Innovative Learning at Mississippi Governor’s School: Students Build Boats and Friendships
Columbus, MS – At the Mississippi Governor’s School (MGS) this year, 16-year-old Vincent Young and nearly 70 of his peers accepted a unique challenge: constructing a boat using pool noodles, cardboard, and duct tape within a tight 90-minute deadline. Initially set up as a seminar about fluid dynamics, the event quickly morphed into a competitive boat-building contest, surprising students. “They actually fooled us,” Young recounted. Despite a lack of designated designers, his team triumphed by creating a successful raft.
Held annually at Mississippi University for Women, MGS aims to cultivate academically gifted high schoolers. This year’s theme, “connections,” emphasized building relationships among students, professors, and course content, according to MGS Director Amber Cook. Students engaged in diverse classes including sourdough baking, video game development, and musical composition, learning through a variety of topics designed by MUW staff.
The program, founded in 1981 by Governor William Winter, has benefited thousands of students and offers three hours of college credit. For Starkville High School student Anya Rai, the friendships formed during the two-week program eased homesickness and encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone. “How did time fly so fast?” she reflected.
Similarly, 17-year-old Bryan Chora from Caledonia High School discovered a passion for piano during his music composition class at MGS. “I’ve been learning how to create music as well as playing the piano,” he shared, marking it as a significant achievement.
As the program nears its conclusion, Young expressed the value of the memories made. “It’s like we’ve been knowing each other for years, and we’ve known each other for only two weeks,” he said.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
