2025 DELAWARE GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR EXCELLENCE
July 13-18, 2025

The Delaware Governor’s School for Excellence is a one-week summer residential program that brings together academically and artistically talented Delaware high school students between their sophomore and junior year. Students live in residence halls on the University of Delaware’s Newark campus and attend either the academic program, consisting of discussions, lectures, debates and films revolving around a specific theme, or the visual and performing arts program, which provides tutorial instruction with a noted artist and culminates in a performance or public display of the students’ work. Students are nominated to participate in Governor’s School through their schools via a competitive application process.

Delaware Governor’s School for Excellence is sponsored by the Office of the Governor of the State of Delaware in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Education and the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Read about past Governor’s Schools

High school students pitch policy to the governor — At the 2023 Governor’s School, participants were challenged to identify pressing social problems, devise solid policy proposals, and then present their solutions to the governor — in person, face-to-face, no filter. Topics of the day’s discussion were written on the blackboard behind the governor and included climate change, gun violence, racial inequality and health care access.

At the 43rd Governor’s School, students offer advice on crucial issues — “It’s a great privilege to be able to serve as an elected official, but with that privilege comes a tremendous responsibility to work with the people that you represent to try to help them reach their own hopes and aspirations for themselves and their children,” said Carney. “The biggest challenge we face in my view is how are we going to prepare students like all of you to do the jobs of the future.”

Gov. Carney visits UD’s virtual Governor’s School for Excellence —  In 2021, Governor’s School was held virtually for the first time ever. Gov. Carney met with participants virtually, and discussed the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as encouraging students to get involved in their communities and find their passion. “My advice to young people is find what your passion is because if you do what you love you don’t work a day in your life,” said Carney. “I found that in public service.”

State leaders join in celebration of school’s 40th anniversary —  Forty years after participating in the inaugural Delaware Governor’s School for Excellence, Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long addressed the Class of 2019 and their families as well as fellow alumni who returned to the University of Delaware to celebrate the first four decades of the program. Hall-Long encouraged the students to think about their “why” and “passion” and what they are going to take away from the experience.

Governor’s School for Excellence celebrates 35 years at UD —  In 2014, Governor’s School celebrated 35 years at UD, joined by the Lessner family, who have made Governor’s School a recurring tradition spanning all 35 years, beginning with the inaugural Delaware Governor’s School in 1979.