Student’s Summer Experience Confirms Career Path Interest

A journal on the topic “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” might include learning how to suture, learning laparoscopic surgery techniques, responding to a code blue in the emergency room, performing CPR, and taking a patient's history. Those might be your journal entries if you are BRVGS student Cassandra Appiah-Ofori, an Orange County High School junior. Appiah-Ofori attended the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) for Medicine and Health Care this summer at American University in Washington D.C.

In addition to the activities mentioned, this NSLC program also involves students in clinical rounds, the mystery of a fatal outbreak, controversial medical issues, today’s healthcare challenges, and advanced scientific research in areas such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. Cassandra learned much about the medicine and healthcare field, but she also had the opportunity to tour Washington, D.C. with new friends from around the world participating in the program. She said these new friends share her interests, and want to go into the medical profession, too.

Yes, I DO Want to Be a Doctor might be the cover title of Cassandra’s journal.  She said, “This program not only helped me learn what it takes to pursue a career in the medicine and health care field, but it also strengthened my belief that there is nothing else I want to do with my life than become a doctor.” 

The National Student Leadership Conference is a nationwide program held at universities across the country. NSLC offers conferences on the topics of :

• Business & Entrepreneurship

• Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management

• Education & the Classroom

• Engineering

• Forensic Science

• Intelligence & National Security

• International Diplomacy

• Journalism, Film & Media Arts

• Law & Advocacy

• Mastering Leadership

• Medicine & Health Care

• Political Action & Public Policy

• Sports & Entertainment Management

• Theater

Interested in attending one of these next summer? For more information, click on the NSLC website link: National Student Leadership Conference

UVa Program Enhances Madison Senior’s Leadership Skills

Some events impact one’s life-long journey more than others. By Lauren Birkett’s estimation, Leadership on the Lawn “was a unique experience and truly a life-changing one.” The week-long camp from July 7-12 at the University of Virginia provided students with opportunities for improving leadership skills, efficient communication, and community service.

During the week, Leadership on the Lawn featured dynamic speakers, such as a UVa professor, UVa alumni, and retired Dallas Cowboys football player. A variety of seminar topics included ethics, leadership, public speaking, and dealing with stress. “But it wasn't all work,” according to Birkett. Campers volunteered on an organic farm in Charlottesville, were treated to a hot tub movie night, held a field day and a talent show.

Birkett said campers were highly motivated, active in their communities and held leadership roles. “I met a lot of new friends and had an incredible time,” and added that she highly recommends the UVa summer program to all. For those wishing to learn more about the it, click on Leadership on the Lawn website, and view prior camper comments at Leadership on the Lawn - YouTube.

Students Participate in Summer STEM and Gifted Programs

Family vacations, helping out at home, temporary jobs, beach time, and lots of lawn mowing are not the only ways our BRVGS students spent the summer.

Philip Archer, Louisa County High School Class of 2016, participated in the BLAST summer program at the University of Virginia. This three-day residential experience is a joint UVa, NASA, and Virginia Space Grant Consortium academy. Philip was selected for this opportunity which allows students just out of 8th and 9th grades to explore science, technology, engineering, and math, and to help them consider these areas for potential careers. For more information on the program, follow this link to the BLAST website http://blast.spacegrant.org

 Ann Mohrmann spent two weeks in July as head intern for Summer Quest, a summer Governor’s School program held at Emerald Hill Elementary in Culpeper for 5th, 6th and 7th grade gifted students.  She worked in all classrooms assisting students with medical needs, and  accompanied students on a field trip to D.C. This year’s theme was all about Space. “We went to the Air and Space Museum and saw The Discovery,” Ann said. “I absolutely loved it!” She was also in charge of taking photos, and created an end-of-the-program slide show for students and parents. Ann, now a senior at Orange County High School, participated in Summer Quest when she was younger.  

So we’ve heard from a few of our BRVGS students about their summer activities, but we would love to hear from more of you! Please click on the following link, and write about your interesting summer experience.    Tell Us What You Did This Summer

BRVGS Launches 2013-14 School Year

Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's School is in full force for the 2013-14 school year beginning this week, August 12-16. Although many of the districts served by BRVGS have their official openings over the next few weeks, this is an opportunity to welcome all students, parents, schools and communities to a new school year.

Computer Science students in 11th grade have already received communication from their teacher, Mr. Reynolds regarding the fall semester online class. They will convene for their kick-off meeting on September 4.

Students taking the "Explorations in Engineering" course through the University of Virginia, are busy this week with online enrollment, materials acquisition, and initial introductions to the course and professor.

Incoming freshmen participated in a day of orientation in July.

All Governor's School students in Nelson and Fluvanna counties meet their BRVGS facilitators and instructors this week. Students in other districts will do so after their start dates, which are: Louisa August 14, Goochland August 19, Greene August 21, Madison August 27, and Orange September 3.

Kick-off field trips have been scheduled for Senior Internship students on September 5th, and World History students on September 24th. AP Biology students will meet with Virginia Tech professor Dr. David Lally on September 18th concerning the BRVGS/Tech Arabidopsis project. Dates for fall Chesapeake Bay Foundation trips are also being set. Information about additional activities and parent nights will be forthcoming once scheduling is complete. 

Freshman Orientation Welcomes Class of 2017

New freshmen entering BRVGS this fall spent a day meeting each other and getting a taste of the Blue Ridge field trip for facetime meeting with peers. 

About 130 out of the incoming class of 145 students attended BRVGS Freshman Orientation on Wednesday, July 24 at Best Western in Zion Crossroads. 

Events of the day included introductions to faculty, staff, and other 9th-graders from seven counties. Students were apprised of expectations and policies, had official BRVGS photos taken, learned about career planning, and engaged in cooperative problem-solving/creative thinking activities in which they interacted with their peers. Of course, they were treated to the famous Blue Ridge Pizza Lunch amidst all the hustle and bustle of the day's agenda.

The new students will be tackling summer work at home for their World History classes, which officially begin when high school fall sessions start. Summer work can be accessed by going to goo.gl/rscay. The entire BRVGS freshman class will convene again once the school year commences for all districts.