Manassas Park / en Governor’s School at Innovation Park offers high school students a pathway to college at George 鶹Ƶ’s Science and Technology Campus /news/2025-05/governors-school-innovation-park-offers-high-school-students-pathway-college-george <span>Governor’s School at Innovation Park offers high school students a pathway to college at George 鶹Ƶ’s Science and Technology Campus</span> <span><span>Lauren Reuscher</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-05-21T13:56:21-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - 13:56">Wed, 05/21/2025 - 13:56</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">The Governor’s School at Innovation Park, located at 鶹Ƶ’s </span><a href="https://scitechcampus.gmu.edu/"><span class="intro-text">Science and Technology Campus</span></a><span class="intro-text">, holds a special distinction: It’s Virginia’s only academic-year Governor’s School located on a four-year college campus.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span class="intro-text">That means that high school juniors and seniors spend part of each school day experiencing life as 鶹Ƶ students.&nbsp;</span></p> <hr> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-05/img_1590_crop_gov_school.jpg?itok=n04hiO2T" width="560" height="361" alt="Governor's School students sit in the Verizon Auditorium on campus" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Governor's School at Innovation Park students gather in Verizon Auditorium at Colgan Hall on the Science and Technology Campus. Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <p>The <a href="https://governors.pwcs.edu/">Governor’s School at Innovation Park</a> celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Located in Manassas, it is one of 19 academic-year Governor’s Schools in the commonwealth. Students earn college credit for their coursework through dual enrollment at their high school and George 鶹Ƶ.&nbsp;</p> <p>"The Governor's School at Innovation Park provides a vital opportunity for local high school students to experience the rigors of college education,” said Janette Muir, vice provost for academic affairs at George 鶹Ƶ. “The program exemplifies George 鶹Ƶ’s role as an anchor for access to higher education in Northern Virginia.”</p> <p>Qualified students at partner high schools are offered guaranteed admission to George 鶹Ƶ after completing the program.</p> <p>The Governor’s School at Innovation Park serves 166 students from 15 high schools across three school divisions. The program’s faculty are Prince William County Schools employees and are also George 鶹Ƶ affiliate faculty. Several also work as adjunct faculty at George 鶹Ƶ.</p> <p>The program was founded in 2010 through the collaborative efforts of George 鶹Ƶ, Prince William County Public Schools, Manassas City Public Schools, and Manassas Park City Schools. The STEM-focused curriculum includes real-world research and mentorship opportunities in business, industry, government, and university settings.</p> <blockquote><p>“Our location at George 鶹Ƶ’s SciTech Campus has had an incalculable impact on all three school divisions, as well as the campus,” said Jason Calhoun, director of the school. “Our students’ access to world-class laboratory facilities has allowed them to conduct research and excel in national and international research and STEM competitions.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Students are selected for the program through a committee review process in their school division. Applicants are evaluated based on a holistic review of their academic performance in high school and must have demonstrated excellence in advanced STEM courses.&nbsp;</p> <p>“There is no better opportunity to prepare our advanced STEM students for the rigors of advanced course work and research, while still having access to the opportunities and socialization that high school allows,” said Calhoun.&nbsp;</p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-05/img_1605.jpg?itok=_wa54W-2" width="560" height="346" alt="Governor's School students gather in a gymnasium with their research posters for the research symposium" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Governor's School students at their annual research symposium. Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <p>Calhoun noted that the program helps students hone laboratory and research skills, time management, and organizational skills, which are critical to success in college and beyond.</p> <p>“The breadth and depth of their growth over two years is amazing, in part due to the structure of our students’ schedules and the early access to college life and expectations,” said Calhoun.</p> <p>The Governor’s School semester has wrapped up with a research symposium and a graduation ceremony for seniors. And with STEM coursework under their belt from George 鶹Ƶ, their paths to success have a foundation of excellence.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="65589b31-3615-48dc-87ab-5ff67c57bf27"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://governors.pwcs.edu/"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Governor's School at Innovation Park <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="7624b9d0-861e-4f27-b078-a837fe187869" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Read More Like This</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-926378afabdfb3d744cb572ecf840b72a1b05d18b96b1bc15aa370bde2256a49"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-07/global-summit-looks-future-education" hreflang="en">Global summit looks at the future of education</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">July 25, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-07/statement-board-visitors-regarding-new-federal-investigations" hreflang="en">Statement from Board of Visitors regarding new federal investigations</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">July 22, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-07/george-mason-launches-virginias-first-robotics-phd" hreflang="en">George 鶹Ƶ launches Virginia’s first robotics PhD</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">July 22, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-07/statement-board-visitors-regarding-federal-investigations" hreflang="en">Statement from Board of Visitors regarding federal investigations</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">July 21, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-07/statement-passing-edwin-j-feulner" hreflang="en">Statement on the passing of Edwin J. 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