Held the 3rd week of July every year!
The Appalachian Summer Regional Governor's School has two primary focus areas. One is to provide a variety of academic experiences in arts, science, and technology to a diverse group of academically gifted high school students. The second focus is to provide a summer enrichment experience that is academically and intellectually challenging for gifted students in an environment in which students can reach their individual learning potential.
The Governor's School serves selected rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, and Wythe counties, and the city of Galax. It is funded and coordinated jointly by these area public schools, Wytheville Community College, and with funding by the Virginia Department of Education.
Purpose: To provide academically enriching opportunities to students identified as gifted that are not usually available in area schools, while earning college credit.
Eligibility: Students identified as gifted by their school system and currently enrolled in grades 9, 10, and 11. Students who are not identified as gifted but are academically high-achieving students and recommended by their high school will be considered if spots remain.
Courses: Students will take a transferrable one-credit college course. The course will be in person during the week-long program. In addition, students will choose courses in the areas of the arts, sciences, and/or technology that they will rotate through to gain hands-on experience in these fields. Both the one-credit course earned and the experience from the rotation of courses are beneficial for both college applications and career exploration.
Credit: One-semester college credit will be earned for the course completed which is a transferable credit and can be applied to WCC’s degree programs.
Cost: Tuition is provided at no cost. Lunch is provided by Wythe County Public School Federal Summer Lunch Program USDA at no cost to students.
Application: Applications and additional information is available from your high school counselor.
Selection: Application does not guarantee acceptance. The Governor's School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, or color. The program will be offered based on funding.
Attendance: Students are required to attend the entire class day of the in person program held the third week in July. Students are also required to attend a virtual course orientation session and complete pre-course work online the second week of July. In addition, the final student program, which is held the last day of the in person program, in the Snyder Auditorium at Wytheville Community College, is considered part of the course requirements.
Transportation: Buses may be available to students from Carroll, Galax, Grayson, and Smyth counties; students may provide their own transportation at their own expense.
Instructor Application
Applications can be emailed to jennybuchanan@wythek12.org or mailed to:
Jenny Buchanan
c/o Wythe County Technology Center
1505 West Spiller Street
Wytheville, VA 24382