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GHA Outstanding Educator Luncheon to take place at Fairmont State Saturday, July 9 Impact
Fairmont State News

GHA Outstanding Educator Luncheon to take place at Fairmont State Saturday, July 9

Jul 08, 2022

On Saturday, July 9, Fairmont State University will welcome teachers from across the State of West Virginia to campus for the Governor’s Honors Academy Outstanding Educator Luncheon in the Falcon Center. Students participating in GHA were each given the opportunity to invite a K-12 educator of their choice to join them at the luncheon to be recognized for their efforts in the classroom and beyond.

“The Outstanding Educator Luncheon is one of the pinnacle events of the West Virginia Governor’s Honors Academy," said Fairmont State University Director of Honors, Robin Payne. "It enables us to provide a platform for the students to honor the teachers who have made an impact on their life while spotlighting the value and significance of education – and outstanding teachers – to the young people in our state. Having the nominated teachers come together with their students in this setting elevates and reinforces our mission to provide these bright young folks with the opportunity to learn and grow as they prepare to take their next steps in their educational journey.”

In addition to teachers representing West Virginia K-12 schools, the Outstanding Educator Luncheon will also feature guests including Sherry Keffer, former Coordinator for the West Virginia Governor’s Schools, and Robert Baker, Senior Professor of English at Fairmont State University.

“We’re especially excited to have two special guests join us at this year’s Outstanding Educator Luncheon," Payne continued. "Dr. J. Robert Baker served as the Dean of the West Virginia Honor’s Academy for two of its three-year cycles at Fairmont State University. He served as the Director of the Honors Program at Fairmont State for twenty years and continues to teach as a Senior Professor of English. Ms. Sherry Keffer recently retired from a decades long tenure as the Coordinator of the West Virginia Governor’s Schools. It is fair to say that the Governor’s Honors Academy’s reputation as a life-changing and transformational educational experience is the direct result of her many years of dedicated service and her passion for ensuring a top-notch education for the children of West Virginia.”

On June 25, Fairmont State University welcomed 85 top achieving rising high school seniors from across the State of West Virginia to campus for the 2022 Governor’s Honors Academy. GHA students are residing on the University’s campus for three weeks for the Academy, which aims to provide active learning, energetic classes, exciting, invigorating and intellectually compelling activities to prepare students to become forces in their communities.

The GHA is an opportunity provided by the State of West Virginia at no cost to the students or their families. For more information about the Governor’s Honors Academy, visit https://govschools.wv.gov/GHA/Pages/default.aspx

Governor's Honors AcademyGHAOutstanding Educator LuncheonRobin PayneRobert BakerSherry Keffer