Lanctot takes part in Governor’s School

North Dakota high school sophomores and juniors participated in the 2012 North Dakota Governor’s School on North Dakota State University’s campus from June 3–July 14. The experience is a six-week hands-on educational honors program.

Alex Baumgarten, son of Jim Baumgarten, East Grand Forks, Minn., and Tracy Lanctot, Jamestown, N.D., participated in Governor’s School this year. In high school, he is active in the National Honor Society and wrestling.

This year, students had the opportunity to study laboratory science, mathematics, information technology, English studies and visual arts — theater arts and visual arts alternate yearly.

“This program is about making a bridge from where students are at in high school to setting their future goals. It helps students think about getting a degree or even an advanced degree,” said Lonnie Hass, director of Governor’s School.

Students also attended life and leadership classes and traveled to Minneapolis to tour 3M facilities and visit the Science Museum, Valleyfair and Art Institute. In addition, the 2012 group visited the Guthrie Theater and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden near the Walker Art Center, as well as enjoyed a weekend canoeing the Crow Wing River in Minnesota.

In addition to a wide variety of academic experiences ranging from classroom work to field trips, Governor’s School students take part in service-learning activities. This year, students helped raise food for the Walk for Hunger and volunteered for the Salvation Army, Lisbon Opera festival, Dakota Boys Ranch, the Arc of Cass County and the Red River Zoo.

“Governor’s School is a great program that helps students understand what college life is going to be like. It also helps students learn new things and bring students together,” said Baumgarten, who studied mathematics at Governor’s School.

Governor’s School is a state-sponsored and funded program hosted at NDSU each summer since 1990. Governor’s School is tuition-free for students attending a North Dakota public school.

Tags: life, community, education