Science and math school celebrates new digs

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The South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics dedicated its new campus in Hartsville on Thursday.

The new campus, serving 11th and 12th grade students, includes residence halls, offices, dining facilities, temporary classrooms and laboratories. Until this August, the residential school shared facilities with Coker College.

Murray Brockman, the school's president, said the new campus will help the school establish its own identity and be fully engaged in students' educational pursuits.

"That's what makes the difference," he said.

Construction so far has cost $20 million, but the school hopes to add another $10 million in classrooms, labs and a student activity center, Brockman said. That would help the school more than double enrollment.

The school is waiting for the Legislature to fund the expansion.

Enrollment is open to students throughout the state. Students had the highest average SAT score, in the state last year with 1387, and 28 percent were National Merit semifinalists.

All students are required to do independent research with a mentor at a university or industrial laboratory. Students are required to do more than 80 hours of community and school service each year.

All graduates go on to higher education with roughly half going to state colleges and universities and several others attending Ivy League institutions, the school stated.

The school also offers athletics with 71 percent involved at the varsity level.

Gov. Mark Sanford, House Speaker David Wilkins, business leaders and school officials went to the campus for the dedication ceremony.

Former Gov. Carroll Campbell opened the school in 1988 as a way for state's brightest students to receive at top-notch math, science and technology education.

Paul Alongi can be reached at 298-4746.