in 2005, Tapley performed at Sunday’s opening session.