Blue Ridge Governor's School director outlines application process, capstone and supports

Wanda Elliott, the director who spoke for Blue Ridge Governor's School, told families the program is a regional governor's-school model (not a single physical campus) that offers rigorous coursework, a senior capstone and student supports, and described the online application process and selection criteria.

Elliott said the typical Blue Ridge requirement is eight credits over the high-school career but that students who also participate in ACA need only six credits. She described the program as generally free to families but noted "there's 1 exception to that" for some independent college courses; staff said the program may pay up to $500 for an approved independent college course during a student's Blue Ridge career.

Elliott described the senior capstone as the culminating independent project and highlighted partnerships that let students participate in university research, NASA-focused programs, and mentorship placements (for example, 23 placements at VCU Health in medical fields). She explained the local admissions process: each home county compiles applicants and selects candidates from its residents ("Only Goochland will compete with Goochland students"), and Goochland has in some years taken two incoming classes (about 36 students total) rather than the typical 18-per-county intake.

Students at the session described Blue Ridge as strengthening public speaking, time-management and research skills. "Time management is a big one," said McKenna Allen, a junior in Blue Ridge.

What happens next: Elliott urged interested families to apply when the application opens and to consult the program website for instructions; presenters said the application window closes Dec. 6 and that further timelines and assessment steps are described on the site.