This summer, seven rising seniors from Bishop O’Connell will be participating in Virginia Governor’s School programs held at various universities around the commonwealth. Since 1973, these programs have provided talented students academic and arts opportunities beyond those normally available during the regular school year. The foundation of the Virginia Governor's School programs centers on best practices in the field of gifted education and the presentation of advanced content to able learners.
Srijan Bhasin has been accepted to the Governor's School Program in Mathematics, Science, and Technology, which will take place June 30- July 27 at Lynchburg University. The program challenges each student to learn a substantial amount about a particular area in mathematics, science, and/or technology at the same time illustrating the ever-increasing interdisciplinary nature of modern science, mathematics, and engineering.
Alex Ronkainen will be participating in the Governor’s School for Agriculture, June 30-July 27 at Virginia Tech. This program provides academically rigorous educational enhancement for future scientists and leaders, where students interact with and learn directly from internationally known teachers, scientists, and researchers from Virginia Tech.
Elizabeth Dannenfelser has been selected to attend the Governor’s School for Humanities, June 23 – July 20 at Radford University. The Governor’s School for Humanities creates an intellectually challenging college experience in the humanities by providing unique classes that take advantage of traditional as well as contemporary instructional techniques.
Mary Barna will be participating in the Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts (Dance), June 23 – July 20 at Radford University. To be accepted into this program, Mary participated in a statewide adjudication, where she auditioned before a specialized dance committee.
Mary Donnelly has been selected for the full-immersion Spanish Language Academy, June 22-July 13 at Washington & Lee University. This program provides an intensive experience and unique challenge for exceptional students to continue their study of Spanish in a total immersion environment which is generally unavailable in the regular school environment.
Colleen Roney will participate in the partial-immersion Latin Language Academy, June 23-July 14 at Randolph-Macon College. This program provides an intensive experience for Latin students to continue their study in a residential setting with like-minded peers.
Sofia Goyonaga-Calatayud will attend the partial-immersion Japanese Language Academy, also held June 23-July 14 at Randolph-Macon College. This program provides an opportunity for students who have excelled in the study of another language to be introduced to the Japanese culture and language, which are not widely taught across the commonwealth.
One of the most important aspects of the Summer Residential Governor’s Schools is the opportunity participants have to live, study, and get to know other students with similar interests and abilities from across Virginia. Both co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are designed to encourage students' interests and abilities.
Pictured below (l to r): Srijan Bhasin, Mary Barna, Elizabeth Dannenfelser, Mary Donnelly, Alex Ronkainen, Sofia Goyonaga-Calatayud, and Colleen Roney.
