Jefferson Lab/VIMS Summer Residential Governor’s School
June 22-July 19, 2025
Since its inception in 1973, the Virginia Governor's School program has been providing some of the state's most able students with academically challenging and enriching programs that reach far beyond what is offered in their public school. With the support of the General Assembly and the Board of Education, the Governor's Schools include summer residential, summer regional, and academic-year programs. Educational opportunities are available in science, mathematics, technology, the arts, and humanities. Participants' experiences are consistent with Virginia's Standards of Learning as identified by the Virginia Department of Education.
Jefferson Lab/VIMS Governor's School
The Center for Gifted Education hosts the Jefferson Lab/VIMS Summer Residential Governor's School, a 4-week mentorship program in June and July, for gifted rising 11th- and 12th-grade students. Since 1993, this program has been serving high-achieving high school students throughout Virginia and providing participants with authentic experiences in engineering, aeronautical or marine research.
Students are selected and each assigned to a research mentor at Jefferson Lab in Newport News and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester. Students participate in actual research projects, working with professional research scientists and graduate students, either one-on-one or in small teams. They are expected to listen, observe and learn quickly so that they can participate and contribute to the project. Because this experience is truly a mentorship and the students join research teams that are already in existence, the topics and other details change each year. At the completion of the 4 weeks, the engineering students make an oral and technology-laden presentation to mentors and available Jefferson Lab researchers and graduate students. The VIMS students complete and present a research document - consistent with reports that would be expected should they choose a career in Marine Science research.
The selection process begins in the school division. For more information about the application process and specific deadlines, check in your school guidance office or with your school division's Gifted Education Coordinator.
