Junior Selected for Summer Residential Governor’s Mentorship in Marine Science

Kudos to Violet Johnston ’23 for being one of six students selected to participate in The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Governor's School, a four-week summer residential school provided in cooperation with The Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary.

Since 1993, the program has served high-achieving high school students throughout Virginia, providing participants with authentic experiences in marine research and the opportunity to explore careers in marine science. Structured as an apprenticeship, the students assist with projects by assuming responsibility for specific research duties as assigned by a VIMS faculty sponsor. Each summer, graduate students and professors at VIMS conduct research and field studies encompassing the study of biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography, wetlands ecology, fisheries science, coastal law, marine resource management and advisory services in the estuaries and tidal basins of the Chesapeake Bay. The students become members of one of the existing research teams, where they assist with field and vessel work, collection, preparation and interpretation of data, library research, computer analysis and laboratory studies. At the conclusion of the program, the students compose a research paper and deliver an oral presentation about their research. Congratulations, and best of luck this summer, Violet!