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Virginia Institute of Marine Science
School of Marine Science
College of William and Mary
Virginia Governor's School
seitz@vims.edu
P.O. Box 1346
Gloucester Point, Va. 23061
Phone: 804.684.7698

   
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Governor's School is a four-week summer residential school provided in cooperation with Christopher Newport University. For 16 years, this program has been serving high achieving high school students throughout the state of Virginia and providing participants with authentic experiences in marine research. Each summer, VIMS hosts up to six students who have demonstrated interest in and aptitude for marine science. The program is structured as an apprenticeship, and is administered concurrently with a similar program sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). VIMS apprenticeships offer a broad variety of marine research experiences, and specific learner outcomes and achievements vary accordingly as each student works with a faculty sponsor on a VIMS research project. Participants' experiences are consistent with Virginia's Standards of Learning as identified by the Virginia Department of Education.

The objectives of the program are for students to develop realistic and personally meaningful concepts of the nature and scope of scientific inquiry in general and particularly in marine research; gain intellectual and practical experiences which allow them to evaluate some career options in marine science from the perspectives of their aptitudes, skills and interest; and assist with VIMS research projects by assuming responsibility for specific research duties as assigned by a VIMS faculty sponsor and prepare reports based on this work.

Since their inception in 1973, The Virginia Governor's Schools have 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.

Deepest gratitude to the VIMS faculty, staff and graduate students for dedicating their time and talent in order to provide Governor's School students with an apprenticeship experience that takes them far beyond the classroom into the depths of real life sciences and technology and assists in preparing them for the future.