For Immediate Release - March 22, 2020
Contact:
Lee Conner | 919-260-6165 | President | Governor’s School Foundation
Stephanie Jobe | 704-300-3173 | President | Governor’s School Alumni Association

NORTH CAROLINA - This week, the Governor’s School Alumni Association (GSAA) and the North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation (GSF) announced plans to combine into a single entity. The goal of the combination is to streamline programming and outreach to alumni, parents, donors, and volunteers of the two organizations.

The GSAA voted today to dissolve and cease its activities effective immediately, with the intent of winding down its remaining business by the end of its fiscal year (August 31, 2020). During this period, GSAA will focus on wrapping up its business affairs and integrating functions of the alumni association into the GSF.

GSAA and GSF officers, who already work closely together, will cooperate throughout the spring and summer to seamlessly transition GSAA activities, including Alumni Day which will continue this summer on both campuses. Going forward, GSF will select a member(s) of its Board of Directors as a dedicated leader with responsibility for alumni affairs, outreach, and programming.

GSF President Lee Conner is excited about combining the efforts of the two organizations. “This is a natural transition,” Conner said. “For many years, having two organizations has been somewhat confusing to alumni and other Governor’s School supporters. Now, we can be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for anyone who wants to stay connected with and support the Governor’s School. We very much feel it will enhance the post-Governor’s School experience for all alumni.”

"This is not an ending,” says Stephanie Jobe, current president of the GSAA. “All of the work the Association and the Foundation have done together will continue on, but even stronger now with a united force. Governor's School has always been about thinking outside the box. It isn't like us to keep doing something just because it is the way that it has always been done. This new direction fills me with hope and joy and solace because the future is in good hands."

The Governor’s School of North Carolina is a five and one-half week summer residential program for intellectually gifted high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. Every year, young minds from every county, community, and background are invited to apply for Governor’s School and join 670 fellow North Carolinians at the nation’s oldest statewide summer residential program for academically and artistically gifted students.

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 at www.ncgsfoundation.org.

The North Carolina Governor’s School Alumni Association (GSAA) began in 1987 to build awareness and support for the Governor’s School program and to offer a community forum for past participants with activities like Alumni Day. It voted on March 22, 2020, to dissolve and will cease activities immediately, with a wind down period to end on August 31, 2020.