Pea Ridge High School is proud to announce that Several Students have been selected to attend the 2025 Arkansas Governor’s School (AGS), a prestigious four-week residential summer program hosted at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
AGS offers gifted and talented students from across the state the opportunity to explore academic disciplines, arts, and leadership through rigorous intellectual and social engagement. The program runs from July 6 to August 2 and brings together some of Arkansas’s most promising rising seniors.
Anna Schmidt – Drama
Anna Schmidt, a dedicated theater student, was accepted into the Drama strand of AGS. From acting to stage crew, Anna’s resume is full of theater experience. The competitive application required essays, a resume, and an account of her community involvement in the arts.
“I’ve done everything from onstage to backstage, and I’ve been doing it my entire life,” Anna shared. “I’m mentally preparing for the experience and getting a taste of what college will be like.” She’s especially looking forward to learning how other schools approach theater and hopes to grow as both a performer and technician.
Sydney Brown – Social Science
Sydney Brown learned about AGS last summer and began preparing her application early. She will be studying in the Social Science strand this July, but her long-term interests lie in the natural sciences or medical field.
“I had to write a personal essay and submit two teacher recommendations,” Sydney said. “I’m excited to get away and meet new people.” She encourages other students to apply, saying, “If they have the opportunity, they should definitely apply. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the program.”
Jacob Turner – Choral Music
Jacob Turner will be representing Pea Ridge in the Choral Music strand. His journey to acceptance started back in November and concluded just in time for the application deadline.
“It was kind of nerve-racking,” Jacob admitted. “I had to write an essay on an idea that expanded my mind, explain why I was applying, and go through a choral interview.” For the audition, he performed Panis Angelicus and Put on a Happy Face from Bye Bye Birdie.
Jacob shared some wisdom for future applicants: “The best thing you can do is excel in what you do. You don’t have to do everything—they look for people who work hard and are open-minded.”
Ashlyn Shultz - Alternate
Ashlyn Shultz was selected as an alternate for the 2025 Arkansas Governor’s School. As part of the application process, she wrote an essay reflecting on how her thinking has evolved through academic and personal growth. “It was a thought-provoking topic,” Ashlyn said.