Brandon Stokes graduated from Martinsville High School and PGS in May of 2018. Former member of the National Honor Society, 4-H, NSBE, Martinsville’s Beta Club & HOSA Club. Former player on MHS Varsity Soccer, PYSL & FC Star travel clubs. He currently attends Virginia Tech where he is double-majoring in Political Science: National Security and Business Information Technology. He is currently an active member in the Black Student Association(BSA) and Ujima at Virginia Tech.
Kenya Dillard – 2018 Graduate
Kenya graduated from Magna Vista High School’s Warrior Tech Academy and PGS in 2018. She currently attends James Madison University where she is majoring in Biology on the Pre-Med track. Former member of Magna Vista’s National Beta Club, currently still a teen counselor for the Martinsville-Henry County 4-H club, and a member of the Pre-Med Association at James Madison University.
Alexis Gravely – 2015 Graduate
Alexis Gravely is a 2015 graduate of the Piedmont Governor’s School of Math, Science, and Technology. She will graduate in December 2019 from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and a master’s degree in Elementary Education. Some of her accomplishments during her time at UVA include:
- Selected to be a part of the Echols Scholar program upon acceptance to UVA
- Served as a writer and Assistant Managing Editor for UVA’s independent student newspaper, The Cavalier Daily
- Held numerous leadership positions at UVA, including president of the National Association of Black Journalists at UVA and co-president of Active Minds at UVA
- Received a breaking news award from the Virginia Press Association for her coverage of the August 2017 white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, VA
- Selected for a number of internships and fellowships including at WDBJ7 in Roanoke, VA; The Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C.; the Dow Jones News Fund, The Nation Magazine, and will be interning at The Wall Street Journal in New York City during summer 2019
- Has had work published in The Huffington Post, The Nation, and CNN
Heath Cole Hylton – 2015 Graduate
Heath Cole Hylton was a 2015 honor graduate from PGSMST and Chatham High School where he participated in JROTC, football, wrestling and soccer. Cole was also a member of the Beta Club and Interact Club. He earned an appointment to Virginia Military Institute in August 2015. While at VMI, Cole earned the honor of being selected as a Corporal, Sergeant and Lieutenant of his company in 2016, 2017, and 2018 respectively. He was also selected to serve as MSI cadre of the Army ROTC at VMI. He will be graduating VMI in 2019 with a Biology major. He will also commission into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant of Armor Branch.
Steven Kyle Hylton – 2015 Graduate
Steven Kyle Hylton was a 2015 honor graduate from PGSMST and Chatham High School where he participated in JROTC, football, wrestling and soccer. Kyle was also a member of the Beta Club and Interact Club. He earned an appointment to Virginia Military Institute in August 2015. While at VMI, Kyle earned the honor of being selected as Cadre Corporal, Cadre Sergeant and Cadre Lieutenant in Delta Company of VMI in 2016, 2017, and 2018 respectively. In these positions, he was in charge of training and molding each new rat mass into a class through VMI’s Ratline. He was also selected to serve as Alpha Company First Sergeant of the Army ROTC Department at VMI. He will be graduating VMI in 2019 with a double major in History and Arabic. He will also commission into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry Branch.
Danielle Jeffers – 2015 Graduate
VT KnowledgeWorks Announces Winners of Global Entrepreneurship Challenge Semifinals
Danielle Jeffers, a recent Gov School graduate, and her team College Dough were awarded $15,000 in prize money in a Global Entrepreneurship Challenge. Click here to read more…
Governor’s School Students Partner with IALR to Teach Chemistry
Piedmont Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science and Technology (PGS) students in Susan Propst’s chemistry class recently developed interactive science lessons for 70 third grade students from Park Avenue Elementary School in collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. The elementary school students completed various hands-on activities. The stations were designed and facilitated by PGS students along with assistance from the Institute’s Advanced Learning staff. Park Avenue Elementary School students were exposed to a variety of interactive labs including: making slime, the science of candy, making silly putty, and a MENTOS/soda geyser.
“My students enjoy preparing for this program every year. Our hope is to inspire younger students to enjoy learning about science by showing them how it relates to everyday fun activities,” said Susan Propst.
“We are very thankful to be able to work with the PGS to enhance STEM education for students. Introducing STEM topics early is a great way to spark their interests. The PGS students also enhanced their leadership, mentoring skills by assisting with the activities,” said Dana Silicki, Advanced Learning Coordinator at the Institute.
Piedmont Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology is housed at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research for Danville and Pittsylvania County students. The program provides a challenging, project-driven, research-based curriculum in a technology-infused environment.
Propst added, “One of the third graders stated this was the best day ever. Seeing their excitement makes all of the hard work and preparation worth it.”