RALEIGH, N.C. — November 15, 2024 — The countdown to this year’s Thanksgiving holiday now includes a moment of pride for one of Western North Carolina’s very own. The North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation recently honored former Representative Jeffrey Elmore (Republican - Alexander County, Wilkes County) as a recipient of the Governor’s School Champion Award.  

Representative Elmore, a longtime educator in Wilkes County Schools, has been a champion in the NC General Assembly for the Governor’s School for many years, persistently advocating to preserve and increase its state appropriation and provide critical funding. Representative Elmore has always been eager to share the benefits of Governor’s School to North Carolina with other leaders. His leadership exemplifies his powerful advocacy during the recent 2024 ‘short session’ of the NC General Assembly. His hard work helped ensure that the NC House’s proposed state budget significantly enhanced the Governor’s School’s existing state funding ($800,000) to $1,500,000.

“Representative Elmore’s leadership has been a critical component in the NC House’s support of Governor’s School, particularly its recent decision to propose increasing its state appropriation. He recognizes that investing in Governor’s School has returned incredible long-term dividends to our State and some of its most gifted students and that North Carolina would benefit from expanding this successful investment in its gifted students,” said Lee Conner, President of the NC Governor’s School Foundation. 

The NC Governor’s School Foundation established the Champion Award to acknowledge and appreciate the leaders in our state who help make Governor’s School possible, thereby providing a life-changing educational experience to many gifted students in our State.  

“The NC Governor’s School Foundation is a proud advocate for preserving and protecting a North Carolina institution that has had an incredibly positive impact on the lives of over 41,000 students. It’s our pleasure to recognize a champion like Jeffrey Elmore, whose great work has helped make Governor’s School a continuing positive legacy in our State,” said Vice President of the NC Governor’s School Foundation John Russell.

To help commemorate Representative Elmore’s leadership and celebrate a successful 61st Session of Governor’s School this summer, the NC Governor’s School Foundation is encouraging the Governor’s School community to show their appreciation to Representative Elmore and other elected leaders who value the enriching experience of Governor’s School through letters to the editor of local newspapers, and handwritten thank you notes and social media. 

Supporters who want to contribute financially to support the Governor’s School can visit the Foundation’s website (www.ncgsf.com). Contributions will help provide scholarships for low-income students who can’t afford the $600 tuition students are charged to attend Governor’s School and additional funding to enhance core programming through thought-provoking speakers and educational field trips.

The Governor's School of North Carolina is a four-week summer residential program for intellectually gifted high school students. It integrates academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of its two campuses. The curriculum focuses on exploring the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline and does not involve credit, tests, or grades.

The Governor's School is the oldest statewide summer residential program for academically or intellectually gifted high school students nationwide. The program, which is open to rising seniors only, with exceptions made for rising juniors in selected performing/visual arts areas, is located on two campuses of up to 400 students each: Governor's School West (begun in 1963) at Greensboro College in Greensboro, and Governor's School East (begun in 1978) at Meredith College in Raleigh. Having convened each summer since 1963 (except 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the 2024 Session was the 61st Session of Governor’s School.

The North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation was incorporated in 1990 as a non-profit whose purpose is to support and preserve North Carolina's premier summer enrichment program. Learn more about the Foundation on its website (ncgsf.com), Facebook (facebook.com/ncgsfoundation), Instagram (ncgovernorsschool), and X (@ncgsfoundation).

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