Governor Corbett and Team PA Announce $450,000 for Governor's Schools of Excellence in Summer 2015

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett and Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Team PA) President and CEO Laura Williams today announced that $450,000 in funding through Team PA has been secured for the three Pennsylvania Governor's Schools for the summer 2015 program.

The Governor's School for the Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, the Governor's School for Engineering and Technology at Lehigh University and the Governor's School for Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University each will receive $150,000.

"I am pleased that Team PA has agreed to provide funding to support the Governor's Schools for the commonwealth's best and brightest students," Corbett said.  "These science, technology, engineering and math programs provide students with high-quality, hands-on learning that will prepare them to be future leaders in Pennsylvania's workforce."

After being closed in 2009, the Governor's Schools were reinstated by Governor Corbett in summer 2013 with the reopening of the Governor's School for the Sciences.

For summer 2014, Governor Corbett allocated funding for two additional Governor's Schools: the Governor's School for Engineering and Technology and the Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences.

The Governor's Schools are multi-week, residential programs for talented, rising high school seniors interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.

"We are pleased to support the efforts of the Department of Education," Williams said.  "The need for a skilled workforce remains a critical component of growing Pennsylvania's economy.  Team Pennsylvania's history of investing in STEM initiatives coupled with the Governor's Schools' focus on high-priority occupations make this a great partnership."

To ensure equitable access to eligible students, those who are selected to attend the Governor's Schools receive full scholarships that cover the cost of housing, meals and all instructional materials.

Families are responsible for transportation to and from the university, personal items and spending money.  Students must commit to living on campus throughout the duration of program.

About Team PA
Team PA is a non-partisan, charitable, non-profit created in 1997 to bridge the gap between government and the private sector to allow both sides to partner for the betterment of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The foundation is a collaboration of the highest levels of public/private leadership to support Pennsylvania's goal to be a national leader in education and economic development. For more information about Team PA visit www.teampa.com.

Media contact:
Tim Eller, Department of Education, 717-783-9802
Jim Mentzer, Team PA, 717-233-1375

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor