Madeira Students Thrive at Governor's School

January 11th 2023

Virginia Governor's School Program began in 1973 when Governor Linwood Holton established the first summer residential programs for 400 gifted students from across the commonwealth. From its beginnings, with three summer schools in 1973, the program has expanded to more than 40 sites throughout the commonwealth, and Madeira has a long history of sending students each year. As applications open for Summer 2023, Elizabeth T. ’23 and Ellie. S ’23 reflect on their experiences at the Marine Science and French Language institutes.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Elizabeth was one of only six students chosen to participate in the 2022 Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Governor’s School. Structured as an apprenticeship, this four-week summer residential school provides authentic experiences in marine research for students with demonstrated interest in and aptitude for marine science. Each apprenticeship offers a broad variety of marine research experiences, and specific outcomes and achievements vary as each student works alongside a faculty sponsor on a VIMS research project.

To apply for the program, Elizabeth wrote a scientific paper exploring how turbidity and water speed affect oyster growth; when she arrived at VIMS, she worked with grad students on a Navy grant project also focused on oyster health. The goal of their research project was to identify how oysters impact their environment, as well as how the environment might affect oyster health – specifically whether the presence and volume of other organisms can be indicators of oyster health. To do so, the research group collected samples from multiple oyster reefs in different environments. Once back in the lab, they not only measured the oysters to determine their size, but they also identified the organisms in the samples and counted them.

When asked what drew her to the marine science program, Elizabeth laughs and says, “I never grew out of my Nemo phase.” Additionally, Madeira has helped her to gain professional experience through the Co-Curriculum program; the networking skills she acquired in her 11^th grade internship placement on Capitol Hill was directly transferrable to her experience at VIMS. At the Governor’s School she was able to build her professional network, engage in an authentic internship experience, and sharpen her scientific writing and coding skills, as she was immersed in a scientific community and analyzing data.

French Language Academy

Ellie was selected to participate in the 2022 Virginia Governor’s French Language Academy hosted by Washington & Lee University. This three-week immersion program facilitates intense language and culture study; at the onset, students sign a pledge that they will only speak, read, write, and listen to French. While the selected students are local to Virginia, the program’s faculty come from all around the world.

A variety of courses were offered throughout the three-week program. In Découverte de la langue et culture arabe, Ellie learned Arabic through French from a faculty member who taught in Saudi Arabia for five years. Students learned conversational Arabic and explored different aspects of Arabic culture. In Les fondements de l’éducation, Ellie and her peers learned about the fundamental concepts and values of the US education system. Together, they analyzed different pedagogical approaches and reflected on their own educational experiences.

The cultural focus of the program was not solely on France; Ellie explored a variety of francophone art and film and listened to French music with her classmates– a personal favorite being Stromae, a Belgian singer known for hits like “Alors on danse” and “Papaoutai.” This brought a more global perspective to Ellie’s study of French language, and she was able to learn about and appreciate cultures that she might not have otherwise had the opportunity to study, such as Martinique. The German & Spanish Academies took place at the same time, and program participants often engaged in interdisciplinary group activities, like a soccer “World Cup,” providing the opportunity for students with a passion for languages to connect with each other.

When asked why she was interested in participating in the Language Academy, Ellie reflects on her French language experience in traditional classrooms. While she started learning French in elementary school, she felt that during COVID she struggled to feel connected to the language, and her ultimate goal was to regain mastery of the subject. She would count this endeavor as a success – after finishing the program and starting her senior year, Ellie says, “I feel more confident and comfortable in [French] class,” and her passion for French has led her to explore International Business as a possible interest area for college.

Elizabeth and Ellie join a long list of Madeira grads who have also attended Virginia Governor’s School programs. Recent alums include Jess N ’22 (Humanities), Heston F ’21 (Math, Science, & Technology), Teagan D ’21 (Spanish).