Schools
Meet Whiz Kids: Oliver Neff, Eron Smith, Tommy Weigle
Decatur High Band Students Selected for Governor's Honors Program.
Names: Oliver Neff, 18; Eron Smith, 17; and Thomas Weigle, 17.
School:
Accomplishments: Three Decatur High School band students will represent City Schools of Decatur in the area of music in the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program this summer. Participants are: Oliver Neff for jazz (percussion); Eron Smith for woodwinds (oboe) and Thomas Weigle for jazz (electric bass). Students are nominated in one subject area by their teachers, are required to audition at the state and local levels, participate in an interview and take a music theory proficiency exam. Nominees must be rising juniors or seniors, present a high school grade transcript and PSAT or SAT scores. These students stood out because of their innate musical ability, said Megan Williams, director of bands at Decatur High School in an e-mail. Each student could easily make it in the professional music world, has a lot of drive to make themselves better musically and academically and are just good people she said. Students study for five weeks at Valdosta State University in a collegiate atmosphere, perform in concerts, take classes and are immersed in music during their time at VSU. Williams, who participated in the Governor's Honors Program as a student in 2001 said the program had much to do with her decision to teach music.
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“I'm so proud of Eron, Oliver, and Tommy for being chosen for Governor's Honors. These students had to work very hard to prepare and had to compete with thousands of talented students from around the state. To have one student make [the program] is an honor, but to have three is absolutely fantastic! All three are very deserving of being a part of this program and I know they will represent Decatur High School well in their time at Valdosta State,” said Williams.
The Governor's Honors Program activities are designed to help students acquire the skills, knowledge and attitude to become independent, life-long learners. The Georgia program is fully-funded by the Georgia General Assembly and operates at no cost to the participants.
