Local Student Selected to Attend Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences

Michael Teofil Collins, a student at Wissahickon High School in Ambler, has been selected to attend the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences. The Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences, PGSS, is a five week summer residential program for talented high school students of science and mathematics, which emphasizes cooperative learning and hands-on laboratory research.

Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and hosted by Carnegie Mellon University, the PGSS offers an enrichment experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The major goal of PGSS is to encourage young talent to pursue careers in STEM-related fields. Successful applicants receive a full scholarship to the PGSS program. The cost is underwritten by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, with matching funds provided by the PGSS Campaign, Inc., through generous donations from PGSS alumni, parents and corporations. Scholarship includes housing, meals, and all instructional materials. Applicants must demonstrate sustained interest and involvement in the sciences or mathematics both in and outside of the classroom, as evidenced by resume, essays and letters of recommendation.

While there, the students will attend lecture-based courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science. Each student chooses a hands-on laboratory course in biology, chemistry, physics or computer science and attends lectures by experts in various STEM-related fields.

Michael is the first Wissahickon student selected since 2008 and the 15th to attend.