RALEIGH, N.C. — February 2, 2024 — The North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation has presented Catherine Truitt, former North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, with the prestigious Governor’s School Champion Award in recognition of her exceptional commitment to advancing, defending, and advocating for the state’s premier summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students.

The award honors individuals whose leadership and advocacy have significantly strengthened the Governor’s School — a program that, since 1963, has provided rising seniors from across the state with immersive, multidisciplinary learning experiences that inspire intellectual curiosity, creativity, and personal growth.

Truitt is being recognized not only for her leadership in expanding awareness of the program and advocating for its needs, but also for her steadfast defense of the Governor’s School when it came under legal challenge in December 2022. At that time, the program was sued by a disgruntled former employee, and Truitt stood firmly in support of its mission, curriculum, and faculty.

She is also being commended for her strong advocacy in legislative budget hearings, where she consistently spoke on behalf of the Governor’s School, underscoring its value to North Carolina’s educational landscape and urging lawmakers to maintain funding for the program.

“Catherine Truitt has been a steadfast supporter of the Governor’s School and the students it serves,” said Lee Conner, President of the NC Governor’s School Foundation. “When the program faced an unprecedented legal challenge, she defended it with courage and conviction. Her willingness to step up publicly and provide a full-throated defense of the school was key to helping other statewide leaders understand and contextualize the lawsuit, and ultimately to helping Governor’s School emerge from it intact.” Conner continued, “She has also championed the importance of Governor’s School’s funding, helping ensure this transformative program continues serving North Carolina for generations to come.”

As Superintendent, Truitt oversaw initiatives to expand student access, promoted public awareness of the program’s educational value, and supported efforts to sustain its tradition of academic rigor, artistic excellence, and intellectual exploration.

The North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, supporting, and enhancing the Governor’s School of North Carolina. The Foundation works closely with alumni, educators, and community leaders to ensure the program remains a dynamic and vital part of the state’s educational landscape.

For more information about the Governor’s School and the work of the NC Governor’s School Foundation, visit www.ncgsf.com.

About the Governor’s School of North Carolina
Established in 1963, the Governor’s School of North Carolina is the nation’s oldest statewide summer residential program for intellectually gifted high school students. The program offers unique academic, artistic, and interdisciplinary experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and leadership.

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