Eight students from Johns Creek's Chattahoochee High School spent four weeks at Georgia Southern University this summer, from June 14 through July 11, attending the Governor's Honors Program (GHP), a selective state residential program that draws roughly 600 rising juniors and seniors from more than 500 Georgia high schools each year.

The group spanned four disciplines: math, music, social studies and world languages, according to The Speculator, Chattahoochee's student newspaper. The state covers all tuition, room and board through the Georgia General Assembly.

Chattahoochee's two rising juniors were Afrah Tahseen, who studied in the World Language: Spanish track, and Gabby Shin in social studies. The six rising seniors were Abhinav Krishna Pradeep (social studies), Achyut Deshpande (music: viola), Arnav Jasapara (math), Sebastien Madden (music: euphonium), Shomri Kaidar-Heafetz (math) and Shrikrish Venkatesh (music: tuba).

Pradeep, who also attended the program, wrote about the experience for The Speculator.

"GHP was less assignments or strict work and more learning through experiences," Tahseen told The Speculator. "This academic environment allowed me to freely explore and learn the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries."

Tahseen completed a research project on Spain's non-Spanish linguistic groups. In social studies, Pradeep and Shin learned through reading, discussion and debate rather than lectures. Pradeep debated the merits of hosting a World Cup. Shin tackled the ethics of surge pricing. The two later collaborated on a proto-memorial website for the Bangla Genocide.

Math students Jasapara and Kaidar-Heafetz studied casino probabilities, theoretical mathematics and what the program called "impossible mathematics." Both conducted independent research on topics they chose.

The three music students performed at four concerts and took classes in music theory, conducting and audition preparation. Madden, who plays euphonium, said GHP let artists refine their abilities until group practice became full rehearsals. When Venkatesh's ensemble couldn't agree on a name, the group became The Venkatesh Quartet.

Students also picked an elective "minor." Choices ranged from photography to visual arts. Jasapara played Australian rules football, continuing what The Speculator called "the Hooch legacy" in the sport.

Mrs. Wile, Chattahoochee's Talented and Gifted department head, said the attendees were deserving and called the program intense.