The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities (SCGSAH) is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by offering a challenging curriculum in the arts and academics, along with other school-wide programming designed to support and engage students. As we returned to full in-person instruction in the 2021-22 school year, our theme was REset, REfresh, and REnew. Students demonstrated and developed these World Class Skills in powerful new ways as the school rebuilt its unique learning and living community.
The “four C’s” in this set of skills tie directly into our mission: pre-professional arts instruction and academic excellence. In 2021-22, students demonstrated creativity and innovation along with critical thinking and problem solving in work that was recognized nationally via the following awards and accomplishments:
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Creative Writing students earned recognition at the Scholastic Writing Awards Region-at-Large Competition, winning 48 keys. At the national level, a senior won the American Voices Medal as well as a Gold Medal in Personal Essay and Memoir, and another student won a national Silver Medal in Poetry. Students also earned recognition from YoungArts this year, one student was a Semi-Finalist in the the US Presidential Scholars in the Arts program. Students also published their work, and one was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Several were recognized in the Manhattan Film Institute's Screenwriting Competition.
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Dance students earned recognition at Grande Jete in both ballet and contemporary dance. They also placed in the regional Youth America Grand Prix competition. Eight students were inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Seniors earned acceptances and scholarships from recognized university dance programs, trainee programs, and summer intensives.
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Drama seniors excelled in the YoungArts competition, with one student earning recognition as a Presidential Scholars Semi-Finalist. Two students earned the prestigious Kenan Excellence Scholarship at UNC School of the Arts. They also were part of a full-scale production of Into the Woods on campus and auditioned successfully at top-tier college theatre programs.
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Music students placed in regional and national competitions throughout the year. One student was the SC winner and the Division Alternate in the Music Teachers National Association’s Senior Performance Competitions. They earned scholarships to summer music programs and to conservatories and university programs. Two vocalists were regional winners in the competition sponsored by the National Association for the Teachers of Singing. Students were selected to perform at the Brevard Music Center, Piccolo Spoleto (as “Rising Stars”) and with the Carolina Youth Symphony and the Greenville County Youth Orchestra.
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Visual Arts students earned significant recognition in the Scholastic Art Awards, winning a total of 17 Region-at-Large keys and honorable mentions. Students had work selected for the exhibition in the Artfields Junior competition. Student work was also selected for (and won awards at) the 32nd Annual Upstate High School Art Exhibition.
Collaboration and teamwork are also among the World Class Skills of the SC graduate, and the school’s film program took its next steps as the Creative Writing and Drama departments worked together to create, produce, and screen four short films. A new course proposal is currently under review with the SCDE: US History through Film. A curriculum consultant is also working with faculty to design content for a standalone film program, which will begin as a summer program in 2023 for rising 8th- and 9th- graders from across the state. The school successfully renewed its certification as an Arts in Basic Curriculum site, using student work as evidence of how the arts help our students make connections, inspire creativity, and define culture.
As part of the Humanities curriculum, students explore how they can benefit their community and discuss global perspectives on important issues that help them develop communication skills and integrity both as artists and citizens. They are also encouraged to participate in service learning opportunities through the Connecting Arts Through Service (CATS) club. Students found creative ways to connect with the community in service projects this year, using the IPARD method for planning, implementing, and assessing the needs for and impact of their work.
Alongside these arts and humanities programs, several key data points demonstrate SCGSAH’s continued dedication to providing career and college readiness for every student. Their academic accomplishments include:
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Scores on SAT, ACT, and AP exams were higher than state and national averages
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148 (of 220) students enrolled in an AP course and those students took 227 exams
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11 students earned recognition in the SC Seal of Biliteracy program
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Gold in German
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Gold in Spanish
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Silver in Spanish
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6 Bronze in Spanish
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1 Bronze in German
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1 Bronze in French
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The 97 seniors in the Class of 2022 earned significant academic achievements:
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15 students were named Academic Achievement Award Scholars
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34 were inducted into the National Honor Society
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19 were named Palmetto Fellows
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62 (additional) students met eligibility requirements for the LIFE Scholarship at four-year colleges
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All 97 graduates met eligibility requirements for the LIFE Scholarship at two-year colleges
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1 National Merit Finalist
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1 SC Teaching Fellow Award winner is headed to Anderson University
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A 100% graduation rate
In a review of the Profile, several of the Life and Career Characteristics also stand out as significant accomplishments. Our students showed remarkable integrity, self-direction, perseverance, and work ethic. The were often drawing on these characteristics and being reminded of their importance. Rather than "soft skills" the hope, engagement, and belonging we seek to build into our community are hallmarks of school success and student achievement.
This work, as is true from year to year, is a direct result of the high level of artistic and academic excellence that the Governor’s School’s faculty and staff bring to their jobs every day. They continuously provide innovative learning experiences for students while pursuing professional development and remaining active and productive members of their academic and arts communities. Our student life staff are critical members of the educational team here, and they work diligently and successfully to connect with and support their students. Our Care and Concern team connects these elements of the school to ensure individualized responses to student needs.