This summer’s crop of North Lenoir High School students headed to N.C. Governor’s School are, from left, Meredith Respess, Bryant Deluna and Anna Hull. Their acceptance to the elite program for intellectually gifted students brings to 15 the number admitted from North Lenoir since 2014. The three juniors also serve as marshals at North Lenoir’s Class of 2019 graduation activities. Submitted photo

It wasn’t his plan, but Bryant Deluna nevertheless hit on a way to earn a break from his two summer jobs – get accepted to North Carolina Governor’s School.

For 5½ weeks this summer, starting June 16, Bryant and North Lenoir High classmates Meredith Respess and Anna Hull will join some 670 other intellectually gifted students, mostly rising seniors, at the oldest statewide summer residential program of its kind in the country.

Meredith and Anna are headed to the program’s west campus at High Point University, where Meredith will focus on math and Anna, on chorus. Bryant will be concentrating on math at the east campus at Meredith College in Raleigh.

And glad of it.

“If I didn’t go to Governor’s School,” he said, “I’d be working 40 hours a week.”

Instead, the trio expects to learn a lot, make new friends and have fun.

“I love chorus, I love choir and I’m excited to see what they have to say about singing and vocal techniques,” Anna said. “I’ve been to a lot of different things involving choir, but this is going to be something new and exciting and I’m going to meet a lot of new people.”

N.C. Governor’s Schools offers instruction in 11 areas of academic or artistic emphasis, as well as a broader curriculum that integrates these areas. Students win admission after being nominated by their schools and compiling an application package that includes teacher recommendations. Students attending for music and art also demonstrate their talent. Typically, Governor’s School gets more than 1,800 nominations

North Lenoir has made a habit of sending its top students. This year’s group makes 15 students who have been accepted since 2014.

“Some of my friends have gone to Governor’s School and they’ve told us about the many experiences there and how great it was,” Meredith said. “That led me to apply.”

Those “experiences” add up to an opportunity for growth, academically and personally, the students think.

“I was happy when I got into the program because I want to go into something like mechanical engineering. I think the math program is going to help me a lot,” Bryant said.

“I’ve always been a homebody,” Meredith, said, “so this will definitely give me an opportunity to meet new people and get to know myself a little better and see how well I fit into a bigger social setting.”